A new set of eyes and perhaps some new ideas

[mrcrane]

Things are much better now

[Andrew Yurlov]

First problem. It loads INCREDIBLY slowly... No potential viewer is going to sit there for 10 - 15 seconds while it loads. I have a very good internet connection and it still takes forever. My site loads in less than a second.

[mrcrane]

Agreed! But when I said lets remove that video from the front page he said no design changes. He gets traffic its not terrible in that area, he just is not getting people to pickup the phone and call him.

[Andrew Yurlov]

Well there's not much you can do about that... Although the design does need some updating. Looks like a early 2000's site right now.

[mrcrane]

Agreed again. I think the site was first made in 2004.

[Fireproofgfx]

Yeah the site is really slow, heck even viewing page source is slow lol,and I don't think simply taking down the video will fix it. I would recommend checking out Page Speed Insight to see if you can speed it up, looks like it might be the host/server response time (insight recommended fix: Reduce server response time)


Anyways, is there analytic set up for the site? If so you should be able to look over the numbers and see if he is in fact reaching an audience. I look at the site at a glance and had a hard time figuring it out. I made a site for local handyman (he doesn't have a show) and he receives about 100 visits a month, maybe 10 or so form inquiries and a few calls.

I believe Facebook and other social medias will help push more people to the site. I made a Rock Concert Site for a client and they only had a few months to get the word out and sell tickets on the site I made, and through Social media they were able to reach their goals. So I would encourage them to go that route, even if it takes hiring someone to update it daily or so.

[noodles415]

How are you supposed to fix the site if you can't change it?
The client is the problem here.
You MUST make them feel confident that you can resolve the problems they are complaining about so that they are willing to make change. If they are unwilling to update their gaudy, messy, outdated website then you cannot help them.

It does not have a favicon
It does not have a real page title
At least in Chrome the nav is not placed right and overlaps the phone number
There are several different fonts going on there
Padding/margin is very inconsistent
There are a bunch of random badges/widgets that all look different and have little relevance
The footer is totally broken
The guys video goes on about having an eye for making it look modern. Well, his website does not convey that.

[Fireproofgfx]

Great Feedback Noodles!

[StephCake]

Yep I agree with noodles415 he's got it right here.

Some people think, "oh hey I will throw up a site and yeah loads of people will come buy my product."

NO, an ecommerce site is like a shop, you have put time into like a any shop AMAZON.

On a redesign, if I had to: drop the video (yr man comes across as a dick) or remake it.
If its a remake: stop yr man from putting down other builders /construction workers in the area (especially when his site is poorly designed) the **** he is saying is no good for him or them, putting other people down to make yourself look good: is never a good thing.

Other then major redo video, look at noodles415 post.

[sharaz1]

The site definitely will not attract callers. There are so many things going wrong for it.
1. Need to change your host, the site is too sloooooow.
2. Definitely create a more inviting web presence.
3. Call to actions to what service is provided
4. The video is not doing it, 86 it.
5. It's not a competition, it's quality and relevancy that will get them coming
6. Better SEO
7. So much more....

I am a WordPress developer. Understanding a client and their business, then their needs, then execute a plan to deliver that. As a web designer get to know your client, ask questions about the business. Put yourself in their shoes. Use your expertise to come up with a strategy that will solve their problems.

If you don't believe in the strategy you come up with, the client will not believe in it either.



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