Review my site...please!

[fireflysolution]

Hello. I'm looking for as many suggestions, comments, etc. about my site as I can get. I just want to know what people honestly think about it. Please feel free to offer any criticism!

http://www.firefly-solutions.us

Thanks!

[kyro]

Its ok, some stuff is missing though such as pricing.
As well as there are a few bugs in the flash version.
Overall the design is a bit to plain for a design company, I think that more colors would improve the overall appearance. And the starting page has too much writing.

edit: the logo could benefit from AA

[Evan]

I'd put the main page stuff on the About Us page because it just explains your company. Also, when you listed your services, I wasn't sure what GIS was -- maybe you should write out what things are (other than IT).

I'd agree with kyro, your site is a bit too bland for a design company. With more colors and a slightly different layout you should have a good site. You may want to consider promoting a certain product on the front page or offering some type of special.

[San Diego Real]

Hello Folks,

Please take a moment and drop by and give me some feedback on my site!

www.SanDiego-House.com

Thanks,

[OneWebAve]

Firefly,

At first glance, the color scheme does not really do it for me. Here are some other items:

1.) You have "mystery navigation" - that is to say the Services sub-links only show up when I am on the services link. Links should never disappear, forcing users to find them again. Make them always available.

2.) Your services page is the best. Easy to read, concise, clear. As a result, I would make it your home page. Make your home page content a new page called "Clients" instead.

3.) I did not even see your portfolio link until the THIRD time I visited your Graphic Design page. Again, mystery navigation. You need to make that a main link item at the top. Also, get rid of the pop-ups. Just display them on the page so users don't have to click repeatedly to see your work.

4.) On the Web Development page, your clients are listed at the bottom. Again, add these to your portfolio. Is it my imagination, or does the mouse cursor NOT change to a "hand" when I am over the images? That confused me, I thought they were not linked. Finally, you say Visit Website for the ASCE site, but it does not link.

5.) Your About Us page is two columns, which seems to make reading it more difficult. How about just one?

I hope that helps!

[OneWebAve]

Originally Posted by San Diego Real

Hello Folks,

Please take a moment and drop by and give me some feedback on my site!

www.SanDiego-House.com

Thanks,

Alan,

I would recommend you start your own thread to have people review your site, and then I would be happy to reply there so we don't hijack FireFly's thread.

[skyy]

Hey there. I haven’t read anyone else’s review, so please forgive me if I am repeating stuff. I looked over your site real quick, and just wanted to point out a few things that I noticed.

1- I don’t like sites with 'start pages' to lead into the site itself. Personal preference, I suppose. Most of the time sites will be presented in flash and provide a link option for the html page. Maybe that’s just what I am use to, but I prefer it that way. Also, and maybe its just me here, but I kept trying to click on the firefly icon instead of the word. Maybe it would be more user-friendly if you provided that as an option?

2- On your services/graphic design page all of your links had icons except the corporate identity one. I find little things like that to be very distracting and I feel it gives the impression of not being "pulled together". I am a very detail-oriented person, and a little ocd.. so maybe it doesn’t bother others as it does me.

3- I really like what you have done with your about us section. I have said this before, but personal info makes me feel a lot more at ease when dealing with new companies. (New in business, or new to me)

4- In your 'contact us' info, you have "...or my phone at..." Maybe "us" or "Firefly Solutions" would sound a little more professional. I am very turned off by things like that.

5- There is no purchase info or prices. I like to shop around and stopping to contact you might put some potential customers off a little. I do think it would be beneficial to include some pricing info, at the very least a "call us for a quote"

6- One last thing and I will be on my way. By no means am I a writing expert (obviously, right) but I do think your site could benefit from a little proof reading. I would like to see some more creative writing from a company that wants my web building business.

Hope my review was helpful!

-Skyy

[John Fletcher]

Firefly,

I'm another who hates 'start pages' that ask you to choose between Flash and HTML. Assume your visitor is a non-techy who can only just manage to surf around the Internet (hence their need for your expertise!). Don't ask them to immediately choose between Flash and HTML, because you'll lose them before they even get to your home page.

After looking through your site, it seems you are trying to promote four different types of IT service - GIS, general hardware services, graphic design and web development. Is your message perhaps being watered down by combining all these (different) areas onto a single site? My solution would be to alter your page design to have Home, GIS, IT (perhaps a bit vague), Graphic Design, Web Development, Contact Us, and About Us all immediately available from a menu on every page.

OneWebAve is absolutely right about making your current Services page into your home page. However, it could do with a few more paragraphs on each service, giving a short overview of them. Remember you're trying to sell the benefits of your services to your visitors. Just listing the services won't be enough. You have to encourage and influence your visitors enough to type an e-mail or pick up the phone, rather than choosing a competitor.

I guess - apart from the excellent About Us page - there's nothing in the site as it stands that really differentiates you from the competition. The web-design services I've stumbled across that stood out from the rest tend to be very clear with their web sites and charges. Generally, they list a number of price bands (eg bronze, silver, gold) for specific, concrete deliverables (5 pages, 15 pages, 100 pages + online catalogue). That sort of thing.

Just one more thing - at the base of each page, there is no space between the 'Contact us at' and the 'mailto...' e-mail link.

[Brett]

Hi Firefly,
I think all those flashy animations and sweeping menus detract from your message. What *is* your message? I spent 5 minutes on your site and the only thing I know about you is that you can create a flash page.

On the up-side, it doesn't look like a generic copy of every other site.
I think you should take this original design and put it into a simpler - more direct site.

[datums]

I agree with removing the start page, should go directly to html with a flash version option somewhere. The logo needs some redesigning. It is a bit plain.
Maybe adding some Case Studies with a thumbnail of the site that is worked on.
We are working on a redesign ourselves. Rethinking the navigation, structure of the services, etc.