Please review my site!

[Steffen Schramm]

Hello. Can anyone review my site? The url is www.cleankeeper.esmartweb.com (http://www.cleankeeper.esmartweb.com) . The design is a bit simple, but it´s my first site, and I hope you can give me some tips how to improve it.

[kevin]

Hi Steffen,

Definitely could use a little color and a few graphics to attract and hold attention.
The first page should explain what cleankeeper is in non technical language (along the lines of the ZDNet review),
what it does and why you might want to use it. Then go into the details of how it does it....

The layout is OK as is, just rather dry in appearance. Site navigation is good, its all very easy to read.

It's a good beginning, try and work in some color and graphics and keep building on it.

Try using GIF format for the screen shots, if the file size is not much bigger that the current JPG image, it will be better to use a GIF image. The image will be much sharper looking.

Regards,
Kevin

[Steffen Schramm]

Thanks for your reply. I´ll think over it and see what I can do. The explanation in non-technical language is a good idea.

"It's a good beginning, try and work in some color and graphics and keep building on it."

Hm, I´m not very good in graphics, but I´ll try it.

"Try using GIF format for the screen shots..."

Hasn´t the JPG format a better quality? GIF has only 256 colors, as far as I know. The screenshot is not very sharp, because I resized it ( it was too large for the page ).

Steffen

[aco]

hi Steffen

if u need help with the graphics
i can help u
no charge at all
=)

[Steffen Schramm]

Not yet. I´ll think over it. I have first to decide were to place some graphics. Perhaps a logo. Or buttons instead of normal links? I don´t want to have too much images, because of the loading time. BTW, have you seen the logo in the guestbook? I´ve made it with with a logo creator on www.WebGfx.net (http://www.WebGfx.net) for free.

Steffen

[aco]

u mean the cleankeeper guestbook with a shadow is the logo?
actually......
that is more like a heading to me than a logo......

[Lord Steff]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by aco:
that is more like a heading to me than a logo......<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

OK, you´re right. I used the wrong words.
But the real problem is, it´s not easy to make a good designed website, especially if you aren´t really interested in website design, but in programming.

Steffen


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CleanKeeper - www.cleankeeper.esmartweb.com (http://www.cleankeeper.esmartweb.com)

[kevin]

Steffen,

Yes GIF is a lower color depth than JPG, but if you look at your image there are very fews colors anyway. Just leave it as it is, the JPG image looks OK, just the "blurries" from resizing smaller is all. If you use smaller screen shots that do not need resizing, try GIF format also and compare results.

If this is a program you are going to be selling, there has to be a "sales pitch".
You can't avoid it. I personally do not like sales pitches that exploit human weaknesses, like fear, ignorance, shame, and so fourth.
Build the sales pitch around the strengths and merits of your program and the benifit the user will recieve from using it. A dry explanation only of what the program does will fall flat.

If you don't like designing websites, there are many websites that offer free web templates. Most good website creation programs also offer templates you pretty much just add your content to. They do have a bit of a cookie cutter appearance but they are better than nothing.

Regards,
Kevin

[Lord Steff]

"If this is a program you are going to be selling, there has to be a "sales pitch"."

I´ve never heard from a "sales pitch", so I don´t know exactly what you mean. If I´m right, you want to say that I have to describe the benefits of using my program.

"If you don't like designing websites, there are many websites that offer free web templates."

No, I won´t use templates. I don´t like them. I ask others for tips, but I want to make my own site.

"They do have a bit of a cookie cutter appearance but they are better than nothing."

Better than nothing, but I´ve already made my site, I just want to improve it. I don´t want to delete all my work and use templates.
If I use my program, I can say: "I have made this program myself". And I want to be able to say the same about my site. I hope you can understand this. (Sorry for my bad english)

Steffen

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CleanKeeper - www.cleankeeper.esmartweb.com (http://www.cleankeeper.esmartweb.com)

[kevin]

Steffen,

A "sales pitch" is an English expression.
It is used to sell the product or service. It may or may not include a description of the benefits you get from using the product.

A simple sales pitch might go something like this...

CleanKeeper is the easiest way to remove files from your computer to regain valuable hard disk space. It's easy, fast, safe and reliable. CleanKeeper has recieved ZDNet's Four Star Award.

If you don't want to use a "sales pitch" that is for you to decide. It is something you can include later if you decide to try it.

I understand your wanting it to be your own work. I wish you all the best.

Regards,
Kevin