New Website - your thoughts appreciated

[Jonny Boy]

After an expensive and upsetting false start with another shall-remain-nameless designer ("like, don't even go there")...

...I've used a "local shop for local people" ;-) and my newly rebranded website is now just about live.

There's still a fair amount of background SEO work to do, and i need to replace some stock images as and when I get a decent one of my own, but I would really appreciate any time you have for comments. (Positive or constructive.)

There bound to be more than a few spelling/typos errors, so I'm working through these slowly but surely but: anything misstippeed (sic) that jumps out or doesn't read well, please let me know.

Please be both candid but gentle. ;-)

http://www.jonpaulentertainments.com/

Cheers y'all, and happy New Year.

J.P.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

I like the layout - easy to navigate and some really good media showcasing your talents. Overall very informative.

The only thing I wasn't keen on is the pink text - I would have thought that black would stand out a lot better?

[Excalibur]

On a cursory skim through, I have to say I'm impressed with the site. I like it a lot. I hope that when I eventually give the designer of my new site enough info to do that, it impresses me as much.

Re the side text colour, Darren's right, the pink isn't really striking enough. Me, I'd prefer a deep blue ( not black, as you want to delineate it from the main body of text )

Nice site. :thumbs_up:

[Ryu]

I like, very nice indeed, good content.

Only critique I could offer would be to decide on a I or We/Us approach and stick to it. Some links/articles suggest We/Our/Us, some talk about Me and I.

[DazzyD]

Nice site! It's very clean, well laid out and easy to find what you're looking for.

When I read the comments about the pink text, I thought "It can't be that bad". But when I saw the site, I first thought it was the menu text at the top turning pink when hovered over. And I thought "It's not that bad. It's bold enough to read". Then I saw (well, I say "saw" but...) the pink text on the "Featured Feedback" and could hardly see it. I do have poor (and deteriorating) vision so others might see it better but I would change it's colour for "ease of access" purposes. If I can hardly make it out then there will be other site visitors in the same boat.

Just my opinion!

[yourdj]

Rubbish.

Only joking (its already in my "good websites section") thats very nice I especially like the people on the top right.
Nice to see the bog frog course has even put to good use. Great use of colour and information.

Whats the main difference between simple evening party and mobile disco as you will shoot yourself in the foot with that one.
I would go for the later as its £200 less, but looks similar. The all day would benefit from a hour as you will find your doing loads of 12 hours for £900. the people who are getting married at 3pm will then be asking for a discount.

[funkymook]

I find comments like 'If you want something different to some scruffy 80s-style pub DJ playing his own rubbish choices' very patronising. You can completely remove it and the following paragraph reads so much better.


And using normal, bold and italic font in the same paragraph is a bit too much formatting.

[Jonny Boy]

Great stuff guys



Only critique I could offer would be to decide on a I or We/Us approach and stick to it. Some links/articles suggest We/Our/Us, some talk about Me and I.

Noted: I'm going to have to work through these...


Then I saw (well, I say "saw" but...) the pink text on the "Featured Feedback" and could hardly see it. I do have poor (and deteriorating) vision so others might see it better but I would change it's colour for "ease of access" purposes. If I can hardly make it out then there will be other site visitors in the same boat.

Just my opinion!

Valid & welcomed. It seems you're not alone here... and although i've been told it's partly down to screen resolutions/warmth & colour setting etc it is clearly something needs looking at.
I'll speak with the developer....perhaps a darker background in the placeholder boxes would help it stand out better? Thoughts welcome.


Whats the main difference between simple evening party and mobile disco as you will shoot yourself in the foot with that one.
I would go for the later as its £200 less, but looks similar. The all day would benefit from a hour as you will find your doing loads of 12 hours for £900. the people who are getting married at 3pm will then be asking for a discount.

Good point & useful Toby - the difference obvs needs to be made clearer.
(The difference is the "simple party" includes Live performance w/ Disco music service (eg playlist), whereas the Disco is ...er...disco only, with actual mixing by a real live boy. Complete = both.


I find comments like 'If you want something different to some scruffy 80s-style pub DJ playing his own rubbish choices' very patronising. You can completely remove it and the following paragraph reads so much better.

And using normal, bold and italic font in the same paragraph is a bit too much formatting.

That's thought provoking actually. It could be worded better although I kinda want to highlight what the other option is.... Cheers: going to think of alternative working.


Really useful stuff guys, please keep it coming!

The page I've struggled & re-written then most is LGBT/Civil Partnerships page...anyone got comments on that please? http://www.jonpaulentertainments.com/ourservices/civilpartnerships/default.htm

[yourdj]

Good point & useful Toby - the difference obvs needs to be made clearer.
(The difference is the "simple party" includes Live performance w/ Disco music service (eg playlist), whereas the Disco is ...er...disco only, with actual mixing by a real live boy. Complete = both.

A demo video or diagram might be an idea as its not completely clear. :)

[Excalibur]

A demo video or diagram might be an idea as its not completely clear. :)

Having had a more detailed read of the packages, I can see the differences, but they might well be clearer. Obviously the DJ and Disco is obvious, but the difference between Complete and Simple appears to be half an hour, and a hundred pounds, as both feature live music, as well as Disco. :confused: If you must have the two options, how about Standard and Premium, or such like? This might convey a reason for the price differential.

[Jonny Boy]

A demo video or diagram might be an idea as its not completely clear. :)

Good idea... I might add some illustrative photos at the bottom of the text.


Having had a more detailed read of the packages, I can see the differences, but they might well be clearer. Obviously the DJ and Disco is obvious, but the difference between Complete and Simple appears to be half an hour, and a hundred pounds, as both feature live music, as well as Disco. :confused: If you must have the two options, how about Standard and Premium, or such like? This might convey a reason for the price differential.

This is very true.
I need another think about how to best present the packages... in the meantime I've added a précis of what's included as the first bullet point for each example Hope it's clearer...

I've also reworded that paragraph about 80s pub DJs (ouch!) to convey the same idea less...priggishly. Thanks for mentioning this Funkymook...I'm cringing at the previous wording.

I'm stuck with the unclear pink text for now. :-/

[funkymook]

I've also reworded that paragraph about 80s pub DJs (ouch!) to convey the same idea less...priggishly. Thanks for mentioning this Funkymook...I'm cringing at the previous wording.



And in what way is 'if you want something different to a stereotypical scruffy DJ blaring out his own inappropriate choices' any better?

Believe me it's much classier with it taken out completely, it does you no favours at all.

[yourdj]

And in what way is 'if you want something different to a stereotypical scruffy DJ blaring out his own inappropriate choices' any better?

Believe me it's much classier with it taken out completely, it does you no favours at all.

I agree although I do advertise "no school disco set ups, relentless chatter"
I even have a ban list of Agadoo, oops upside your head, agadoo etc. LOL. ;)

Justifying that you are not a part-time casual business shows I think in the site and your own personality.
I have spent quite some time with you over the last few years and a good video will sort that as your a natural on the camera. :)

[funkymook]

One reason I'm against that sort of statement is that the client has probably been on (or will go on) a few other decent DJ sites and knows there are other professionals - which makes the comparison meaningless, they do not have an either or choice.

[Excalibur]

, they do not have an either or choice.

Well yes, but surely they have the choice between Professionals like Jonny, and the aforementioned scruffy oiks? Isn't it valid to draw the distinction between the two extremes?

[Ryu]

I agree with Funkymook. Talk about what you are, not what you are not. Negative marketing and highlighting the flaws in others is....dare I say it....lacking in class. I'd go as far to say that any reference to how "others" do it, is unneccessary. Just talk about how you do it.

[funkymook]

Well yes, but surely they have the choice between Professionals like Jonny, and the aforementioned scruffy oiks? Isn't it valid to draw the distinction between the two extremes?

Jonny can't honestly thinks these low rent DJ's' are his competition - and he doesn't give his clients any credit for being able to draw the distinction themselves. 'You don't want to book some scruff that plays all the wrong songs' - well duh!

But lets say it is worthwhile for him to compare (and maybe that sort of marketing does work) - in that case do it properly, have a whole page devoted to highlighting the differences in quality, not just a one liner that's out of kilter with the rest of the site.

[Jonny Boy]

Well yes, but surely they have the choice between Professionals like Jonny, and the aforementioned scruffy oiks? Isn't it valid to draw the distinction between the two extremes?

See this was exactly what my thought/intention was...

BUT (especially now Funkymook's expanded on his point/reasoning, I've got to agree with him. I'm tweaked the sentence again to "Do you want something other than typical?" at Mrs Wife's suggestion. (Could be "other than average" too.)
Her thinking being that consumers will draw allusion to those "SMD"s that are out there, without me being that explicit.

Does this work better do you think?


Justifying that you are not a part-time casual business shows I think in the site and your own personality.

Cheers, man.
It took a long while for me to realise that just because ents. isn't my only career it didn't make me worth vastly less than others who purely work in ents.
It took Barney Grossman to finally make that penny drop at the last BPM.


I have spent quite some time with you over the last few years and a good video will sort that as your a natural on the camera. :)

You should see the one where I turn up to fix her washing machine..... ;-)

But seriously, thanks, Toby. That's a real and unexpected compliment. :)
I can blag self-belief & confidence pretty good sometimes.... in reality I'm a paraoid hot mess. LOL.

Some more vids & recordings are on the cards actually... maybe later in the year: budget is presently exhausted.

Cheers guys for your input so far: welcome any other viewpoints and comments too.

[DazzyD]

Jonny can't honestly thinks these low rent DJ's' are his competition - and he doesn't give his clients any credit for being able to draw the distinction themselves. 'You don't want to book some scruff that plays all the wrong songs' - well duh!

But lets say it is worthwhile for him to compare (and maybe that sort of marketing does work) - in that case do it properly, have a whole page devoted to highlighting the differences in quality, not just a one liner that's out of kilter with the rest of the site.

I would go as far as saying that that kind of advertising must work. Why else would the likes of ASDA, ALDI, Virgin Media, British Gas, British Telecom, etc., etc. name their competitors in their advertising? In markets where the general public perception is that all the players are the same (ring any bells???) then it's definitely advantageous to point out why you are better than your competitors and if that includes naming them (fairly, of course! And within ASA guidelines. Wouldn't want any legal issues!) then pretty much all is fair in love and marketing! ;)

[funkymook]

I would go as far as saying that that kind of advertising must work. Why else would the likes of ASDA, ALDI, Virgin Media, British Gas, British Telecom, etc., etc. name their competitors in their advertising? In markets where the general public perception is that all the players are the same (ring any bells???) then it's definitely advantageous to point out why you are better than your competitors and if that includes naming them (fairly, of course! And within ASA guidelines. Wouldn't want any legal issues!) then pretty much all is fair in love and marketing! ;)

True - but they generally use it when there is very little difference in product or service, this was more akin to Ferrari saying don't buy a clapped out 4th hand Corsa.