Website Feedback Needed

This layout has probably been one that I've kept the longest (about a year now) and I get alot more inquiries thru this layout than I have had in the past. I also have gotten good feedback from it, but I always like to try to keep things fresh and I'm always looking for ways to improve it since thru word of mouth and this site is my only real forms of advertising.

http://www.djpartytunes.com/

The one thing that I will be doing is moving from splashcast. I don't like the fact that my photo albums have a date on them, since I don't always have permission to post pics from every gig it appears I'm not as busy. I thought about creating a few different albums and placing them on the appropriate pages within the site and creating a more general montage for the main page.

Any other (constructive) suggestions?

Randy:I like youre Webside.Its clean and dont have anoing details.

Randy,

I think it looks very good. Nice and Clean.

If I would have 1 suggestion it would be to shrink your header to make the page not so big.

Well, I guess my site sucks so bad that no one wants to comment.

My stats say there were alot of lurkers, just no comments.

Looks very nice and clean... I agree your header is a bit on the large size.... also it could use some color and I'm not quite sure what those water drops between Party and Tunes are... are they musical notes? I'd tell ya what they really look like to me but Jon would probably ban me....

Overall it's very nice looking though.

I like it. Header is big and needs come color as already mentioned. Wondered what those drops were myself.

The logo is getting some age on it, but I just can't justify the cost to re-do it right now. (I really want Hank to do me up right!)

You mean, you can't tell what my 'tunes' are? I've never had anyone comment on those. Well, except for a few of my buds that had their head in the gutter.

You mean, you can't tell what my 'tunes' are? I've never had anyone comment on those. Well, except for a few of my buds that had their head in the gutter.

That's exactly where my head went right straight for the gutter..... lol:splaugh:

I assume however that they are suppose to be stylized quarter note and eighth notes, right?

Right.

Come to think of it, maybe since I was strictly a wedding dj at one time, I might have been trying to sublimally get into the minds of the brides. hahaha

Depending on your target clients is the biggest thing I see. When I went to your page, I could not tell if you are specializing in weddings or schools or something else.

If you are trying to book more weddings, I would girly it up a bit. A different color would do wonders.

If you are going after mainly schools, I would change something but now sure what because that is not my market.

Too much black for my taste. Other wise the layout is good. Just doctor it up to show visitors what you do right after they get to your home page. Don't make them wonder what kind of entertainer you are. Show them.

If you are trying to do multiple markets, someone else might have to chime in. I am not big on the school market.

Hope this helps.

Thank you Karl. I'm not a specialist, but a generalist.

Randy,black and white is rather stark, add some color. If you redo the logo into color use it's basic colors to form the color pallet for the rest of the page.

Also your page fills the screen, I LIKE THAT, now use it to your advantage, with some nice text and pictures. Using Headlines and subheadlines and use key phrases within the text that can act as links to other pages in you website as well as help with SEO.

Thanks Doug.

SEO is not an issue. I pull up in the searches exactly where I want too.

My old site was way over the top with color. This one I went with a neutral feel. Now, I have to find that balance between the two.

BTW, alot of Firefox users here! :)

I know what you mean about finding balance. It wasn't until I re-branded and got the current logo that I finally figured it out. You might take a look at my site and that might better explain what I'm talking about. Note the color and tones of the logo and see how it's reflected in the page, and how I took a shade of blue of similar intensity to highlight the main menu and break up all the white space.

But in the grand scheme of things web page design is a lot like interior decorating, personal taste has a major influence!

Anyone care to take a look at something different.

http://www.djpartytunes.com/testpt.htm

I like.... have you tried the company logo in say a bright or royal blue?

Blue is not a color scheme that I want to entertain for my logo, but thanks for the suggestion.

Color perhaps real pastel would give the site more life.I love the layout on both of them.

Blue is not a color scheme that I want to entertain for my logo, but thanks for the suggestion.

Yeah the more I look at the more I think your right... at least now I can tell that those are an eighth note and quarter note tho... lol

The only thing I see off hand is the picture montage... some of the photo's could use some croping especially the ones that show a lot above the heads.

I like the layout better. You still need a little more color. Too much white now.

Maybe use a soft color behind the text in a box format like your client speaks out box. That adds tons to the page.

Or maybe put one large soft colored box for the whole page. One that maybe fades lighter as it goes down to the bottom.

I know I need some more color, but I need to get my logo worked out before I know what colors to add. :)

Hi Randy,

I'll take a crack at this. If you are fishing for lobster, would you use a hook? If you are fishing for trout in a stream, would you use a trap?

Sorry to bring fish into the question, but WHAT are you looking for? Everything?

If a bride visits your website, as it looks now, will she find what she's looking for?
If a HS advisor finds your website, will they find the hook that will land them?

Another thing I found that caught my eye: Back by popular demand. Who asked you to come back? Not being a wise A**, but being sincere.

I'm being honest with my critique. If I can help, please let me know.

Best,

Dave

Hi Dave...thanks for stopping by.

You do realize this link - http://www.djpartytunes.com/testpt.htm - is just a test and a general layout of something NEW that I may update too? There is no content to it yet.

My current site, which I've actually done quite well with is http://www.djpartytunes.com.

Good Morning Randy,

Thank you, I was aware.

Dave

I was directing my comments to your current site. Peace.

Randy... I DO like the new layout better. It doesn't feel claustrophobic it's nice and open. I do like the color background. I would increase the font size on "What Our Clients Say" it's a heading, set it up like the other sections. You might take a look at some color behind the other 3 sections too at some point.

If there is a way to adjust the color of the Splashcast Module I would lighten it as it really dominates that corner and detracts from the rest. If that's not an option maybe create another section "See Us In Action" here are so clips of some of our events etc etc with a link to the module on another page.

Thanks Dave, I do appreciate the comments. BTW, Dave, I think I found your site last night. I thought I could tell you were in radio. :) lol!

Doug - again, Thanks! I'll be moving from splashcast because of the lack of display options. It's a sweet little service that's extremely easy, but it lacks some much needed improvements so a person can blend it in more with their website. And, I just added the other sections this morning and I continue to tweak things. I've played around with some color, but haven't found the combination I like yet, but I'll get it.

Thanks for the feedback, everyone.

Changes uploaded. Thanks.

Thanks to everyone for stopping in and sharing your thoughts. This is just another reason I love you guys! :)

Went live this afternoon with this layout. I still have some tweaking on some photos and a move away from splashcast, but I wanted to get this up and running.

http://www.djpartytunes.com/

Hey Randy!

Can you post a pic of you or your son in your vest with your logo on it (stitched?)?

Coreen and I have been discussing this for some time now and I'd be curious to see what you've done.

Thanks,

Kirby

I'll be happy to. We went to a local tux shop that a friend owns and had her order us some nice vest, then we had the logo embroidered on them. The one that I can show you is the old logo and color scheme, but you'll still be able to get an idea on what they look like.

A full tux was overkill in our neck of the woods here, but these nice tux vests over a white shirt and black slacks really looked nice. We recieve many compliments.

The reason there aren't any photos of me/son right now, is because this spring I'm going to be having some professional shots done of us and the equipment, along with the new logo on the vests. Once I get that done, I'd like to place a bio and package pages on the site.

PS - anyone checking out the new site will probably need to refresh their screens.

Kirby (others) --- sorry for the bad photo, but I'm rushing out the door and wanted to get this posted before I forgot it. I just grabbed this out of the closet and took a quick snap of it. This was the old logo and color scheme prior to me joining up with my ex-partner (he retired).

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc220/talkdc/DJ%20Stuff/DSC02334640x480.jpg

Randy,

I just checked out your site.

I like the colors (looks like you might have changed it since your first post).

The only recommendation I'd make is on your wedding page maybe use pictures of people dancing to help portray that you provide a fun service.

Yep, it was a complete rebuild of the old site. I agree about the photos. In fact, I've found something pretty neat and as soon as I have time to get things completed, I'll be changing most of the photos.

Thanks Randy! Looks very nice.... :thumbsup:

Soon as I lose a bit more weight, I'll be visiting our friends at the Bridal shop and get me a vest or two ordered...and then off to the shirt shop that does all our embroidery.....:)

I just gotta share this news.....I just went live with the new site on Sunday afternoon. My tracking showed several new hits to the site and one that has previously visited the site about a month ago, but this time they sent thru a 'request for information'.

That was this morning. We had a couple of emails back and forth and then a very nice conversation over lunch. Just chatting and she came out to tell me that the new site was what prompted her to use my contact form and made the decision to go with me....she told me the old site was 'just to dark' for her.

Even though, it carried much of the same information, it's packaged differently and that made a difference to her.

Again, thanks to everyone for helping me make the changes.

Randy it looks great.

I will point out that somehow your logo is crooked.

Good for you my friend thats how we roll here as a team and family to help one another improve our business.

Well, I can never be satisfied with anything.

My old site: http://www.djpartytunes.com/oldpage.htm has been tossed into the recycling bin and the new look is uploaded: http://www.djpartytunes.com

When I get done with some upcoming purchases (here I come Ben) I'll be having a new logo created.

Things may be a tad off in FF. I haven't tested and tweaked for it yet.

As always, any constructive feedback would be appreciated.

Randy, looks more solid :) better :)