Hi Guys

 

First post on here - What do you think to this, my latest only portfolio.

 

http://www.matthewfreeman.co.uk/

Really liking it Matthew,

 

Well laid out, good colours, cool logo. I'm loving the fact that you have a Process page to show a simply explanation of your development process.

 

I'd say darn good job! You should be proud of that.

 

Stevo!

 

 

oh, and with each portfolio section I really like that you have stated what you did for each project (specifically for the company that you worked for). It really annoys me when folk do a portfolio, put down loads of cool sites and never explain what their contribution to each project was.

 

Good stuff, I like how each project slides from the left.

 

Edited September 20, 201214 yr by Durden

Looks sweet, love the logo and the site makes quite good use of the responsive layout.... except for on this page http://www.matthewfreeman.co.uk/about/

Looks like no thought has gone into the presentation of the information, to me it looks like you've just dumped the text into the page and said "that'll do.

At it's widest the text stretches out to more than 40 words wide, a standard paragraph is most readable at about 12-16 words per line so try to bare that in mind.

 

Your blog also isn't loading the CSS but that might just be me,

 

Nice work

Looks sweet, love the logo and the site makes quite good use of the responsive layout.... except for on this page http://www.matthewfreeman.co.uk/about/

Looks like no thought has gone into the presentation of the information, to me it looks like you've just dumped the text into the page and said "that'll do.

At it's widest the text stretches out to more than 40 words wide, a standard paragraph is most readable at about 12-16 words per line so try to bare that in mind.

 

Your blog also isn't loading the CSS but that might just be me,

 

Nice work

 

Your right, the CSS for the blog isn't loading here either.

development needs an 'm'

Visually, I can't fault this site. Great use of layout, colour, texture, and all that jazz.

 

But...

 

I think you need to work on your copy. Your home page for example says

Professional & Creative Web Design

 

I am a freelance web designer working in Southampton, Hampshire. I have a growing passion for web design, and take great pride in creating beautiful, useable websites that aspire to meet clients' requirements. I enjoy designing new projects from the ground up as well as implementing smaller modifications to existing projects. I have a diverse portfolio showcasing design and developent work for a multitude of clients.

 

Firstly - the emphasis is a little off if you're looking for web design clients. Your copy needs to be about them, not about you. People love to talk (or read) about themselves, and by indulging them, you'll draw them further into your site, and make them more likely to hit that "contact me" call to action.

 

Avoid using words like passion, beautiful and even creative. They describe more what's in it for you than what's in it for your clients. But if you tell them that a website designed by you is going to offer a decent ROI, will attract more customers/ visitors and make more sales, then you've really got their attention.

 

Be careful of the "you don't say" trap. Your main heading on this page says that you're a web designer in Southampton. So when you say in your body text that you're a web designer in Southampton, the likely response from a reader is going to be "you don't say".

 

It's padding at best, and waffle at worst. If you spend as much time looking at and editing your copy as you did tidying up the original design concept into what we see now, you'll end up with leaner, more effective copy.

 

Avoid phrases like "implementing smaller modifications to existing projects" - it sounds like you're trying too hard, and it's a cold, lifeless turn of phrase. As a rule, if you feel like a tit reading your copy out loud, you need to change it. If you can't sell your products or services to a potential client using only phrases and sentences from your website, you need to re-write the copy.

 

I'll give you an example of brilliant copy. It's not what you think, and I don't suggest you copy it. But notice how the writer has picked a theme, stuck to it, and written it out in a conversational tone of voice. You can easily imagine this making part of a conversation. It'll make you laugh, too http://www.alittlebitofsomething.co.uk/

Really liking this site. Very clean, fresh and modern. Avoids being fussy or overcomplicated. Logo works well and clever that you have picked up the colour scheme used in logo throughout the site to give a coherent look and feel. CSS working on blog for me now, so presume you have fixed now. Might be nice to have a photo of you on the "about" page to add more personal element. .And yes, as notbanksy says, I would spend some time working on the copy to let clients know more what you could do for them, and why they should specifically work with you.

I agree with all the others say, very cool and inspiring site. I thought I was hallucinating I was looking at the subtly spinning logo - and that's not necessarily a criticism!

God, it's portfolio's like this that make me think mine is awful. The design is brilliant. Yes copy is important, but I do think you've covered yourself with your emphasis on your experience.

Won't load for me.

Very nice website, I can only hope to manage such an impressive portfolio site one day. Very clean design, you used your skill set perfectly. A great balance of colour mixed with minimalism. Thumbs up!

It's great!

I like all the content you have, the most important part of any portfolio IMO.

Visually, I can't fault this site. Great use of layout, colour, texture, and all that jazz.

 

But...

 

I think you need to work on your copy. Your home page for example says

 

 

Firstly - the emphasis is a little off if you're looking for web design clients. Your copy needs to be about them, not about you. People love to talk (or read) about themselves, and by indulging them, you'll draw them further into your site, and make them more likely to hit that "contact me" call to action.

 

Avoid using words like passion, beautiful and even creative. They describe more what's in it for you than what's in it for your clients. But if you tell them that a website designed by you is going to offer a decent ROI, will attract more customers/ visitors and make more sales, then you've really got their attention.

 

Be careful of the "you don't say" trap. Your main heading on this page says that you're a web designer in Southampton. So when you say in your body text that you're a web designer in Southampton, the likely response from a reader is going to be "you don't say".

 

It's padding at best, and waffle at worst. If you spend as much time looking at and editing your copy as you did tidying up the original design concept into what we see now, you'll end up with leaner, more effective copy.

 

Avoid phrases like "implementing smaller modifications to existing projects" - it sounds like you're trying too hard, and it's a cold, lifeless turn of phrase. As a rule, if you feel like a tit reading your copy out loud, you need to change it. If you can't sell your products or services to a potential client using only phrases and sentences from your website, you need to re-write the copy.

 

I'll give you an example of brilliant copy. It's not what you think, and I don't suggest you copy it. But notice how the writer has picked a theme, stuck to it, and written it out in a conversational tone of voice. You can easily imagine this making part of a conversation. It'll make you laugh, too http://www.alittlebi...omething.co.uk/

 

Totally agree with what say. A potential client is always only interested in themselves, their business and what you are going to do for them. All in nice simple terms. The more thinking they have to do, the more they cannot be bothered and may jump to a competitors site. The look of the site is excellent and will be a standout site if you can get the content correct. This is where designing a site around the content can be a positive.

 

Stevo!