I'm a C++ programmer, so I've never really done a real web site before. I could use some tips. How does my site look?
The site loaded very fast for me and you have some nice images.
I was not real sure what the site was all about and it was a bit hard to navigate. Since you are using frames you may want to add navigation buttons in the left frame for the site.
When I selected Discount Stores by Category I reached a page that had a broken image at the top..looks like it was supposed to be (http://walkandshop.com/WAS/graphics/photos/DiscountStores.gif). No Discount stores where listed so I tried out the See Ads button and got a page with not output just the money background. Since there where not navigation buttons I had to use my browser back button to get back to the search page.
I was kind of confused too, until I clicked auto care, which just happens to be the default selection. Note to self: select default first. When you select auto care, the screen comes up with 1 listing. Check the checkbox and click see ads. I assume the object of the site is for merchants to come on and list their shop and specials for the week and then customers come on and find specials for the week.
It may be good to put the info in a database. I looks like you're using php to dynamically generate pages, so you might already be doing this. You might also want to take a look at the php script generating the pages. The HTML that it generates isn't well formed. This is probably low priority since most browsers don't care. If you haven't already take a look at the HTML and CSS specs over at w3.org (http://www.w3.org).
I agree with wildjokerdesign about using the back button. Usually sites have a link back to page 1 (the main page) on every page.
I am now using php with mysql. I'm not ready for prime time yet. I hope it will all make more sense when I finish. we shall see.
Let us know when you want to look at it again.
My first impression:
Huh?
Is this a space museum? A mall?
Oh! Its a coupon site for local merchants in four Utah cities (I happen to live in Utah, or I wouldn't even know that.)
My recommendations:
1) start over
2) start with a marketing plan
3) let the marketing plan drive the site design
Alex Mandossian offers a free teleclinic in which he explains a very quick way to create a marketing plan (even if you know nothing about marketing.)
Send email to guerrilla-marketing-plan@direct-response-webmaster.com to get details for the call.
Thanks for your critiques...even if some were a bit harsh. I took the last posters advice and started over. I think my site looks much more professional now but its only about 50% done. Thanks again.
mdueri
Hi,
Just a note about Frames. I've been hearing rumors that the next upgrade of some browsers will no longer support Frames.
Have Fun,
Jeff
I'm actually not using frames anymore. But if frames are no longer going to be used, how will people do what frames typically do?