golly1

golly1 · #1 07-15-2008, 11:41 PM

new vodahost
would you please review my first website @ www.sodaowls.com

jkadin · #2 07-16-2008, 12:13 AM

Nice looking site theres a couple of tweaks on your menu bar change index to home not the url that does not have to be changed. Have your pages open in the same window. Also try to put keyword phases on your page titles. Your off to a good start.

Sunchaser · #3 07-16-2008, 06:58 AM

Hi

Looks nice!

I noticed that if you click on 'gallery' from your 'info' page - there's a typo in the .html:
http://www.sodaowls.com/gallery.htlml

You've done a great job with your site.

CarbonTerry · #4 07-17-2008, 06:46 AM

The "index" button should read "Home" or something like that. Some will be confused by "index".
The title (not name) of your page is not Index ! It should be a descriptive phrase of the content of the page. i.e. Sheffield Owls Disabled Association
excuse the bold font caused by copy/paste.
The link to the outside web page should be set to _blank in the Hyperlink Properties window.

Takwa · #5 07-17-2008, 05:39 PM

hmmm.... you are getting very similar to SWFC's homepage....
anyway i was shocked by the bright blue full page every time i load, is there a way of getting rid of that flash of bright blue when the page loads?

golly1 · #6 07-17-2008, 11:35 PM

thankyou for your comments much appreciated what do you mean open in same window sorry new to it and how do you do it thankyou for all your help

Vasili · #7 07-17-2008, 11:51 PM

Not really enough to comment on ..... easier to see things more settled and a style emerge.

I DO agree (personally) that the colors are too bold for this genre of site. Thinking that the high contrast between pages and backgrounds helps to give import to Content does not hold true, especially when the colors create a "discomforting" or "loud" theme....IMO

Sunchaser · #8 07-18-2008, 07:38 AM

Hi

Regarding having pages open in the same window - all your pages are already opening in the same window - which is good :)

If a page opens in a new window - another browser window opens up, and there will be no 'back' button enabled on your browser. For example, if you click on the link to your website that you posted in your first post - it opens in a new window. You can't can't use the 'back' button to go back to the VH forums.

Often, people will have all (or most) of the pages in their website open in the same window, and have pages that link to another website open in a new window.
Although - many web professionals would say that best practice is to have all pages open in the same window - even if a link on your site is going to another website. It's meant to be bad etiquette to 'break' a web user's back button by making a link open in a new window.

In Blue Voda - when you want a link to open in the same window, don't choose anything in the 'target' field -leave it blank (or choose 'Self').
If you want your link to open a new browser window, then choose '_blank'.

Vasili · #9 07-18-2008, 08:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sunchaser

Although - many web professionals would say that best practice is to have all pages open in the same window - even if a link on your site is going to another website. It's meant to be bad etiquette to 'break' a web user's back button by making a link open in a new window.

Disagree, and would like to be informed at which "professional" have declared such a standard "etiquette" supercede standard protocol and practice.

New browsers are quite called for when the function itself presents the logical link: as in visiting a secured area of a site, a blog or other community, or even a "closed loop" step like a transaction or form to fill out. There are many, many instances when a new browser is most logical, allowing the originating page to remain under the current focus page, and although it is preferred to maintain continuty of the User experience overall, so-called etiquette takes back seat to Perfect Page and Best Practice web design.

True, many new to web building (thanks to the ease of using Blue Voda) often take a less than thoughtful tack when creating their navigation intially, and opt to use the new browser style formatting, but this is usually corrected upon Peer Review --- with consideration given to functional need.

Besides, any designer worth his salt knows that providing a "Close Window" option is not nearly as difficult as believed, and such forethought illustrates a professional dedication to the overall User expereince!

New browser links/navigation is most effective when used properly, and follows the same logical developments as any other applied computer science, differing from opinion and common beliefs entirely!

I think you should provide more defined sources or personal demonstration of design expertise for the techniques or axioms you are quick to proclaim before posting them in our forums, so they are not absorbed ipso facto ignoratum. Personally.

Sunchaser · #10 07-18-2008, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Disagree, and would like to be informed at which "professional" have declared such a standard "etiquette" supercede standard protocol and practice.

This guy for one.
http://www.useit.com/jakob/

Quote:

New browsers are quite called for when the function itself presents the logical link: as in visiting a secured area of a site, a blog or other community, or even a "closed loop" step like a transaction or form to fill out.

Definitely.
There are circumstances where it's best to have a page open in a new window. Another example is a large file that might take a long time to load.
In the context of a site such as the one being reviewed here - having all pages open in the same window is reasonable.

Quote:

I think you should provide more defined sources or personal demonstration of design expertise for the techniques or axioms you are quick to proclaim before posting them in our forums, so they are not absorbed ipso facto ignoratum. Personally.

Top 10 mistakes in web design

9. "Opening up new browser windows is like a vacuum cleaner sales person who starts a visit by emptying an ash tray on the customer's carpet.....
Designers open new browser windows on the theory that it keeps users on their site. But even disregarding the user-hostile message implied in taking over the user's machine, the strategy is self-defeating since it disables the Back button which is the normal way users return to previous sites."
Jakob Nielsen
http://www.useit.com/alertbox/9605.html

( Golly1 - Sorry that we're hijacking your review thread with this discussion :)
And by the way, I personally have pages that link to other sites open in a new browser window. This annoys some web users though, and as I mentioned before - many web professionals would say not to do it. (In the context of the type of web pages we're speaking of.) )

karenwms63 · #11 07-18-2008, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Top 10 mistakes in web design

9. "Opening up new browser windows is like a vacuum cleaner sales person who starts a visit by emptying an ash tray on the customer's carpet.....
Designers open new browser windows on the theory that it keeps users on their site. But even disregarding the user-hostile message implied in taking over the user's machine, the strategy is self-defeating since it disables the Back button which is the normal way users return to previous sites."
Jakob Nielsen

This is about disabling the browser navigation...the back button...Not about whether or not to have your pages open in the same or new window.

There are just as many reasons to use new window as there are not to use new window. It should be decided by what is the best for your visitor's experience.

My personal standard is: my site...same window, another site...another window....My opinion....

Vasili · #12 07-18-2008, 08:15 PM

Doesn't seem to matter, Karen .... my post was not read carefully before replied to. Pretty much what I lastly referred to: another case of absorbing info on the web without a deeper understanding or practical experience to differentiate opinion from practice.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vasili

New browsers are quite called for when the function itself presents the logical link: as in visiting a secured area of a site, a blog or other community, or even a "closed loop" step like a transaction or form to fill out. There are many, many instances when a new browser is most logical, allowing the originating page to remain under the current focus page, and although it is preferred to maintain continuty of the User experience overall, so-called etiquette takes back seat to Perfect Page and Best Practice web design.
True, many new to web building (thanks to the ease of using Blue Voda) often take a less than thoughtful tack when creating their navigation intially, and opt to use the new browser style formatting, but this is usually corrected upon Peer Review --- with consideration given to functional need.
Besides, any designer worth his salt knows that providing a "Close Window" option is not nearly as difficult as believed, and such forethought illustrates a professional dedication to the overall User expereince!

New browser links/navigation is most effective when used properly, and follows the same logical developments as any other applied computer science, differing from opinion and common beliefs entirely!
I think you should provide more defined sources or personal demonstration of design expertise for the techniques or axioms you are quick to proclaim before posting them in our forums, so they are not absorbed ipso facto ignoratum. Personally.

That is why it is a good thing there are so many choices available on the net and our Community: diversity allows freedom of direction and a wonderful means of collecting inspiration (especially when seeing the fruits of of our peer's labors)!

rangaz007 · #13 07-18-2008, 08:19 PM

Hi

Looks very good mate.
Only thing is the blue background does kind of hit you in the face first time round lol, but otherwise a cool looking site, well done !

Sunchaser · #14 07-19-2008, 01:04 AM

Hi Karen
You said:

Quote:

This is about disabling the browser navigation...the back button...Not about whether or not to have your pages open in the same or new window.

It's about both. Jakob Nielsen considers it 'user-hostile' to force new browser windows. The part in bold type in that quote was put in bold by him, not by me.
I totally agree that it's up to you and what's best for your web visitors what you do with your web pages.

Vasili
You said:

Quote:

.....another case of absorbing info on the web without a deeper understanding or practical experience to differentiate opinion from practice.

I was not giving my opinion in saying that many web professionals consider that it's best not to open new browser windows. If many web experts do say this, then they do say this.
Whether I, you, or anyone else disagrees that many web experts say this is immaterial. Regardless, they're out there saying it.
(Again, we're talking in the context of general web pages.)

It's a shame this discussion opened up here in someone's review thread! It's an interesting discussion.

Here are some more links to some information:

http://diveintoaccessibility.org/day...w_windows.html
http://www.w3.org/WAI/wcag-curric/sam77-0.htm
(The W3C ettiquette is that you should warn web users if a page is going to open in a new window.)

golly1 · #15 08-11-2008, 12:02 AM

could you please give me some feedback please

golly1 · #16 08-11-2008, 12:04 AM

could you please give me some feedback www.sodaowls.com

jkadin · #17 08-11-2008, 12:45 AM

Great job very well done I guess you have done your homework looks great.

nzbr · #18 08-11-2008, 12:55 AM

Can you please post your site so we can have a look at it?

Cheers,

Lcoisas · #19 08-11-2008, 01:01 AM

Great, I like it a lot.

Links work fine, pictures load fast... very well done.

Also valuable information included.

Congratulations! Well done!

Susana

D'son · #20 08-11-2008, 04:30 AM

Awesom job, you should be really proud of your site. Easy to navigate, nice color pallet, good concept and execusion. Hope you have much success with this venture, sounds as if you are part of a worth while organization.

D'son · #21 08-11-2008, 04:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by golly1

could you please give me some feedback please

This is a duplicate post, you should only post once per issue/question/topic.

You have been answered in your other post.

golly1 · #22 08-11-2008, 09:59 PM

thankyou for your feedback you have made me really happy thankyou

SAman · #23 08-12-2008, 04:44 PM

Very well thought out and constructed. You may want to put a little more in the name of your pages, and in the key words and meta tags. these will help the SE to find you and help others that are looking for a site like yours.
Good luck.

golly1 · #24 09-21-2008, 11:11 PM

could you please gve me some feedback on my website www.sodaowls.com

Meg01 · #25 09-22-2008, 03:14 AM

Hi

I enjoyed looking through your site - great project. I noticed that the "contact us", "gallery", "memories" and "Soda on Tour" pages all have text extending past the white/logo background, and I think this text is more difficult to read against the dark blue. Best wishes for your project.

Meg

Muzza · #26 09-22-2008, 12:09 PM

Hi, in addition to Megs comments here are some more from me that might be of help:

1/ On your News page I think "none slip paint." probably should be "non-slip paint" and "Christmas do" would look better as "Christmas Do".

2/ Making your titles on each of your pages more relevant for search engines

i.e. Instead of having "secretary" as the title for the secretaries page, have you considered having "Sodaowls - Secetary" or "Soda - Secretary" or something like that. So if someone googles "soda" then they have a better chance of finding at least one of your pages.

3/ On your Gallery page, rather than having images that, when clicked, take you to a page with no navigation, I suggest using a "lightbox" which you will find on your BlueVoda menu. Once all your photos have loaded on your page you then have a slideshow. If you want an a couple of examples, I have used a couple of small ones on this page: www.ArlineFishingCharter.co.nz/giant-snapper.html Just click on an image to see the effect. I have a couple of larger galleries as well, one of which can be found here: www.ArlineFishingCharter.co.nz/photos-2007.html Wait until all the photos have loaded before you select a photo otherwise the slideshow doesn't work properly (which is the only weakness that I can see)

steve horbach · #27 09-22-2008, 12:38 PM

I also like the overall feel of your site and just have one thing to add to what muzza and meg have pointed out and that is to set the page transformations to the same for each page. This only shows on IE but when one glides and one snaps in and visaversa it has a non uniform feel. Great start and best of luck!

Steve Horbach
www.myhomeneedshelp.com

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