What is wrong with our site main page?

[chaloupe]

Hi guys,

Just need to have your feedback on our website.

It seems that we have some problems on our main page because people don't go anywhere except our main page. We have good prices for hosting but they just don't go to the hosting page or resellers info pages.

Link to our website:

http://www.jbwseries.com

Thanks in advanced for your inputs.

[tucan]

Your problem is it does not look like a company's website. It resembles a parked advertising web page.

Personally I would recommend the following:
1. Cut the amount of content in half
2. Get rid of the banner images or spread them out across the appropiate pages on the website.
3. Drop the red text for something that compliments the blue
4. Add more white space.
5. Increase the size of your logo and focus more on branding.

[esl]

I like the red, and I think your logo is a good size. I think you should make your top links like "Reseller Hosting, Website Design etc." larger or do something to make them stick out more.

[chaloupe]

Thanks for your input tucan

1. Cut the amount of content in half

It has been optimized for search engine. Can't cut on content.

3. Drop the red text for something that compliments the blue

That could be a good ideas but red is not a bad color, try to say that to McDonalds...

4. Add more white space.

It's quite difficult to put some withe spaces somewhere on the main page. Just don't know where to begin.

5. Increase the size of your logo and focus more on branding.

I had rough time with branding for this design. I just can't find something to work.

I will maybe have to get rid of this design and start again. Maybe sell this one for a few bucks.

[chaloupe]

I have made some changes to get some text out and get more white spaces around. I will shop for some nice images for hosting purpose. I'Il try to find some around.

[esl]

The changes on your website look great! What about the content for search engines though?

[chaloupe]

That should be a great idea to incorporate into the website.

Working on it to have it setup for tonight.

[chaloupe]

Excellent post Mike!

I will try to follow some idea you have said in the post.

You're right about having 6 shared plan. It is too much for new hosting buyer and the one at 100MB is not realistic.

I will try to do something about the main page so it doesn't look like a park page.

[quietFinn]

I suggest reading this: http://www.webpagesthatsuck.com/dailysucker/

"here's the #1 mistake your web site (and its design) will make:

Nobody cares about you or your site. Really. What visitors care about is getting their problems solved. Most people visit a web site to solve one or more of the following three problems.

1. They want/need information
2. They want/need to make a purchase / donation.
3. They want/need to be entertained.

Too many organizations believe that a web site is about opening a new marketing channel or getting donations or to promote a brand. No. It's about solving your customers' problems.
Write these two sentences where you can see them as you're working on your computer:

1. The only reason my web site exists is to solve my customers' problems.
2. What problems does the page I'm looking at solve?"

[ltrump]

Originally Posted by quietFinn

I suggest reading this: http://www.webpagesthatsuck.com/dailysucker/


"here's the #1 mistake your web site (and its design) will make:

Nobody cares about you or your site. Really. What visitors care about is getting their problems solved. Most people visit a web site to solve one or more of the following three problems.

1. They want/need information
2. They want/need to make a purchase / donation.
3. They want/need to be entertained.

Too many organizations believe that a web site is about opening a new marketing channel or getting donations or to promote a brand. No. It's about solving your customers' problems.

Write these two sentences where you can see them as you're working on your computer:

1. The only reason my web site exists is to solve my customers' problems.
2. What problems does the page I'm looking at solve?"

Now that is some pretty awesome advice.

[chaloupe]

It's not design that sold products for my application but I should pay someone soon to get it right. Don't have the patience to see this design everyday.

Need some advice on company that could give a boost to my website.

Money is not an issue for us. So we will invest.

[esl]

Have you been to http://www.inverse-logic.com/ before? They are the company that designed HostGator's website.

[chaloupe]

We have just sent a quote for a new design. We have no time to waste for this crapy design we did!!!

Let's begin the futur of our company (by starting with a design that can help ) !!

[esl]

What company are you getting the design from?

[chaloupe]

Waiting for a quote from inverse-logic.

[kentworks]

I see you`re offering web design services, wouldn`t it be better to design your own site yourself? It would certainly be a better selling point for your design business, instead of using a third party

[esl]

That's a good point!

[chaloupe]

Originally Posted by kentworks

I see you`re offering web design services, wouldn`t it be better to design your own site yourself? It would certainly be a better selling point for your design business, instead of using a third party

We do have web design services but it is done by a third party that we pay to get the job done.

When we receive an order, we transfer everything the company we do businesses with...

We just need to have a company with more knowledge in branding and have it done the right way the first time. We are to friendly with our desing partner to have them do our website. Sometimes you just need to get someone else to do it.

We are more focus on the hosting part and not the design. So now let's have a well-known company do our site.

[chaloupe]

Just got a quote,

$2200 for a deisgn. Payment are 50% to begin the project / 50 at the end

I have ask for a one page design only but they said that they will do a 10 page design. I think they just don't listen to me and are trying to make more money at once or selling me a template monster design at a unique price.??!!??

I have ask for only the design, no other page to developp. I will cut the template to do a header and footer and that's about it. I have the text already. so they just need to design and put images in it.

anyway I will contact them again to have maybe clear that issue out.

Web page design at this quality seems to be quite difficult. I have ask for something and they have tried to sell me the hole package. Quite not happy about what I have ask and what they will try to sell me.

I think I will try to find another web design firm to see if they will do the same thing.

Story to follow!!...

[esl]

Would they even show you a little bit of the website before the $1100 50% payment?!?

[chaloupe]

I don't think so. I will have to ask them. Tx for asking me!

[Clark]

very interesting tale. Thanks for sharing, hope it all works out well for you.

[esl]

Jean,
Do you want a flash, non-flash or both template versions for your website?

[chaloupe]

Non Flash, Fast loading design only. I just need to have 2: one in english and the other one in french.

[kentworks]

Jean,

Try asking some of the folks on the OWSD and Opensource communties about your needs. They`ve got some good designers on there who could knock you up a really nice site/template for much less. I`ve used on of the designers before for a project of mine, and I`ve never been happier with both the product and the price.