LFS website

im working on a website for a lfs in my area, i was just wondering if you guys could check out the rough layout of the page and give me some feedback...

none of the links work, i was just laying out my idea.....


Welcome to East Coast Aquatics

 

Just my opinion but it's very busy. I do like the icons for what to select but you might want to brack it down into larger sections so that there are less choices per page.
I know that's more work and maybe out of the budget but it would look a lot cleaner.
you could have a dry goods and live stock Icons then break that down to Salt or fresh the fish or corals.

Just a thought

J

 

I agree. Have 2 links at first, SW and FW then start to break it down! Each catagory fish plants, invertabrates. Then break it down more from there!

 

I'm going to have to go against the other posters and say I like it the way it is. You can go directly to what you need to get to, without having to click on a link, wait to load, click on a link, wait to load, etc.

 

I'm a newbie to marine/reef aquariums, but I am a salty I/T specialist. I agree with the first two posters, the page is too busy. The entry page should have just general information and high-level links (marine, fresh, store info, contact us). The fact that this site is for a local fish store (I'm assuming there's no mail order), you really want to highlight the things that most visitors will want to know most (store hours, directions, current sales, etc). Along the same lines, it is great that you do highlight the stores bright points (300 tanks etc), but you might want to break some of that info into an "about us" page. Just my 2 cents...
I hope that is helpful, I know you are just starting this webpage and it's a work in progress. You've got a good start.

 

No offense, but it looks a lot like a website from the early 90s, or someone just starting out with html, which makes it less user friendly than it could be. I would suggest keeping all links on either the top or left side of the web page for ease of use. I'd also recommend the use of tables, since using frames is kinda sloppy unless applied right (which it really isn't here). I loved using frames when I first started playing with html as well, but it usually doesn't work well ><

 

thanks for the feedback...
once again though, tables arent a means of design...
look at new XHTML standards...you will see...the use of CSS is the way to go...
thanks for you honest opinion

 

i would get rid of the frames if possible the one on the bottom. also no professional websites really use black any more, choose another color, white with off color boxes surrounding information has always looked good IMO.

edit i would also reprosition the logo to the top left, and yes most of this should be done in css. don't forget cross browser compatability. IE doesn't follow some of the conventional commands that are suppose to work.

you should use this for inspiration http://anythingsaltwater.com/octopus-hang-on-the-back-protein-skimmer-bh300-p-1517.html
the key is to make it look as professional as possible. sorry if i come off as critical but i use to run a website for a club at school, so ive been through all this stuff before.

 

I would have to agree with the first few poster in that to me it looked very crowded. I had to move my eyes everywhere to find out what I wanted, not to mention scrolling down.

 

ok, thanks, im getting some good feedback...