Re-furbished website

[SnakeyEyes]

Hi there, wondering if anybody would take a look at my re-furbished website and tell me honestly what they think? (I have thick skin :D )

http://www.xlr-entertainments.co.uk

Cheers :beer1:

[Vectis]

Good looking site - easy to navigate - gets your message across.

Few quick comments.

On the 'Contact' page

1. There's a duff graphic after your logo
2. Put your email address in readable text for those who use webmail and don't have a locally-installed mail client

Neither PLI nor PAT are "legal requirements". How about "For Your Protection" or similar?

Can't see anything else wrong. I might have tweaked some of the grammar in some areas but there are no howlers that jump off the page.

[Ricesnaps]

Not bad at all.

Only comment - loose the equipment page, really ony of interest to us DJ's I'm afraid!

[SnakeyEyes]

Thanks for the comments so far, really appreciated!!

The equipment page has been a bone of contention for a while, but now i have had quite a few people say that it should be taken off, i think i will do that this weekend.

Vectisvibe, good point about the e-mail part, i will get that changed and show the actual address as a link so people can either click or copy.

'Legal obligations' to 'for your protection' sounds good because as i have it, legal obligations also sounds like it's a chore so i will find a new title for that, cheers.

What do you think of the 'xlr' graphic in the top left corner, i used to have a dancing guy but people said it was distracting, i preferred him because i am not sure about that graphic but it was the best i could find. Because of the templates provided by my hosting company, i have to have a graphic there unfortunatly.

Anyway, thanks for the help so far, most appreciated!! :beer1:

[rob1963]

Hi there, wondering if anybody would take a look at my re-furbished website and tell me honestly what they think? (I have thick skin :D )

http://www.xlr-entertainments.co.uk

Cheers :beer1:

Hiya SnakeyEyes,

I think it's a good site.

There are only 3 comments I'd make:

1) Lose the equipment page completely. Names & photos of lights etc are meaningless to clients. They really don't care what speakers, cd players or lights you use.

2) Pricing page. Clarify what the prices include. The main questions which occur to me are: Do they include a daytime set up, or evening set up? How many hours do they cover? What area do they cover?

3) Contact page. Add a contact form.

Hope this helps.

:)

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Hi there, wondering if anybody would take a look at my re-furbished website and tell me honestly what they think? (I have thick skin :D )



No link to here? :eek: :D

[rob1963]

Lose the equipment page, really only of interest to us DJ's I'm afraid!


Lose the equipment page completely. Names & photos of lights etc are meaningless to clients. They really don't care what speakers, cd players or lights you use.

Am I imagining things?

Or did I just completely agree with Ricesnaps about something?

I need help.

Ambulance! :p

[Tony Scott]

Nice looking site, easy to navigate and says clearly what you have to offer.

I disagree on the equipment page issue, I would keep it in as it gives punters a feel for what you have. This can reassure them that you are going to turn up and put on a good show.

Before I got my site up and running I used to get lot's of questions about what kind of lighting I had and how much I was going to bring, now they can see a nice big list of kit and have lots of pictures of it in action!

I get many comments from clients at the time of booking who have seen my site complimenting me on how my equipment looks, they can see what they are getting for their money.

Obviously most will not have a clue about various types of lights or speakers listed but I feel it helps to give the impression you are serious, have enough kit to do the job and know what your doing...........I would leave it in!

Just my opinion :)

[rob1963]

I disagree on the equipment page issue, I would keep it in as it gives punters a feel for what you have. This can reassure them that you are going to turn up and put on a good show.

Tony,

I'm curious...do you REALLY think that an equipment page reassures clients that you're going to turn up & put on a good show?

I'm sorry, but I can't see the connection.

:confused:

[Shaun]

Tony,

I'm curious...do you REALLY think that an equipment page reassures clients that you're going to turn up & put on a good show?

I'm sorry, but I can't see the connection.

:confused:

Haven't we already had that discussion (http://www.mobilediscodirectory.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=7173) recently?. I'm getting dizzy again :P

[Shaun]

What do you think of the 'xlr' graphic in the top left corner, i used to have a dancing guy but people said it was distracting, i preferred him because i am not sure about that graphic but it was the best i could find. Because of the templates provided by my hosting company, i have to have a graphic there unfortunatly.



The graphic you're currently using is ok. Here's a little simple alternative that should look ok too. It's only a low resolution image and you're welcome to use it if you wish.

[Ricesnaps]

Hiya SnakeyEyes,

2) Pricing page. Clarify what the prices include. The main questions which occur to me are: Do they include a daytime set up, or evening set up? How many hours do they cover? What area do they cover?

:)

Or indeed do the complete oposite. There are a lot of opinions on whether to publish or not to publish. Personally I sort of sit on the fence a little. Following a lot of discussion on here and a huge review of my service, I actually went with the advice anmd removed all the references to "what you get" and simply have a "prices start from" statement. For me that does a couple of things. First it hopefully prevents the "cheap as chips" brigade from calling and secondly it allows me to make a tailered quote based on actual requirement.

My call for you would be to scale down on what you say and maybe just list the different prices by name. Careful as well that you don't fall into the trap a number have and sell your equipment and not yourself!

[rob1963]

Haven't we already had that discussion (http://www.mobilediscodirectory.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=7173) recently?. I'm getting dizzy again :P

I don't think we have Shaun. The previous post was about pics of equipment on sites & whether clients give a jot...I was asking Tony whether he honestly believes that having an equipment page reassures clients that you're going to turn up & put on a good show. I don't see the connection myself. I can't imagine many clients looking through websites & saying "We better book this one - they have an equipment page, so we know they'll turn up & put on a good show" I don't think this aspect was mentioned or discussed on the previous thread.


Careful as well that you don't fall into the trap a number have and sell your equipment and not yourself!

I assume you're including yourself as one of those who have fallen into that trap...as your homepage still has 3 pics of your equipment, but none of yourself!

[Ricesnaps]

I assume you're including yourself as one of those who have fallen into that trap...as your homepage still has 3 pics of your equipment, but none of yourself!

Just been watching Badger or Bust on Sky+ and I'm going to call and ask if she can come over and see you Rob!

Sometimes you really have cotton wool in your ears and haven't actually put your glasses on have you. Here's an idea, pop over to my wedding page. Remember the three packages? Penny dropped yet? Did you also miss my "new web site" thread a little while ago? I guess you must have done because that's the site which is going to pull me in what I know to be the right direction. You also must have been asleep on the number of occations where I clearly stated that I struggle with some of the things I KNOW I need to do. The difference you seem to be missing is that I actually recognise my own shortfallings. Putting those right unfortunately doesn't always happen overnight.

Now go back to sleep will you I have an order for some light boxes and pin spots to process

[rob1963]

Just been watching Badger or Bust on Sky+ and I'm going to call and ask if she can come over and see you Rob!

Sometimes you really have cotton wool in your ears and haven't actually put your glasses on have you. Here's an idea, pop over to my wedding page. Remember the three packages? Penny dropped yet? Did you also miss my "new web site" thread a little while ago? I guess you must have done because that's the site which is going to pull me in what I know to be the right direction. You also must have been asleep on the number of occations where I clearly stated that I struggle with some of the things I KNOW I need to do. The difference you seem to be missing is that I actually recognise my own shortfallings. Putting those right unfortunately doesn't always happen overnight.

Now go back to sleep will you I have an order for some light boxes and pin spots to process

Ahhhh...so you DO include yourself as one of those who have fallen into that trap!

[Ricesnaps]

Ahhhh...so you DO include yourself as one of those who have fallen into that trap!

How can I put this in a way you will understand Rob?

Unlike you, I DO NOT sell my show. I DO NOT have two prices clearly advertised on my web site which SELL different sized shows. I DO NOT base my prices or quotes on the gear that I use and i DO NOT actively sell my gear. The text on my site DOES NOT sell equipment and I DO NOT have any equipment listed.

If you'd taken the time to really look at my current site (and so far you seem to have completely ignored the numerous posts I have made with reference to the changes I am currently making to my site - but honestly I don't know why I am suprised, you don't take any notice of most things!), you would have noticed that there are a total of 40 photographs of my gigs with a tiny 20% being just straight rig shots. How on earth can you even suggest that i have "fallen into that trap"? The web site is about 2 years old, it's had minimal work done on it and I have been shouting from the rooftops for months now about the way i believe my business should be heading.

Add to that the fact that for the last 12 months I have never had a conversation with my clients or during a quote with a potential client about the size of my rig or the lights I use (and so on) and I think you will see a pattern?

One thing remains quite constant in all of this though doesn't it. I can recongise my own failings, take advice and move forward. I was only thinking in the car on the way to work today about my 3 year plan for the business. What's yours Rob? I'm ambitious, focused and determined to get better and better and better at what I do, to earn more, to get more happy customers, to be the "household" name for DJ's in my area....

...But to get there you have to swallow your pride and recognise your own weaknesses

By the way, how did you manage to get Harry Enfield to come and do a quiz night for you - now that MUST be a big selling point!

[Marc J]

To get back on topic: -

Generally a good site, looks a bit "bits and pieces" rather than following one design though. For example the header doesn't seem to match the navigation on the left (although it's close enough to get away with), and the "XLR Entertainments" banner above the page content has a hard edge against the white background. A few points: -

1. The menu seems to expand even though there are no sub-items.
2. There are a few missing graphics (Red 'X's), mostly after the logo but one firther down on the Home page too.
3. Music Library - bit of a strange download, what am I meant to do with it?
4. Contact Page - as has already been said use a readable email address, and a contatc form would be good.
5. Your PAT "can be viewed here" link isn't a link.
6. Your PLI pdf has a blank 2nd page.
7. I'd use Shaun(EliteDJ)'s graphic in place of your current top-right.

[Corabar Steve]

To Rice & Rob
Will you two pack it in!

[Ricesnaps]

Will you two stop it!

Could I just point out that I actually didn't start this! LOL!!!!

My comments reference the original post still stand - sell yourself via your website, not the gear. There are a whole wealth of articles and advice available on service orientated marketing. If you subscribe to Pro-Mobile, there have been some superb articles on wedding marketing and I think in the last issue one one whether to publish or not publish your prices.

[rob1963]

I was only thinking in the car on the way to work today about my 3 year plan for the business. What's yours Rob?

Mine is simply to continue to get more bookings, more turnover & more profit each year than the previous year...as has been happening every year since the early 1990's, and also to retain my customer satisfaction rate of 99.75%.

[Shaun]

If you wish to discuss 3 year plans etc please do so via PM. Hasn't Steve's message filtered through yet?

[Corabar Steve]

Thanks Shaun.

So any more comments on Stephen's web site before we scare him off?

[SnakeyEyes]

Wow, i didnt realize that my posting would bring out......how shall i put this..........such 'passion' in people lol.

Thanks for the advice, only had time for a quick scan at the moment but i will definatley be having a look at using that logo this weekend, I imagine it will look much better due to it's background colour :thanks:

I have decided to keep my equipment page until i have some photographs to put into the gallery or else the site will look a bit sparse me thinks.

I will have a look at the other comments later.....drink time now lol

cheers

Thanks for that marc, in responce......

The menu is beyond my control as it's a template provided by my hosting company and i cant see it expanding on my computer.

The re 'x's are an absolute pain as we cant see them on the computers here, i have managed to route a few out using the delete key but there are obviously still a few rogues.

The hard edge of the logo is not the best i know but i got it for free (always the best price) from cooltext and i cant find a soft edge option :mad: .

The music library is, as it states on the page, for clients to download, or, if your idilly looking at what general kind of music i have to see if I have what you want (hopefully, you get the meaning of my bad english there lol)

I am aware the pat link doesnt work, i have yet to scan the certificate in

My pli has a blank second page and I have no pdf editor to get rid of it :mad: (anybody know a solution to this)

I shall be looking at using the other graphic this weekend :)

Thanks for the points Marc, i will try and sort them out this weekend :D

regards


To get back on topic: -

Generally a good site, looks a bit "bits and pieces" rather than following one design though. For example the header doesn't seem to match the navigation on the left (although it's close enough to get away with), and the "XLR Entertainments" banner above the page content has a hard edge against the white background. A few points: -

1. The menu seems to expand even though there are no sub-items.
2. There are a few missing graphics (Red 'X's), mostly after the logo but one firther down on the Home page too.
3. Music Library - bit of a strange download, what am I meant to do with it?
4. Contact Page - as has already been said use a readable email address, and a contatc form would be good.
5. Your PAT "can be viewed here" link isn't a link.
6. Your PLI pdf has a blank 2nd page.
7. I'd use Shaun(EliteDJ)'s graphic in place of your current top-right.

[Marc J]

The music library is, as it states on the page, for clients to download, or, if your idilly looking at what general kind of music i have to see if I have what you want (hopefully, you get the meaning of my bad english there lol)
I'm aware of that, it just seems to come as a format that most won't know what to do with. It seems to start off as a .ODS file which is an Open Office format. Not many people have Open Office and although it's free probably won't download & install it just to view your CD list. It does download as a ZIP file which when extracted has .XML files and a bunch of folders (most empty) but to the average "punter" this would just be complicated.


The menu is beyond my control as it's a template provided by my hosting company and i cant see it expanding on my computer.
Look at the screenshot attached. By "expand" I mean when you are on a page, the page you are on gets a blank line under it in the menu (in the attached example I was on the "home" page) as if there are meant to be sub-items there. Is there no way to switch this off in your template?

[Arnold_disco]

Hi there, wondering if anybody would take a look at my re-furbished website and tell me honestly what they think? (I have thick skin :D )

http://www.xlr-entertainments.co.uk

Cheers :beer1:

Like the design. I use smart scans to!

[SnakeyEyes]

Like the design. I use smart scans to!

aye, they are good for the money arent they.

I think they could follow the music slightly better but what ya expect for such a low price. Have you had trouble with the bulbs in yours like i have. My bulb became loose in it's mounting plate and was cutting out. Rather than send it back and have it non operational, i came up with a fix I rotated the mounting plate around so that it forced the bulb into position.

Also, mine never seems to actually count the unit use hours or the bulb use hours, not that i use that feature.

Plan to get it a friend for the other side of the rig soon :D

[Tony Scott]

Tony,

I'm curious...do you REALLY think that an equipment page reassures clients that you're going to turn up & put on a good show?

I'm sorry, but I can't see the connection.

:confused:

Ok maybe in isolation that comment does seems a bit bizare!

My point is that if a client sees a nice big list of kit and some pics/vids of it in action it can help to reasure them you will put on a good looking show for them, you have the kit to do the job!

I feel it does no harm to have it there. My Equipment page discribes my Lighting & Sound equipment in an easy to understand and clear manner and lists what I have.

I get lots of positive feedback about my site.........must be doing something right! :D

Received email this week:

"Hi Tony,
Thanks so much for your quick reply. We've left it so long because we've been kind of hoping for a recommendation from friends or family as it can be quite dodgy booking something like this without having first hand experience. However, your website, with it's simple style, clear language and impressive stats (re: equipment etc... not to mention the video clips what a great idea!) made us feel really comfortable with just booking you on the spot. It's a real shame we didn't stumble across your site sooner, is there anyone you can personally recommend? (Unfortunately the thought of a DJ conjures up thoughts of all lycra / medallion / smoke and sleezy looks for my partner and yours was the only site that impressed her!)

Thanks for your time etc... and for your comment about our add!
best wishes
Amanda"

I put her onto the MDD, hope someone was able to help her, 7th July 07!!

Amanda & Tracey, Cival Partnership, Poundbury, Dorchester. :)

[SnakeyEyes]

Okay, I have taken on-board all the advice given to me in this thread, thanks very much, and have re-launched the site - again. Can you please take a peek at it and tell me what you think now.

With the gallery, i have my first gig tomorrow so I will get plenty of pictures and video from that and put it up there for ya all to see (saturday)

regards

[Tony Scott]

Shocked!!! :eek: No equipment page!!!!!!!! :D :D :D :D :D

Seriously, it's very professional looking, love the Our Commitment...... page.
Spot on! :)

[Marc J]

Still some missing images here and there.

There's something wrong with the text at the bottom of your quotation page, the copyright notice overlaps with the footer navigation.

[Vectis]

I put her onto the MDD, hope someone was able to help her, 7th July 07!!

Amanda & Tracey, Cival Partnership, Poundbury, Dorchester. :)

Tony

Slightly OT (sorry!) but I've had a cancellation for 7th July... if this is still not covered I'd be happy to step in. PM me or point the customer at my website www.vectisvibe.com


VV

[SnakeyEyes]

Shocked!!! :eek: No equipment page!!!!!!!! :D :D :D :D :D

Seriously, it's very professional looking, love the Our Commitment...... page.
Spot on! :)


yep, i removed it, just to keep the peace lol :D

thanks for that :beer1:


Still some missing images here and there.

There's something wrong with the text at the bottom of your quotation page, the copyright notice overlaps with the footer navigation.

Yep, that's a real pain in the butt as it's not showing on the 2 laptops here, must go visit relitives to have a look lol :(

[SnakeyEyes]

I know this is not that related...but....maybe it is lol

question is.....

Now i have taken the prices off the site, i am getting more calls....and more people saying they will call me back (as if they actually will).....what ratio of people would you say actually book when they call you to those who are just after a price then bugger off?

So far, i have 2 bookings to about 5 noseys?:bang:

[Tony Scott]

I know this is not that related...but....maybe it is lol

question is.....

Now i have taken the prices off the site, i am getting more calls....and more people saying they will call me back (as if they actually will).....what ratio of people would you say actually book when they call you to those who are just after a price then bugger off?

So far, i have 2 bookings to about 5 noseys?:bang:

I'd say there are 2 schools of thought on this.

1. No prices gives you a chance to talk them into it, ok if you can sell your self!

2. Show prices, you get less time wasters just wanting a cheap DJ, they just want to call you to make sure you are not a Martian or something and to get availability.


I show my prices, I get good quality work and about an 80% take up rate. I'd rather do fewer better quality events than lots of low paying pub/social club type gigs :) .