Hi guys, I'm new to the community.

 

My name's Bob and I go to Rutgers University. In my free time, I (attempt to) design websites and start businesses, blogs, etc..

 

Anyway, my new site is ready and its for my mobile detailing business in central New Jersey. I'm not sure how the content is, or if the website is good enough to attract sales. We have had a few appointments using the website, but I'm sure it's not that good and we can make it better to get more return.

 

Pennza Mobile Detailers - www.pennza.com

 

Thanks in advance Guys.

 

Robert M. Cavezza

Bobstarted.com - blog about everyday ventures of a college entrepreneur

Design/layout wise, its a free template so theres not a lot to say, other than the background of your logo being a slightly lighter shade of grey to the page background (its a .bmp, so made in Paint??).

 

You've got some validation errors, but actually not too terrible. You just need to swap all your linebreaks from <br> to <br />, or set the doctype to HTML 4.01 rather than XHTML 1.0.

 

You need more pictures. I don't know how good a job you are capable of doing if there aren't photographic examples of your work. Those black and white stock images would be much better as full-colour photos of cars you've detailed. Before and after would be a good example too.

Thanks for the review, Ben.

 

I don't get to use Photoshop unless I'm at the Rutgers Computer Lab, and I've been putting that off for a while now. We have a few pictures, but I'm not sure if I should create a separate page for images, or if I should place them throughout the site on random pages. I'm also unsure about the color scheme. Don't know if the 55-75 year old range would appreciate it.

 

 

Design/layout wise, its a free template so theres not a lot to say, other than the background of your logo being a slightly lighter shade of grey to the page background (its a .bmp, so made in Paint??).

 

You've got some validation errors, but actually not too terrible. You just need to swap all your linebreaks from <br> to <br />, or set the doctype to HTML 4.01 rather than XHTML 1.0.

 

You need more pictures. I don't know how good a job you are capable of doing if there aren't photographic examples of your work. Those black and white stock images would be much better as full-colour photos of cars you've detailed. Before and after would be a good example too.

Well if you don't like the colour scheme why did you pick that template to use

 

As for graphics editors there are more out there then just photoshop and...paint Look at The GIMP as it is free and better than paint.

 

 

As it is a free template I don't like to comment. As you picked that template out from a bunch of templates so you must have thought it was something special. Everything else has already been mentioned, I just really posted in here to say look at the GIMP

Yeah, we chose those colors for the business. I think I might design a new one from scratch with a white background using the same colors but in a more subtle manner. I didn't think about the readability and "ease for the eyes" issue until a colleague of mine mentioned in within this past week.

 

Thanks for your response, and I'm going to check out GIMP when I get home.

 

Robert M. Cavezza

rcavezza@gmail.com

 

Well if you don't like the colour scheme why did you pick that template to use

 

As for graphics editors there are more out there then just photoshop and...paint Look at The GIMP as it is free and better than paint.

As it is a free template I don't like to comment. As you picked that template out from a bunch of templates so you must have thought it was something special. Everything else has already been mentioned, I just really posted in here to say look at the GIMP

I was actually worried about the site navigation. Do you guys think someone could effectively find out how to set up an appointment and learn enough information about the services to sign up for an appointment on their first visit?

 

 

Yeah, we chose those colors for the business. I think I might design a new one from scratch with a white background using the same colors but in a more subtle manner. I didn't think about the readability and "ease for the eyes" issue until a colleague of mine mentioned in within this past week.

 

Thanks for your response, and I'm going to check out GIMP when I get home.

 

Robert M. Cavezza

rcavezza@gmail.com

personally i'm not big on templates. There are plenty of free good web page making programs out there where you can design your own site from scratch. if you are going to use a template make sure you like it. I'm not partial to templates because they can't be found by search engines. I try to do everything custom and in CSS/XHTML. I'm not too far from you if you'd like to meet up and discuss redesigning the site.

If you have the skills then definitely try to code your site to meet your exact needs or consider getting a professional designer in - any money you spend on your website is an investment in your business - probably the most cost-effective one you can make.

For me the template is not too bad, although I would 'go green' - and therefore change the colour scheme. This leads me to the copy and it's structure... I would put all the benefits together and really sell on them. Instinctively I'd push the environmental angle but it could you going to clients' houses that's your strong point. I don't feel the urge to buy from you - your copy's not bad, but it just passively lists features it doesn't evoke much response from a potential customer.

You need to make your site's copy more client-orientated and more active in selling your services no just telling people what they are. Who are your target market and what do they want? What flicks their switches? What makes them want your service, not just need?

Just my thoughts!