Hi Everyone

 

New to web design so I'm curious to know what my website might be worth to a paying customer. I'm designing a website for my brother's company so money has never really come into it - I'm just curious for my own interest. I understand that prices are likely to vary quite a bit and it isn't something I would hold anybody to, just interested in a ball-park estimate.

 

Before looking, understand that this is the first website I've ever written and I learnt everything I needed from books (be gentle). I realise it won't win any design awards but it is on-brand and includes everything the company wanted.

 

The website is www.alcleanoutdoor.co.uk

 

All of the work included is as follows:

 

design consultation to confirm requirements with 'customer'

 

initial mockups to confirm requirements

 

layout and css designed from scratch.Totally custom, no templates used. Written totally in notepad because I'm too tight to buy software for a one-off design and too honest to get a hooky copy

 

Javascript and jquery plugins sourced / written and tested to ensure that requirements are met. Website includes image slider, Facebook like buttons, Google maps embedded, FAQ screen uses custom jquery accordian. Lightbox implemented for gallery.

 

Liaison with graphic designer to design logos.

 

All text written by me.

 

All photos re-sized or otherwise edited and branded by me.

 

HTML content validated

 

Testing completed in IE, Chrome, Firefox, Safari, PC, various phones, tablets etc.

 

Website submitted to Google for indexing and ongoing basic SEO.

 

Website linked up to google analytics.

 

 

Still to do:

 

Implement contact form.

 

Minor improvements to how page appears in Facebook shares.

 

PHP / MYSQL back end so that photos can be uploaded by end user and potentially so that text can be updated.

 

Newsletter signup in modal window.

 

All of these will be implemented when the actual structure of the website is finalised i.e. more / different services being added all the time but that's coming to a head quite soon.

 

Interested to hear your thoughts.

 

Cheers

 

Aaron

 

 

It's not a bad site to be fair. I'm no expert when it comes to the technicalities of web design, but it looks as if it will do the job. It could do with a few tweaks from a marketing perspective, but that's more to do with the client's lack of a proper marketing or business development plan, rather than your efforts. Some of the copy could do with a bit of work too, but a good effort for a first attempt for sure.

 

I'm sure others will be along soon to help you work out the monetary value of your efforts.

Thanks Climber, really appreciate the feedback. Agree that the marketing / copy side of things could do with an overhaul, but for now its more about having a presence than anything else. I'll have to work on that part next - this'll probably also fall at my feet!

Don't be tempted to put the cart before the horse. The site, it's design, and the copy should always be led by the business and marketing plan. The business is a very easy one to market as most in the industry won't have a clue.

 

If you fancy a chat, feel free to get in touch. I tell small service and trades type businesses how to formulate a strategic marketing plan (and also tell web designers how to built sites for such clients) for a living. What you have done already is pretty good, but you could make a real impact on the clients income and profit if you suggested a few tweaks.

Here is a great tool that can help you check the performance quality of your site:

http://nibbler.silktide.com/en_US

 

Your total score is decent but the biggest isue is that you have not optimized the site for mobiles and tablets.

This does not only dammage the user experience for many users but will also influence the page ranking for seaches from these devices.

 

The colours and layout is not bad. The design clearly comunicates the message but the typography looks a bit boring and univiting.

Maybe try a bigger font-size and a "serif/sans serif contrast" (one for headings and the other for paragraphs).

The justified alignment does not really work with many short paragraphs as it only affect half of the lines then.

Edited May 5, 201511 yr by Nillervision

As a starter this design is impressive. But you will have to look into the latest trends. The site should be mobile friendly . I think you can start with "Bootstrap" framework. That is easy and a lot of web projects using it.

Thanks to everyone who has replied, genuinely appreciate the honest feedback. To be fair, the things you've all said have echoed my own gut feelings so I think you're spot on. Mobile friendliness sounds like my next port of call and I think overall the content could look a bit more 'interesting' so I'll figure out some way to jazz it up a bit.

 

Cheers

 

Aaron

hey there

how are ya?

the worth is the perpormance the performance is depend upon your work.