How is my website coming along?

jonnymac44

jonnymac44

Joined
Sep 27, 2007
Messages
7,680
Well, a good friend of mine finally motivated me to get a website built form my knives. I already have the facebook profile page but I knew that eventually I wanted a dedicated site. We've spent the past week piecing it together and it's shaping up pretty well. We just added a gallery section tonight, and in a few days we should have a storefront added to it. Let me know what you guys think.

http://jonnymacknives.com/JonnyMacKnives/Welcome.html
 
Dude, looks good. Centering text on the nav bar would look nicer, I think. Also when I clicked the contact link, it tries to open up outlook, which i don't use. Maybe a contact page that contains your info, because when I clicked the link and my computer started loading outlook I thought the link didn't work because nothing happened right away, then outlook popped up. Also you have two links to contact you on your home page, the one in the nav bar and the one right below your facebook announcement.



-Xander
 
Thanks Xander!
The links will definitely be centered once I add the rest. I've also got to figure out the best way to setup contact info. That contact link just below the facebook announcement was there before we put the nav bar in. You're right, that should probably get taken out now. Still working out some kinks.

Thanks for the input buddy!
 
ok Jon, I just finished going through your site with a fine toothed comb now. Other than content and some small formatting issues it sure looks solid. I really like how your gallery is set up. The content is just going to take time. I will suggest you "notify" your past customers of your new site and put a comments/feedback section up. I am sure you can get some pics of your knives in use, and owner testimonials as well. But that is all just for sales, again your site seems solid. A site map would be nice too, I guess.


-Xander
 
Good start Jon. A few things. As much as I like your maker's mark, you might want to scale it down a little. It is overwhelming as a header with this size. I also would put a face pictures in the about me page, makes it more personal.
 
Lookin good Jon, I really like the colors and format you've got going so far. And it would be nice to have some knives In hand pictures, You know, Once you make some more knives to take pictures of!:p
 
Patrice Lemée;9898870 said:
Good start Jon. A few things. As much as I like your maker's mark, you might want to scale it down a little. It is overwhelming as a header with this size. I also would put a face pictures in the about me page, makes it more personal.
Click to expand...

Yeah Patrice, my buddy and I have already talked about making the header smaller. I think we'll be going with a filmstrip type header with smaller versions of the logo repeating across the width of the screen.

goinbroke, I'm trying to crank 'em out!:D
 
Very Nice Jon,

Boy, you sure like that toxic green! So do I.

I know you are busy with the first site so not to get ahead of ourselves here, but.....some retailers/service providers also have a blog that their main site links to. It's like one of the makers forums here on BF except rather than separate threads it's more of a running journal, most recent activity on top.

Here is an example blog a photographer I know uses. http://www.ionhartunian.com/blog/

You could post a lot of the pictures and WIPs that you post here, people could comment, etc. It can be a way for people see many pictures easily, and also tell a story.

Great work ,Buddy!
 
alb1k said:
Very Nice Jon,

Boy, you sure like that toxic green! So do I.

I know you are busy with the first site so not to get ahead of ourselves here, but.....some retailers/service providers also have a blog that their main site links to. It's like one of the makers forums here on BF except rather than separate threads it's more of a running journal, most recent activity on top.

Here is an example blog a photographer I know uses. http://www.ionhartunian.com/blog/

You could post a lot of the pictures and WIPs that you post here, people could comment, etc. It can be a way for people see many pictures easily, and also tell a story.

Great work ,Buddy!
Click to expand...

A W.I.P page is a good idea. Gives people an idea of the process. Obviously you don't have to do it for every knife.

I would also maybe break up the collage of knives on your home page with some fine boarders. The gallery works well but I would probably lump the knives into a few category's so you don't get lost with so many pictures. Maybe sort by model or sizes or style. I agree about the contacts too. Make it a dedicated page with PH, FAX, Email, Address, facebook. Along with a quick contact forms that people can write comments and questions and submit without having to go into a separate screen and pulling up their emails.
 
I had a look


I agree with somebody above, get that logo smaller.
I like it when I don't have to scroll to see the whole page - but that depends on many variables.




In the gallery
The idea above to sort by type or model is a good one.
then make it obvious that a knife model is the same as a previous knife, but with different handle materials.



I also agree with contact info
When I clicked it, it wanted to open MS outlook
I don't use that I have a web based email so I just closed it.

"Make it a dedicated page with PH, FAX, Email, Address, facebook.
Along with a quick contact forms that people can write comments and questions and submit without having to go into a separate screen and pulling up their emails"


That's a good idea - get them while they are still interested and on your page.
It's nice to see where in the world a maker is from.
Remember WWW is world wide.

Some people just like to use the phone
You can lose a lot of time with them, but at least give them a chance to call & leave a message..
Remember there is a whole generation of old fellas with $ who like knives that have never touched a computer.

Don't make them go to BF or some other forum to buy
Have an "available knives" page



In your photo gallery
I notice that many of the photos have the knives a cockeyed angles.
It changes proportion when one part of the knife is farther away than the other.
Take at least one simple boring full on side view per knife.

I want a caption for each knife
Model name or whatever
specs
Length blade and overall
thickness
materials
and so on.
 
Completely agree about the email, I also dont use Outlook. Just your email in text at least on the contact page to compliment the outlook link.
Otherwise customers might not be able to contact you.
The photos on the first page are great, love the colors.
You might want to put a counter on the first page so you can see how many visitors you have had over time.
Workshop photos, to show what equipment you use.
CW
 
Lookin good Johnny, putting these websites together can take up alot of time, as im sure ur finding out. Im sure it will evolve into a sharp little site! You using a private server, or public?
 
Your site is missing the one thing I always look for on a knife makers web page;shop photos. I always like to see the equipment that makers are using, and I think for the general customer it puts a very real feeling into the "handmade" aspect of the knife. I liked it otherwise.
 
"My knives are geared towards collectors, outdoor activites,(small typo) hunting, fishing, every day carry, and police, fire, and military service."

Who the heck is left? ;)

As far as counters are concerned I am not a big fan of them on the website. If you use a good hosting service it usually comes with much more detailed reports of who looks at what on your website. More useful than a simple number of access to your homepage.
 
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