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Webmaster Forum / General / Web Design / July 2008I need feedback on my website
Hello everyone! Could I please get some thoughts on my website please. Thanks in advance! (Not 100% finished but a lot of sections are working) http://www.muzikarena.co.uk > Hello everyone! > > Could I please get some thoughts on my website please. Thanks in > advance! What is the point of the site? > What is the point of the site? Erm...here's what the site is meant to be about: 1) To showcase my music 2) To help people learn to read and write music, as well as learn about music worldwide (Only the learn to read section is completed so far). 3) To share thoughts and tips in the forum about producing music or any issues about reading, writing or playing music. 4) To allow upcoming musicians to upload their beat/remixes/tracks to the site and have it rated (Not completed, unsure of how to do it, but wil definately find out =D) And finally... 5) To chill and have fun with the games! >> What is the point of the site? > [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > And finally... > 5) To chill and have fun with the games! The reason I asked the question is that it took me a while looking at the site to figure out that the site probably had something to do with your music, or other people's music, or something related to music. The site has a lot of competing focal points, none of which stands out as the first place I should be looking to determine what the site is about. When someone visits your site, you have about 12 seconds to tell him what the site is about and how to find his way around. It took me a bit more than 12 seconds to get a vague idea what the site might be about. >>> What is the point of the site? >> [quoted text clipped - 22 lines] >him what the site is about and how to find his way around. It took me a >bit more than 12 seconds to get a vague idea what the site might be about. As I mentioned. The site looks very samey. If the author implemented a strong musical theme, that would provide an immediate "this is about music" impression, I should suggest. I think you may be supporting that notion, Scott? Matt -- The Probert Encyclopaedia - The Reliable Encyclopaedia http://www.probertencyclopaedia.com > As I mentioned. The site looks very samey. If the author implemented > a strong musical theme, that would provide an immediate "this is > about music" impression, I should suggest. > > I think you may be supporting that notion, Scott? Sure, but what I am saying is not quite the same. What I am addressing is not the sameness of the site, but the structure of the site. There is nothing on the site that catches my eye and tells me what the site is about. A strong musical theme would help, but not completely solve the problem. It would tell me that the site is about music, but would not tell me specifically what about music that it is about. The eighth note in the logo helps. Perhaps there needs to be some sort of 25 words or less slogan under the logo that gives me an overview of the site. Then there needs to be a navigation scheme that provides the details in a clear way. The most important navigation is where I expect to find it, but it isn't clear what is supposed to happen when I click the links. Some of the navigation is confusing. "Listen to Your Music" is confusing. How does the OPs site have my music? "Start a Band"? How am I going to start a band on this site? Some of the content that might help explain these things is below the fold. I have to scroll down to find "What we are About." If that was re-written to use about 1/2 the words, then moved near the top of the page, it would help a lot. Am I making sense? > Am I making sense? Yup..crystal clear...although when I first started out making this site I personally never knew what it was going to be about.. but now its coming together.. So you want a clear navigation system, where it is clear where you're going to go when you've clicked on a link a short and concise paragraph saying what on earth is this site more of a musically based theme. Also, someone said the logo is too tacky...personally I like it because I spent a while on Gimp (=P) making it... What do u think? > Yup..crystal clear...although when I first started out making this > site I personally never knew what it was going to be about Which explains why I am having trouble figuring out what it is about. > but now its coming together.. So you want a clear navigation system, > where it is clear where you're going to go when you've clicked on a > link Yes. As I mentioned, the important links are where I expect to find them; I just don't know what they mean. > a short and concise paragraph saying what on earth is this site Positioned so that I can find it without looking for it. > more of a musically based theme. I could go either way on this. > Also, someone said the logo is too tacky...personally I like it > because I spent a while on Gimp (=P) making it... I'm not an artist, so I can't comment, except to suggest that you try again with anti-aliasing turned on for the text. You may also consider removing the games. They are one more thing wanting my attention and taking attention away from the main purpose of the site. On the web less is more. >Hello everyone! > [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > >http://www.muzikarena.co.uk I should advise dropping the first-person writing style - it gives an impression of amateurishness, and self-serving egotism. Whereas you really want to give the impression of providing something for your readers - why else would they bother to use your site? Try to keep your wording catchy. "Also, there are other things to do besides listening to music. You can also play games and get to know other artists." Is rather wordy. Make it catchy with phrases like: "Games to play" "Mingle with musicians" "Great music to download" Which probably impart the same desired meaning. The general layout is very samey. And not very musical in appearance. How many ordinary readers will understand the phrase "View The Homepage Without CSS!" or even care? "I am in full-time education, with not much time to regularly update this website." This phrase shoots you in the foot. You are effectively telling readers not to bother returning, as the site is an amateur effort made by a school kid who cant be bothered to maintain it - whether or not that is true is irrelevant, that's the perception. Matt -- The Probert Encyclopaedia - The Reliable Encyclopaedia http://www.probertencyclopaedia.com > I should advise dropping the first-person writing style - it gives an > impression of amateurishness, and self-serving egotism. Whereas you > really want to give the impression of providing something for your > readers - why else would they bother to use your site? Hmm... "self-serving egotism"?? lol I just wanna share my passion with the world :P So how would I rephrase the wording? > Try to keep your wording catchy. > [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > > Which probably impart the same desired meaning. Very Nice! I'll update it! > The general layout is very samey. And not very musical in appearance. Does it have to be? I'm not the greatest at designing images... > How many ordinary readers will understand the phrase "View The > Homepage Without CSS!" or even care? This was kinda a personal achievement of implementing some good CSS for the 1st time. > "I am in full-time education, with not much time to regularly update > this website." [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > by a school kid who cant be bothered to maintain it - whether or not > that is true is irrelevant, that's the perception. Very true...I didn't realise it would have that effect. > Matt > > -- > The Probert Encyclopaedia - The Reliable Encyclopaedia http://www.probertencyclopaedia.com >> I should advise dropping the first-person writing style - it gives an >> impression of amateurishness, and self-serving egotism. Whereas you [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > >So how would I rephrase the wording? That is the question....Excellent writers earn vast sums of money, they work for advertising agencies stringing together finely tuned groups of words to provide just the right effect in the reader's mind. You may gain some insight by reading other web sites which follow similar themes, but beware those with equally poor wording. How do you tell them apart? That's your challenge! >> The general layout is very samey. And not very musical in appearance. > >Does it have to be? >I'm not the greatest at designing images... Yes it does. Scott pointed out that he didn't immediately grasp what the site is about. You understand music, create a site along the lines of a piece of music. Open with a dramatic embellishment of drama which leaves the reader in no doubt as to the musical nature of your site, and indeed your passion. Personally, I would go with a visual version of Wagner's Flight of the Valkyrie - is there a more stirring and dramatic piece of music? But you may prefer something more pastoral, or perhaps contemporary. The Spice Girl's sold on their knickers, not their talent, but I think you're more principled than them. Matt -- The Probert Encyclopaedia - The Reliable Encyclopaedia http://www.probertencyclopaedia.com |
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