Site Review...

rashid38 · #1 (**permalink**) 03-10-2008, 12:58 PM

Anyone who have time (lisa, Sherif, etc.) would you please review my site at:http://www.arnouxalifamily.org

and tell me what you thinl can make it better. Do understand though I am just really getting my feet wet with html coding, (currently taking a online course at the community college)

All feedback is welcome. Thanks in advance for your time.

rashid

Ulrich · #2 (**permalink**) 03-10-2008, 01:05 PM

There are a number of things here.

1.) Content doesn't apply to me.
-- This means that nothing on your page is something of interest to me and I think I can safely say any other user. Of course, I assume it's only intended for friends and family in which case you can't expect to attract a great amount of visitors.

2.) Colours
-- The background is just plain blue, this makes the site look a little unprofessional and the text on it aint that easy to read either.

3.) Layout
-- Everything seems to be structured below one another. Content, images, content and a handful of links at the bottom (where people would most likely not see them). Also, everything is centered.

I understand that you're very new to web designing and don't mean to criticise but merely to help. Try creating a light background with dark text or a dark background with light text. Usually black-white-grey combinations work quite well.

Try improving the navigation by implementing a seperate navigation bar to the top or left/right of your page that's there permanently. This will give a consistent look and feel to your page and make it easier to navigate.

Best of luck to you

nixwebo · #3 (**permalink**) 03-10-2008, 04:53 PM

There are many things that can be added or changed, but what I am missing is what you want your site to end up looking like. Please reply and maybe I can assist in getting your site how "you" like it.

Because just like "Ulrich" said, if you do not intend you site to be informational to the public, it only matters what you want it to be for you and your family. The photo albums are neat but it is hard to see the links, I can show you how to change the code to correct this.

All in all, if you are just learning, you got a good thing going, don't get discouraged!

ssmorgan · #4 (**permalink**) 03-10-2008, 07:38 PM

Rashid,

I think Ulrich and nixwebo captured most of the comments I would have pointed out about your website.

Like they also mentioned, however, since this is a personal website, the most important thing is that it does what you want to do it, which I think it will!

I bet it will be interesting for you to evaluate your website from time-to-time as you progress in your HTML course.

Sherif

Gigababbler · #5 (**permalink**) 03-10-2008, 08:53 PM

I don't really see anything in your site except for a marquee header, some pictures, and one paragraph...and oh yes, a blue background.

Are you serious about website making? Or is it just a leisure thing?

rashid38 · #6 (**permalink**) 03-11-2008, 10:28 AM

Gigababbler,

First and foremost thanks for the review. Yes I am very serious about web page designing and being a webmaster thats why I signed up for Website Babble.com, to suround myself around people of the same mind set and field of work. In hopes of learning a lot, as well as getting review for my efforts.

My seriouness, has drove me to take a online course at my local community college entitled: Creating Web Pages I, II. So yes I am very serious... By the way That is my very first web-page

Thanks,

rashid

rashid38 · #7 (**permalink**) 03-11-2008, 10:39 AM

Ulrich,

Thanks for the review. To answer some of your questions, the website is desgin for family and friends, so more less it is a family orientated website. Its not design to make me any money or anything. And trully I realize it is a lot of room for improvement. But truly this is the type of feedback that makes me better.

rashid

rashid38 · #8 (**permalink**) 03-11-2008, 10:54 AM

Nick Simpson,

Thanks a lot Nick. Like I was telling Ulrich my site is to informative family and friends only and I do admitted it proably use some what of a face lift... Starting with the first page, as well as I still have three more pages I need to create (i.e. Daughter; Oldest son; Me & my wife) One of the things I see that needs change is adding the navigation bar on the top along with a banner for each page.

Nick, I am open for any suggest you my have, like I said its my first and I realize there is room for improvement.

Thanks

Rashid

Ulrich · #9 (**permalink**) 03-11-2008, 11:20 AM

Hello again,

This is where I learnt pretty much everything I know today. It's from the World Wide Web Consortium so it's really good and they teach you while offering you the chance of editing the HTML code and testing it again.

http://www.w3schools.com/html/html_examples.asp

And to learn some valuable CSS

http://www.w3schools.com/css/css_examples.asp

Really do yourself a favour and go through some of those examples it's great

Good luck

rashid38 · #10 (**permalink**) 03-11-2008, 11:27 AM

Ulrich,

Thanks again. I really appreciate all the info you have shared with me.

ssmorgan · #11 (**permalink**) 03-11-2008, 11:56 AM

Rashid,

Awesome Attitude!

I am glad you did not get discouraged by some of the comments that were made. For a first try at a website, you're doing great, and you will continue to learn and get better at it!

I also second Ulrich's recommendation for the W3 Schools website, it's a great resource to learn HTML (and other languages too, like CSS, which I would recommend that you learn that in conjunction with html).

Have a great day.

Sherif

Gigababbler · #12 (**permalink**) 03-11-2008, 05:27 PM

It's great if this is your first time. I mean, I remember when I had to do my own site with raw HTML at school, and it didn't look nearly as good as yours.

Don't worry, you'll start to pick things up very rapidly once you really get into it. All you need to do on your part is invest some time and effort.

Gig

nixwebo · #13 (**permalink**) 03-13-2008, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rashid38

Nick Simpson,

Nick, I am open for any suggest you my have, like I said its my first and I realize there is room for improvement.

Thanks

Rashid

OK I got some ideas for ya.

First lets look at the link color, just a pet peeve of mine.

We are working with a webpage with a blue background so myself I would use a white color for the links, it is easy on the eyes and you have choosen to use a light grey color for the text on your page so you do not want to use the same color for both, this would become confusing to the viewer of your page.

I assume you are familiar with changing the color of the text because you have done it and the link color to so all I'm gonna give you is the hexadecimal color for white which is #FFFFFF if you need more help on implementing that lemme know.

Here is a great quick reference tool to see colors together and how they look:

http://www.visibone.com/colorlab/

you can click on a color and it will display different colors with a palette of other colors to show the contrast.

I will admit that color shemes were very hard for me at first and with time they will become more natural....some would tell you to change the background color of the site because it is hard the eyes but I am not here to critique your site but to help develope it with you.

You stated that there was some interest for a navigation bar at the top of the page, here is a link to a cool site that helps you create some pretty sweet navy bars for free:

http://www.guistuff.com/tools.shtml

Just scroll down on that page and you will see many different style of navigation toolbars you can make right there on there site and then just copy and past the code.

You can also make simple table at the top of the page using border and background colors to make it stand out, if you are interested I can give you more about this as well.

Oh and just another bit, maybee change the "Website" at the top to "Welcome to Our Website", a little more inviting, and it may make your fam and friends feel special when they visit

That'l keep you busy for a minute and just let me know when and what else I can comment on or help you with, you are welcome to pm me on her or email me.

PS thanks for the nixweb join

nixwebo · #14 (**permalink**) 03-17-2008, 01:49 PM

Rashid has been updating and reworking his site it is looking better and better, you can see it here : http://www.arnouxalifamily.org

James · #15 (**permalink**) 03-17-2008, 06:51 PM

Wow, are you ever correct, Nixwebo. What a change and it is looking a lot better.

Rashid, you are not only learning, you are putting the pieces together very well. I think you are learning the way a lot of people used to talk about learning to swim. You just jumped into the deep water and then had to swim or else. Keep up the good work, you are doing well.

Good Success!

James

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