I have finished my first draft of my website. I am looking for any feedback, good or bad. Not sure if this is the correct forum to place this in, if not let me know. I still have a lot to do with it, but any ideas I would love. Also let me know about speed for those who are on dial up connection.

Sandy's Scrap Designs

In advance, thanks for looking.

Sandy

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Happy Scrapping!

My Gallery
[IMG]

I like what you've done Sandy. My only suggestion might be to tone down the colors a little. They're bright on the eyes

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Anna


OUT NOW! The Visual Emotion Collection

My Gallery
Email me
Fotoscrapix

Hi Sandy-
This is an awesome first draft!!!!!!!!! It is very, very easy to navigate! I really like how you did the gallery! I have a website also (not scrapbooking though) so I'll make a few suggestions:

You should have the name of your business on every page- Sandy's Scrap Designs
Maybe you could squeeze it in that hot pink area above the links?, or right on top of that?

Hint:
To get ideas to borrow- not steal from another website, click View>Source and it will show you the HTML.

Try it with your website-
See where it says "<title>New Page 1</title>" (looking at the HTML), that is where you should have your biz name- you can follow it with "elements", "links" etc. or a sub title. It should be on every page. Where does this title show up? On that blue stripe on the very top of every page (if you have IE). Also, it is the first line when you do a search- google etc.- so you want it to say your biz name.

Right under that title (still looking at HTML) you should add this:
<meta name="keywords" content="digital scrapbook, digital scrapbooks, digital scrapbooking, computer scrapbook, computer scrapbooking, computer generated scrapbooking">

Plus any other keywords you would like to add. This will make your website easier to find when someone does a search for those words or phrases.

I see that your table width is set to 800- I would make it 700-750.
My monitor is 17" and I have to scroll to the right to see the whole page.

I have DSL, but 2 pages load very slowly (when I open them for the first time):
the Custom Odering Page and the Pricing List Page
Maybe because of the email jpeg?

Also, the email link is broke on the pricing list page.

IMHO, when giving credit to people- I would add for example:
flowers made by Shelleyrae (at Scrapbook-Bytes.com) not just the person's name.

Sorry if I got a little carried away, LMK if you have any questions about my suggestions The overall design looks great!!!!!

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~Laurie Garza~

Laurie and Anna
Thank you so much for your great feedback.
Laurie, your suggestions are awesome. After my dh posted this for me, he pointed out a lot of the comments you have made. I was wondering about size as well. I will try the size you suggested.

For this first attempt my dh only showed me how to import pictures so most of the pages are graphic files. He has now shown me how to use smaller parts of the page for graphic and tile the background and use font in Frontpage. This should improve the speed dramatically. I am learning so much so fast and cannot keep up with what I am learning. This was a blast doing the site. I am going to play around with the background color and maybe change it back to white. I am not sure how to tone down the colors. I will have try some different things.

I also noticed the email link is not working and I made a spelling error on the about me page.

Thank you also for the tip of crediting for layouts. I was not sure how to do this.

I will post another link when I make the changes.

This site is amazing for the help and information..

Sandy

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Happy Scrapping!

My Gallery
[IMG]

Sandy, great web page! I like the colors, especially the yellow. Can't wait to see more! -Ali

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Ali Folendore
Designing exclusively for Scrapbook-Bytes

that is just so bright and cheery! I really like it! GREAT JOB! and good luck!

it just makes me happy! those colors!

Finished doing my changes to the site if anyone wants to take another look.

Thank you again for the feedback.
I still plan on changing the size to make the overall page a bit smaller, definitely a work in progress. Hope to have some of my elements linked also.

Sandy

__________________
Happy Scrapping!

My Gallery
[IMG]

Wow you're fast Sandy!!!!!!

Are you ready?

I noticed that there is not a way to get back to your home page from the other pages. (I didn't notice this before.) My suggestion:
As much as I like those cool big flowers, I would make your home page the same design as the other pages and squeeze a "home" link to the far left. This way the customer can always get back home- LOL!

Ok- now for the nit picky stuff- that you can take or throw out the window :
On the home page:
First sentence- I would change the word film to my camera (and add a comma).
Third sentence- I would add the word "scrapbooking" after traditional- even though it is implied.
2nd to the last line- I would change to:
Let me design a Custom Layout for you
Last line- add an apostrophe to the end of scrapbookers (to show ownership of more than one scrapbooker)
Also, even though some words in the last 2 lines are italicized, I would either:
1. have each whole line be a link
or
2. underline the italicized words also

On the about me page:
I would change this:
Searching the WWW I found scrapbook-bytes.com, my new best friend. I purchased my first graphics program and the rest is history.
to this:
While searching the web, I found my new best friend- scrapbook-bytes.com!
Soon after, I purchased my first graphics program and the rest is history.
I would change this:
I also love to support my fellow digital scrapbookers by using their purchased creations.
to this:
I also love to support my fellow digital scrapbookers by purchasing their creations. (or something similar)

On the custom order page:
After "invitations"- scooch the comma to the left one space
Pricing Link looks out of place- maybe put it on the top left or right- a little smaller?
Under "How it Works"
I would word it this way:
Send (me) your pictures......
Send (me) your stories......
Choose your layout design

Don't forget to add those keywords- so people find you when they are doing a search!

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~Laurie Garza~