Got my website up...

[clowning_around]

Originally Posted by The Infotainer

I'm not sure about that. You can only get hits IF you optimize for search terms there is a market for. If there are only 75 searching for the keywords optimized for then you'll at best only get 75 hits.

Yes that is true... but I was talking about our Industry... the clown industry and kids entertainment industry.
My site gets on average 600 hits per day and its only 2 months old. This is mostly because of my wide reach of all party related stuff. My website brings in 98% of my business as I've only been clowning here since Feb 2008 so there is very little word of mouth yet.

With my website I now get between 5-15 calls per day.
A website definitely makes a large difference... and in my case it is because of my SEO that my website is so successful.

[Markie]

Thank you clowning around. I was actually referring to the people who said I was too negative on others. I agree because there is one well-known face painting makeup company whose website is very negative against all other brands. I don't want to sound like them!

[Sir Toony Van Dukes]

Markie,

My first impression was that your website had too much text. I honestly didn't want to take the time to read that much. Even the Contact page had too much text.

If you are using the website to learn HTML and play around, that is great. If you want to use it to market yourself, I suggest you cut back on some of the text.

Your Flash animation is cute, but I didn't have the latest version of Flash installed on my computer. If you can save the animation to an older version of Flash, that will be useful for many of your visitors. Unless, it requires a feature only available with Flash 9.

Next suggestion would be to add some space between the main links. Home Page Services Pricing Contact all run together and don't look like links.

Just a thought.

[Markie]

I don't know how to add space between the links. With HTML you can't just add more spaces.

The Flash is created with a program called BannerZest so I have no control over that I'm afraid. It is unfortunate since it seems like it should work back many versions... it's nothing too fancy.

[Sir Toony Van Dukes]

Markie, you can use styles to give elements a width, padding, or margin. Any of these can help to space the links apart. Otherwise, you are correct, HTML will ignore extra spaces between elements.

Another approach I have used in the past is putting a dash between the links. Something like:
- Home Page - - Services - - Pricing - -Contact -

[Sir Toony Van Dukes]

Originally Posted by Fitzwilly

John, I am always looking for ideas. If you have a few minutes to look over mine: LaughingstockPro.com 574-904-9643 LaughingstockPro@yahoo.com Dan Langwell as Fitzwilly the Clown I wouldn't mind hearing your comments. I don't expect a full rundown like you would for a paying client, though I appreciate any insight you might be willing to share.

Fitzwilly,

For the most part, I like your website. I am not a fan of the hidden text you are using below your content. I think of this as trick used by a shady company to draw visitors to the website.

You have a few pages that have links to other pages on your website, but they open in a new browser window. (Such as Photos page links to pages 2 and 3). Normally, I only have the links open a new window if it is taking the visitor off the website.

Your links page has two broken images (your logo and email links)

[Markie]

Thanks for the info. I'm somewhat sorry to the Infotainer for letting him think I wasted his time, I sure didn't mean him to do anything he saw as a waste of his time. But free advice is just that - free, including of the obligation to take any or all of it.

Thanks to everyone else for their ideas. I decided that the fact I'm a Christian isn't that important because the people it matters most to are most likely to hear about me from church and word of mouth, and the kind of people who might like a website or find it are less likely to care or may even be put off.

I tried to word everything as concisely as I can word everything I feel I need to say. Honestly Sir Toony, when I go to your website the first thing I think is "I want more to read" LOL. We all have tastes. I build to my tastes thinking along those lines. I do thank you for your input and I really did reduce the run-on from how it first was.

The retro style is totally intentional. I like it LOL, I know, you're cringing Infotainer. I care about everyone's opinion, but I also first and foremost stick with what I first think and like...

Blessings to all of y'all! And thanks for all your advice, even the parts I didn't take,

Mark

[tim]

Originally Posted by Markie

Thanks to everyone else for their ideas. I decided that the fact I'm a Christian isn't that important because the people it matters most to are most likely to hear about me from church and word of mouth, and the kind of people who might like a website or find it are less likely to care or may even be put off.

I found the fish symbol at the bottom to be a worthy compromise and a nice touch. It states, simply and discretely, what you wanted to without it being "in your face" or off putting.

[Markie]

Thanks Tim, that's what I was thinking. I'm pretty happy right now... Maybe later I'll make it amazing but it's something to have.

Have a great day!

[The Infotainer]

Originally Posted by clowning_around

Yes that is true... but I was talking about our Industry... the clown industry and kids entertainment industry.
My site gets on average 600 hits per day and its only 2 months old. This is mostly because of my wide reach of all party related stuff. My website brings in 98% of my business as I've only been clowning here since Feb 2008 so there is very little word of mouth yet.

Hey, your site is beautifully designed and appears to be well constructed to be effective too. A rare combination. Clearly with a related Blog and use of internal and external links you know what you are doing.

But it's VERY different from others I have viewed here ... and I doubt if the owners know why.

Of course one of the other problems some have is that they say "But I don't WANT 600 hits a day ... I can only DO 200 gigs a year"!

Hmmmmmmh

I agree entirely that a website make a massive difference and can easily quadruple your income (and more) and, at the same time, give you more free time!


John Gordon
The Infotainer