Your Opinion Please, Part 2

[EddieWalker]

Tug,

I honestly don't know where I'd be if it wasn't for the great advice that I've received here. Everything from buying and fixing equipment, to killing weeds and now, website advice. The list goes on and on, and I'm very thankful for all the help that I've received.

Eddie

 

[txdon]

Go to the local dealer and pick out one that looks good and get a shot of you with it.

That would be an integrity issue here in Texas!

Eddie, your truck is just fine, besides it will be in the background and you will be the focused subject.

 

[jinman]

Eddie, I don't know why your truck has to even be in the shot. If you were standing in front of your hot tub gazebo, that would show who you are and your work. If you can stand in a kitchen with clients and get somebody to snap a good picture, then that would be perfect in my opinion. Yes, we want you in the shot, but I think you with your product is a lot more important than you with your transportation. When the photo of you is so large it dominates the page, it doesn't matter what you look like. It's intimidating in my opinion. Be careful also about colors of your clothes. While your blue stripes are okay, a soft earthtone might be better. Reds, yellows, and any bright color would not be my choice. . . just my opinion.

 

[dex3361]

Eddie, How about a picture with what looks like a potential customers job site with a set of plans laid out and you shaking hands with the customer like you are sealing the deal with a hand shake. Just a thought.

 

[Bird]

Since no one else has mentioned it, maybe it's just my old deteriorating eyes, but that pale green print on white for that long column on the left is a bit difficult for me to read. I would much prefer a darker, easier to read, print.

And one of the things I have in common with jinman is that I used to be responsible for writing manuals, responding to correspondence, and proofreading what others had written. So grammatical and spelling errors stand out like a sore thumb when I'm reading what others have written. But then I'll make the same mistakes myself, and fail to catch them. I learned years ago to proofread what others have written, and to be sure and have someone else proofread what I write.

 

[IH3444]

One thing I noticed Eddie is that when I've seen windows bricked in, the contractor will chisel out the half bricks, and "weave" the full bricks in the new section. That way, as the wall ages in, it's less noticable that there was ever a window there.

How about just a picture of your wife on the front page, with CEO under the picture. Make it a big picture!

Then a link to your picture under "worker bee".

Sorry, just can't help but rib you a bit Eddie!:

 

[tugboat-2]

txdon : ...good golly Don, my sincere apologies for offending Texas-integrity with my "truck" suggestion. It was only meant to show a nice shiny new truck for the sake of the ad. Certainly NOT meant fraudulently!

Had Eddie "hired" an Ad-Agency to do the webpage and they showed a nice truck with professional models posed as carpenters, for instance,.....would that also offend "Texas-Integrity"? ....here in Canada it would just be considered good professional advertising?

I'm honestly NOT trying to be argumentative Don,.. I felt it a quick, easy way to dress up the ad with a shot of Eddie in a solid pastel coloured shirt by the front corner of a shiny new truck. But "NO" deceit or fraudulent "intention" whatsoever!! Sorry if I got it wrong? (FYI, ..my wife and I LOVE Texas and get down "almost" every winter,.. driving across the State to Corpus Christi and down to South Padre Island, ...so please know I would never intentionally offend our "friendly" Texans!!)(I hope to get to Dallas in March for the Pedal Steel Guitar Convention!!?..and will spend many happy hours on your roads).

....If I may, I'd like to scrap "my" thoughts on the truck idea after reading the suggestion put forth by~"Jinman"~and ~"dex3361"~ because I agree,.. let's replace the truck with an old fashioned "firm-hand-shake",.. "sealing-the-deal" with a hint of blueprint as background on the client's kitchen table with a happy wife pointing to the new cabinets, . . . or some such idea, (thanks to Jinman and dex3361),..that will attempt to increase Eddie's "solid, trust and integrity" as a businessman AND as a contractor!!

...Eddie, yes you're lucky having folks developing thoughts by kicking ideas around like this. Much of it will get scrapped, but FROM these suggestions,...you will eventually feel proud of the fine website that many have contributed to, . . and "we" will be proud knowing we had a part in its development.

Good luck and a Happy New Year to you, Steph and the kids!!! (Praps we'll swing-by "IF" we get down this year?)(Would love to meet y'all!)
CHEERS!
. . tug

 

[Uncle Doug]

Eddie, I agree with the others to group the photos of projects by type and use thumbnails which enlarge when clicked. This would allow you to have more photos of your work but less tabs.

Don't know if you can with your server software but some have it that when the mouse passes over a thumbnail photo it pops-up instantly but returns to normal after the mouse passes. This keeps the user from having to go back and forth with the back button. Even a slide show of different projects would give the customer a quicker overview of your work without having to go down the list of each tab.

I do like the family photo like it is. It give you the family guy look instead of all business and no fun.

 

[EddieWalker]

Thanks everyone. I work at it in spurts when I get the urge. Right now, I'm taking notes and reading up on what I can do with the software that I have available. There is a basic template, then there are the advanced options.

I still have a long way to go, but at least now I have some better direction and ideas.

Thank you,
Eddie

 

[dex3361]

Eddie
I always feel a lot better after I talked to references (satisfied customers) if you could develop a list of references that could be provided to customers that are seriously considering your services. I liked the testimonials, I would keep them incorporated in the Web page somehow.

 

[EddieWalker]

I have a list of references, but didn't realize that I failed to mention that on my website until just now. Thank you. It's actually something that I need to update and add to with some more names and phone numbers.

What's kind of funny, is that I've only handed it out a couple times. And I think the last tim was about three years ago. In those cases, I'm not aware of anybody actually being called on my reference list.

I've had two calls this week with jobs. I'm booked up for the next several months, and I don't advertise. Sooner or later, it's going to slow down, so updating my reference list is something that I need to do in the evening while watching TV.

Thanks,
Eddie

 

[dex3361]

Your work is a great advertisement, it speaks for itself and your reputation spreads by word of mouth. Showcase your best work totally completely finished. I noticed in the RR Wheelchair ramp pictures that bottom board was not totally painted. I am sure you finished it but its not that way in the picture. My point is show case your work finished. If its in progress show a neat work area with tools and equipment with someone appearing busy in the pic. I have no right to cast stones because I rarely finish anything around the house after 95% it slows way down. I think I do it so if the wife pushes for a job to be completed I can have one knocked out in a whip stitch.

I have a list of references, but didn't realize that I failed to mention that on my website until just now. Thank you. It's actually something that I need to update and add to with some more names and phone numbers.

What's kind of funny, is that I've only handed it out a couple times. And I think the last tim was about three years ago. In those cases, I'm not aware of anybody actually being called on my reference list.

I've had two calls this week with jobs. I'm booked up for the next several months, and I don't advertise. Sooner or later, it's going to slow down, so updating my reference list is something that I need to do in the evening while watching TV.

Thanks,
Eddie

 

[dcyrilc]

In a previous thread, I asked for your opinion on what I'd written for my website. I thought it was pretty good, but none of you did!! After listening to your advice, I realized that you were right and I did't have a clue.

Thank you for helping me and being honest in your critique. Thankfully, a few of you sent me PM's with some great suggestions. Without giving out any names, one of you really helped me out allot, and as you'll see, I pretty much posted all of your suggestions. A special thank you for your help!!!

Since then, I've been working on my website. I realize that hiring it out would have been easier, but I've seen so many profesionally done sites that I hate, that I figured I could do it myself. Obviosly, that's not true. But thankfully, with your help, I think I'm getting close.

Again, I'm not really looking for more jobs. The phone is still ringing and I'm booked up into March as of right now. My goal is to allow potential clients a way to see some of what I've done and to give them a comfortable feeling about hiring me. I still want to add some before and after pictures, but for now, this is what I have.

Be honest, be brutal and especially, be specific. While telling me that it's terrible will help, telling me it's terrible because of a certain reason is something that I can change.

Home Page

Thank you,
Eddie

OK, I haven't read anything but your first post yet, but here is what I see:

A) Too many items down the left edge.
B) The plaid has to go. For me, it's too busy, or bright, or something. I just think it overpowers the picture. I think I would agree with others to use the pavillion picture.

 

[dcyrilc]

Should the picture be of my family, my wife and me, or just me? Does it matter? Are people influenced by a family picture, or do they just want to be able to put a face to who they are considering for the job?

Eddie

I like the family picture, but I don't think it belongs on the front page. Put it on the contacts page.

 

[EddieWalker]

... I noticed in the RR Wheelchair ramp pictures that bottom board was not totally painted. I am sure you finished it but its not that way in the picture. ...

What I need to do is put some captions on the pictures. Allot of the time, I do or get a project to the point where the homeowner feels comfortable taking over. In the case of that ramp, I tore down what her son had done, built the ramp you see there, and then he started painting it. From the time I finished the woodwork, and about a week later, when I collected the check, he's gotten that much painting done. I didn't have my camera with me when I was working on it, and that's the only picture of it that I have. Since building it, her husband passed away and her son tore it all down.

Thanks for bringing it up. It reminds me that I need to get on this.
Eddie

 

[Cat_Driver]

I would get your family OFF the web site immediately.

There are too may sick people cruising the web and if they see your family - who knows.
The family does not make a perspective customer want to buy from you any more than not having a family on the web.

People now a days buy by price. PERIOD. Seems quality is a lot less important to the majority of buyers. If you can show quality at a great price word of mouth will keep you booked fro years.

We've all lost bids because of amazingly low bids with no regards to quality. In order to compete with these bottom feeders we need to match the price and beat the quality till they dry up and go away, they we will be the only ones standing.

If you want a family on the web, hire some actors or buy a stock photo. There is a reason most famous people won't show there kids ever.

 

[charlz]

The family pic loads incredibly slow because it is really a 3000x4000 pixel image and you are having the browser re-size it to 800x600 so you are transferring tons of data for nothing. Resize the image on your computer to 800x600 and replace the one on your website with it.

Same goes with your logo image. 591x453 but re-sizing it to 235x178 not as bad since it is black and white but you should still optimize for fast page loads.

Whether or not you use the family image is ultimately up to you but there is an 'above the fold' theory. When the page first loads the first impression is what you can see on the screen without vertical scrolling. Almost all of this space is taken up by your logo and family picture. I would make it the same size as your logo image and put it to the right of your logo. This will allow actual information to make it above the fold.

As mentioned before change

<title>Home Page</title> to <title>Eddie Walker - General Contractor</title>

or whatever you want the title in bookmarks etc to say.

Reorganize the navigation bar. As mentioned put all the projects under a 'Examples of My Work' or similar link.
I would go with:

Home Page
Services
Examples
Testimonials
FAQ
Good Advice

for the order as this is a more natural flow to how a customer would explore your site.

 

[jinman]

The family pic loads incredibly slow because it is really a 3000x4000 pixel image and you are having the browser re-size it to 800x600 so you are transferring tons of data for nothing. Resize the image on your computer to 800x600 and replace the one on your website with it.

Same goes with your logo image. 591x453 but re-sizing it to 235x178 not as bad since it is black and white but you should still optimize for fast page loads.

Whether or not you use the family image is ultimately up to you but there is an 'above the fold' theory. When the page first loads the first impression is what you can see on the screen without vertical scrolling. Almost all of this space is taken up by your logo and family picture. I would make it the same size as your logo image and put it to the right of your logo. This will allow actual information to make it above the fold.

As mentioned before change

<title>Home Page</title> to <title>Eddie Walker - General Contractor</title>

or whatever you want the title in bookmarks etc to say.

Reorganize the navigation bar. As mentioned put all the projects under a 'Examples of My Work' or similar link.
I would go with:

Home Page
Services
Examples
Testimonials
FAQ
Good Advice

for the order as this is a more natural flow to how a customer would explore your site.

Charlz, your post is proof that you can get great advice for free. You said a lot and every word is worth reading two or three times so it will sink in.

 

[PILOON]

Gee, I really wanted to check it out but only have dial up.
Guess all your potential clients are Hi Speed.

 

[RachelM]

Hey Eddie, I've been trying to contact you via PM, but haven't had any luck so far. I am a single mom in college and would love to have more websites to add to my portfolio. I've put a website together for you, at no cost. I just need more "live" sites for my portfolio Let me know what you think:
Edward Walker - General Contractor

I can even host it on my server if you would like, it's unlimited so it wouldn't cost me anything extra to add your site. Let me know if you are interested, you can email me at rmalone77@gmail.com

Thanks!