Can you please Critique my Website

[davidbo]

Hi,

I am looking for advice and people to critique my Website so I know im heading in the right direction.

Please note, this site is still in the making and has a lot of content to be added.

Just want your thoughts.

Thanks in advance

David

[gossipism]

hey dave

wow, nice domain name. id imagine "some" company getting very interested in you quite soon. im sure someone else will chime in, but you might need to tread carefully, though don't probe me for info, im not a legal guy.

have to be honest. im not feeling the site. looks rushed and incomplete. plus theres an error on the page and its still dated 2010.

the links on the left take you away from your site to paid services and they should be kept separate to menu items relating to your site.

i think a fair bit of work needs to be put in it honestly.

dEx

[davidbo]

Thanks Dex,

Was thinking about changing the template to put some professionalism into the site.

Is anyone able to give me some general legal advise on the name?

Thanks

[gossipism]

no probs.

i didnt want to come off too rude, but the whole name and design comes very close to only the most popular car site in the country.

it could be a battle you might not win (if there is indeed one to be had thats valid, again dont ask me).

im a car guy so know alot about these websites (i visit them daily) and you really need to stand out and get a tonne of traffic.

one thing you could do, is visit the more popular car forums and offer them discounts on advertising on your website (once you make it a bit more car orientated).

if you can show them the traffic and offer a good rate, they might use you. but youre up against some big hitters, so good luck!

[davidbo]

I didn't take you as being rude, and appreciate your comments, thats why I put it up on this site.

Yes, maybe I should rethink the name.

What do you think of the logo?



Thanks

[Chris@Tapestry]

I have some thoughts on your logo primarily.
If you are to change the name also it would worth considering.

You have to think about the way you are communicating to your audience. You have to know who they are also. So,.. if I was about to buy a car I'd be thinking mostly about the car. What type, what colour, how new etc etc.
So I would need EVERY piece of a web site I visit to look, sing and shout the feel of a new car. Clean. Smooth. Convenient. Sleek. etc

A red traffic light logo with an R in it,.. well, basically it quite subconsciously says : STOP. (not Clean. Smooth. Convenient. Sleek. Jump in for a ride.)

Likewise if I sell my car in your listing, I would need to be sure it represented my car as a premium deal.

So, if you are serious about this venture, start investing in a designer and get things shaped up to communicate they way they should. Otherwise everything you do will look second best (or last best) and so too will your eventual revenue.

[gossipism]

the font and design is far too close to carsales which is why i think you could have some issues down the track.

in regards to traffic there are other people way more qualified than me that can answer that question.

however you have to be able to prove to people that your site gets hits. if not, it would be wasting peoples time. im certain that most selling sites start off free. you can please an ad for free. they then build up hits and traffic, clients, reputation, etc. once they have the numbers, they charge. but people still use them. obviously its an evolutionary process and what was once just a sales site, not has articles, reports, apps, etc.

[davidbo]

Thanks Chris,

I had not thought of it that way before, thank you, you have given me a new way of thinking.

With that in mind, I will reconsider the the logo design as I want this site to look professional.

Thanks

[Chris@Tapestry]

Not a problem.
Good luck.
Get your name registered first so all is okay then get some design assistance.
It really does pay off in the end to get the basics looking solid and elite, then build from there.

There are many ways to go, but as mentioned, it might be good to really highlight what your site would do differently from the huge, existing one(s).

[tonyk]

Originally Posted by Chris@Tapestry

Not a problem.
Good luck.
Get your name registered first so all is okay then get some design assistance.
It really does pay off in the end to get the basics looking solid and elite, then build from there.

There are many ways to go, but as mentioned, it might be good to really highlight what your site would do differently from the huge, existing one(s).

Wholeheartedly agree with this point. You don't need a multitude of features to make your site professional. Sometimes less is more.