Third post - Slate my site LOL! - Graphic Design Forums: UK forums for graphic designers

bogfrog · 08-19-2010, 02:14 AM

Hello,

I have recently set up this website:

Bogfrog Design & Print

It is a print/design self contained non data base site.
I designed it and my friend programed it for £50 which i thought was pretty good

I have been a self employed designer/printer for 8 years.
I have no formal training as such but have worked for all manner of clients and would love to improve my skills a bit.

I do Design and have a good trade account with a local printer so if no design is involved its just a matter of admin and passing the delivery/files over.

I have not put much effort into promoting the site at all as I am a DJ and have been putting allot of time in to that.

I now have a full diary until mid next year so I want to devote some time to the printing/design
YOUR DJ - TOBY - Mobile Disco in Hampshire, Southampton, The New Forest, Dorset, Wiltshire, Sussex, Mobile DJ Wedding

My girlfriend/secretary

has moved in and quit her job so I technically have an employee to answer the phone and do the admin (she is a proper clever girl).

Any advice on the following would be very very helpful:

- how rubbish my site is

- what i can improve on website client traffic?

Thanks

chris_17 · 08-19-2010, 07:07 PM

Quote:

friend programed it for £50 which i thought was pretty good

No offence but the code is very poor.

The design wouldn't be too bad if it wasn't for all of the tables.

Katedesign · 08-20-2010, 02:36 PM

Where are you based?
I wouldn't deal with someone who didn't publish a phone number or address.
Otherwise ditto all the above.

bogfrog · 08-21-2010, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Katedesign

Where are you based?
I wouldn't deal with someone who didn't publish a phone number or address.
Otherwise ditto all the above.

Thanks for that. I am going to put the phone number and address next week when my office is sorted.

I agree with the code, but it does work and is a usable business?

I don't think it looks too bad.

think about it from joe publics point of view and not a web designer. Is the average client going to know that? Possibly - but i dont think I would care as long as the customer service is there and price is competetive.

Do you think this coding will affect the google rankings however?

Here is what i have on text wrangler. I initially designed it on dreamweaver hence all the tables.

<? session_start(); ?>
<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd">
<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
<head>
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1" />
<meta name="description" content="Bogfrog Design & Print - We offer top quality printing at unbeatable UK prices on Flyers, Busines Cards, Leaflets, Letterheads, Compslips, Posters, Business Packs" />
<meta name="keywords" content="bogfrog,bogfrog print,best printing,best price,flyers,business cards,leaflets,letterheads,compslips,posters,busin ess packs,stationery,stationary,letterhead,order printing online,low priced printing">
<title>Bogfrog Design & Print</title>
<?
$page = 'index';
include 'header.php'; ?>
<tr align="center" valign="middle">
<td height="260" colspan="2" align="left" valign="top"><table width="950" height="258" border="1" cellspacing="4">
<tr>
<td width="237" height="200" align="left" valign="middle"><div align="center"><a href="http://www.graphicdesignforums.co.uk/website-design-critique/flyers.php"><img src="images2/leaflets.jpg" width="180" height="180" border="0" /></a></div></td>
<td width="237" height="200" align="left" valign="middle"><div align="center"><a href="http://www.graphicdesignforums.co.uk/website-design-critique/graphic-design-southampton.html"></a><a href="http://www.graphicdesignforums.co.uk/website-design-critique/stationery.php"><img src="images2/business-cards.jpg" width="180" height="180" border="0" /></a></div></td>
<td width="237" height="200" align="left" valign="middle"><div align="center"><a href="http://www.graphicdesignforums.co.uk/website-design-critique/web-optimisation-southampton.html"></a><a href="http://www.graphicdesignforums.co.uk/website-design-critique/web-optimisation-southampton.html"></a><a href="http://www.graphicdesignforums.co.uk/website-design-critique/printingsouthampton.html"></a><a href="http://www.graphicdesignforums.co.uk/website-design-critique/posters.php"><img src="images2/posters.jpg" width="180" height="180" border="0" /></a></div></td>
<td width="237" height="200" align="left" valign="middle"><div align="center"><a href="http://www.graphicdesignforums.co.uk/website-design-critique/meettheteam.html"></a><a href="http://www.graphicdesignforums.co.uk/website-design-critique/meettheteam.html"></a><a href="http://www.graphicdesignforums.co.uk/website-design-critique/businesspacks.php"><img src="images2/letterheads.jpg" width="180" height="180" border="0" /></a></div> </td>
</tr>
<tr bordercolor="#000000">
<td width="237" height="46" align="center" valign="middle" bgcolor="#333333"><p align="center" class="style140"><a href="http://www.graphicdesignforums.co.uk/website-design-critique/flyers.php" class="style161">Flyers & Leaflets </a></p> </td>
<td width="237" height="46" align="center" valign="middle" bgcolor="#333333"><div align="center" class="style139">
<div align="center" class="style143"><a href="http://www.graphicdesignforums.co.uk/website-design-critique/stationery.php" class="style161">Stationery</a> </div>
</div></td>
<td width="237" height="46" align="center" valign="middle" bgcolor="#333333"><div align="center" class="style139">
<div align="center" class="style142"><a href="http://www.graphicdesignforums.co.uk/website-design-critique/posters.php" class="style161">Posters</a></div>
</div></td>
<td width="237" height="46" align="center" valign="middle" bgcolor="#333333"><div align="center" class="style139">
<p align="center" class="style143"><a href="http://www.graphicdesignforums.co.uk/website-design-critique/businesspacks.php" class="style161">Business Packs </a></p>
</div></td>
</tr>
</table>
<div align="left"></div> </td>
</tr>

</table> </td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td height="12" colspan="3" bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><h1 align="center" class="style37">BOGFROG / PRINTING / PRINTER / GRAPHIC DESIGN - WE PRODUCE FLYERS, FOLDED LEAFLETS, BUSINESS CARDS, POSTERS, LETTERHEADS, COMPLIMENT SLIPS, BUSINESS PACKS, MARKETING & WEB SOLUTIONS </h1></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td height="22" colspan="3" bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><div align="center"><span class="style33">All contents copyright of Bogfrog Design & Print © 2005-2010 - All rights reserved </span></div></td>
</tr>
</table>
</body>
</html>

-

zod · 08-21-2010, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bogfrog

Do you think this coding will affect the google rankings however?

Yes. It will also affect page load speeds, usability, accessibility, site update time will increase due to inline styles, and the alignment of the columns vs the nav is awful. Then again, for someone starting out and only willing to spend £50 it will do to test the waters. Although I disagree with not having contact details...especially if you expect people to pay up front on your site....which also seems a bit iffy. Paying a set fee without you knowing how much design will be involved for you? In my opinion, you'd be better off scrapping the shopping cart and putting a phone number instead if you want decent work.

zod · 08-21-2010, 01:38 PM

Oh! And no terms and conditions, privacy policy i.e. basic requirements of an online business, and no mention of whether VAT is included or applicable is very bad!

bogfrog · 08-21-2010, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zod

Oh! And no terms and conditions, privacy policy i.e. basic requirements of an online business, and no mention of whether VAT is included or applicable is very bad!

Thanks. I will add the t&c's tomorrow.

It does say on each of the product descriptions about VAT. Its not included as i am not yet VAT registered.
I will make it more obvious as it is designed more for businesses.

Cheers for the feedback

Quote:

Originally Posted by zod

you'd be better off scrapping the shopping cart and putting a phone number instead if you want decent work.

Done!

-

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode