Critique

Bob wrote:

>Date: Thu, 16 Apr 1998 10:49:23 -0500
>From: "Bobby Booker" <jiab(at)coredcs.com>
>Subject: [none]
>
>I would appreciate hearing from someone with experience in content and flow
>to evaluate the effectiveness of my web site, specifically to see if my
>design works aethestically, as well as to communicate my message of why
>customers do business with me instead of my competitors.
>
>I just started with html and I get caught up in the writing, and need some
>feedback.  Thanks to all who take a look, the site is at
>www.coredcs.com/~jiab
>
>thanks

Viewed with NN4
800 X 600  256 colours, 14"
33.6 bps from Ottawa

Bob, the last time I gave a critique, I was lambasted by some as being cruel
and uncaring.  If you are easily offended, hit delete now.  To everybody
else...I don't care what YOU think, these are my opinions!
***************************************************************************
Technical items:
    Validation:
None of your pages carry a DOC TYPE, therefore I can't really check for
validation.  A quick peek at the code appears relatively OK (I think you
might have a problem in the Navigation frame), but I'm no SGML parser<Grin>.

    Frames:
No <NO FRAMES> option provided.  As a business site, this is an insult to
visitors who may be using frames-challenged browsers.  While their numbers
are gradually diminishing as Netscape and IE race for world domination, not
providing such a simple thing is disrespectful to your potential customers.
Also, I personally question why you give up 250 pixels to the left hand
navigation...can you not pare this down somewhat?  At 640 X 480, this leaves
only 390 pixels (before allowing for "browser offset") for the main screen,
and this presumes that they visitor is viewing at full screen.  Couple this
with the fact that your "jock2.gif" is 370 pixels wide and you open yourself
up for some funky display interpretations.

    Graphics:
Way too much animation going on there.  The flashing lights is not bad, but
the dancing HappyFace (M&Ms guys), spinning CD, mouthing lips (what, no
flames?)...it's a tad overdone.  Sometimes less is more (if you catch my
drift).  Impress you potential customers with content, not gimmicks (you
said as much yourself in the section on choosing a DJ...why hide behind
these "smoke machines"?)  Radio station Logos - try and size them at one
consistent size.  USE A GRAPHICS PROGRAM to do this, and not "force" the
browser to do the work using the H & W tags; you'll appreciate a better load
time (and so will your clients).  Finally, some of the pages feature the
smoky grey "back.gif", while others don't.  Is there a reason for this?
Strive to be visually consistent through-out the site, and this element is
an important one.

    Content:
Strong and well written.  You seem to have found a good balance between
helping the potential client choose the right DJ and positioning yourself as
that choice.  Small point, you repeat yourself a few times too many on some
of your sell points ("We never confuse quality with quantity"); re-read your
content and try re-phrasing these ideas in different ways.  Unless it's a
"Motto", try and reinforce the concepts in different perspectives...don't
keep repeating yourself.

    Navigation:
Here's where you need to tighten up a lot.  Currently, your navigation
appears to go 'round in circles, plus the fact that the same ideas appear to
be presented more than once in different formats/html pages.  It gets
confusing, and confused customers usually walk out of the store.  Using
frames is supposed to be for clarity of navigation, but you're not taking
full advantage of it.  Clicking on the logo takes me through a completely
different route than if I used the left hand navigation.  Why?  Be
consistent.  Also, at different points throughout the "visit" you offer the
visitor the option to leave by hyperlinking to the different radio stations.
While providing the links is a good idea, try not to give them out until the
visitor has finished visiting you.  In other words, try and group them all
together, and chronologically towards the "end" of your site...maybe a links
page, or equivalent?  Also, as a side note, unless you REALLY REMEMBER to
update your CHR Top 20 chart (WIFC) every week, it will very quickly become
dated...which in turn will tell potential clients that you don't care about
keeping your site up to date, which might get them thinking about what else
you don't care about...  Finally, "close" with your contact information
(email, phone, Credit Card Info, etc.).  Make it strong and simple, if the
potential client has gotten this far (and they will, trust me) you need to
ask for the business.  Perhaps a <FORM> to provide a quote back to the
client? (What date are you looking at?  What kind of budget are you prepared
to spend?  Do you require any speciality music?  What kind of dress code do
you expect? etc. ...you would know what kind of question to ask better than
I)        But never forget, Lesson #1 in Salesman's School is "Ask for the
Order".

Overall, not bad.  Your content compensates for the navigation/graphics
comments noted above, but just.  Try to make the site flow in a straight
line (you're almost there now, but it's kinda awkward).

Good Luck.

John Foliot
Another 4:00 AM Web Thing
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

www.fouram.com
fouram(at)sympatico.ca

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