Revamp - Do your worst!

[NeilP]

Completely revamped my site, and incoporated DJEP into it.

www.odysseysl.co.uk

Wotcha think?

Neil

PS. Be gentle!

PPS. Does anyone know how i get the title bar to say 'www.odysseysl.co.uk/Index' instead of the hosting name of 'www.hartfield.uwclub.net/index'? Thanks

[DJ Frankie]

Nice site I like it. Just a couple of pointers.

1. The purple text in the enquiry form is really hard to read, I would use white text to keep the flow of your website.

2. Can you tell me why a 4 hour disco is £200 and a 4 hour wedding disco is £275? (From a clients point of view of course)


What software are you using to design your site? If you are using Frontpage you should be able to save your page either from the properties page or by file "Save As" to change the name of the home page.

Overall good site.

[rob1963]

Completely revamped my site, and incoporated DJEP into it.

www.odysseysl.co.uk

Wotcha think?

Neil

PS. Be gentle!

PPS. Does anyone know how i get the title bar to say 'www.odysseysl.co.uk/Index' instead of the hosting name of 'www.hartfield.uwclub.net/index'? Thanks

Hi Neil,

I think it's a good site.

My only problems are with the contact page.

Firstly, you can barely read the questions on the contact form. Dark pink text on black clearly doesn't work, so I'd change the text colour to something much lighter, possibly white.

Secondly, I think your contact form is a bit long-winded & not very flexible. There are 22 fields for enquirers to complete, and I wonder how long this will take them?

My own contact form only has 3 fields for speed, simplicity & flexibility.
You can see it here: http://www.robjamesentertainment.co.uk/contact.htm

You could also add an email link for people who either don't have the time to wade through the contact form or don't find it relevant.

Hope this helps.

:)

[NeilP]

Enquiry Form - altered, don't like it as it doesn't fit in with the rest of the pages, but legible for now.:(

Difference in Price - With Weddings i like to meet with the clients which could be an hours drive away (and back) they get to use DJEP (which costs money), they usually get a better show and generally envolves a bit more planning and preparation. That's my excuse anyway!:D

Page Name - the page is called Index (i use Dreamweaver) what the file is called doesn't effect what the web bar/info bar (whatever you call it!) shows .......

Thanks for the input DJ Frankie.

[rob1963]

2. Can you tell me why a 4 hour disco is £200 and a 4 hour wedding disco is £275? (From a clients point of view of course)


The stock answer from those charging more for weddings is usually something like:

"Weddings require more planning & preparation than other discos, so we therefore charge more due to the extra time involved"

[NeilP]

Rob,

Thanks. I did have a general e-mail link, but it got all tangled up and looked nothing like i had designed it - so i took it out in frustration!:zip:

Back in now, so a simple e-mail contact can be just that - simple.:beer1:

[NeilP]

Quote:
Originally Posted by DJ Frankie
2. Can you tell me why a 4 hour disco is £200 and a 4 hour wedding disco is £275? (From a clients point of view of course)

The stock answer from those charging more for weddings is usually something like:

"Weddings require more planning & preparation than other discos, so we therefore charge more due to the extra time involved"

Like wot 'e said!!:zip:

[rob1963]

:thumbsup:

[Vectis]

Nice.

A few quick things I noticed:

1. There's a character you're using which doesn't seem to render properly - it's coming up as a square box - not sure if this is just me (IE7 on a fully patched Vista machine) or other folks? It appears in several places including the footer.

2. The site is a bit slow to load compared to others... is it on a free host or on the end of a slow wire? I looked at some of the page source code and it's a little bloaty (lots of comments etc. left in) but not overly so. Anyone else notice this?

3. The menu. The text doesn't line up straight - as if the left justification is out of whack. They're obviously .jpg's so probably messed this up when creating them. I also notice you're specifying 'width=' and 'height=' for most if not all of your graphics - this should be unnecessary if you saved them in those proportions in the first place - and affects page load time (quite badly if I remember correctly from previous advice from Marc).

4. I like the 'example prices' page so much so I might have to nick it... :D Well the concept anyway.

Overall clearly laid out, simple to navigate and gives the punter all the immediate information needed to decide whether or not to pick up the phone. Just needs a little more time spent on 'tickling' IMHO. I'm forever 'tickling' mine changing a word or two here and there and tweaking a graphic - it's something I'll probably never give up doing :D

[NeilP]

Square box hmmmmm should be the Copyright symbol - fixed! Apart from on the DJEP contact form which is out of my control - e-mail sent!

Slow Site - i've noticed that this morning when updating the pages. But when browsing is fine. Anyone else notice this?

Menu - hopefully all straightened up now. The graphics size i will look into - they were supplied with the template.

All positive so far ....... Search engine Optimisation next......Not got a clue!:bang:

[CRAZY K]

Completely revamped my site, and incoporated DJEP into it.

www.odysseysl.co.uk

Wotcha think?

Neil

PS. Be gentle!

PPS. Does anyone know how i get the title bar to say 'www.odysseysl.co.uk/Index' instead of the hosting name of 'www.hartfield.uwclub.net/index'? Thanks

Hi Neil, a few suggestions---nice feel to the site--

1. I cant work out prices --you need to box them or put them in clear areas--I cant understand it--

2. Recommendations great---but you could be making it up---not my words but people who speak to me--so offer contact by phone or email--

3. Guests requests--I wouldnt bother---issue a general playlist and take the requests from the client--they are paying you--not the guests

4. Cancellation terms are too lenient---you need to get full fee under 30 days---otherwise you are going to get a lot of cancellations. Unless you have a big deposit of course:D

HTH

CRAZY K

[Vectis]

3. Guests requests--I wouldnt bother---issue a general playlist and take the requests from the client--they are paying you--not the guests


Sorry Crazy, I always give my customers the option of guest requests when they book; most wedding couples take it and it's a feature I get a lot of good feedback about it. Oddly though it doesn't seem to be popular with non-wedding folks. I also offer to send the hirer a bunch of pre-printed cards (cheap ones off vistaprint) with instructions how to access the website.

Agree wholeheartedly with #2. I publish actual questionnaires or thank you letters/emails on the site to back up the comments shown and I try to keep a reserve of 2 or 3 customers willing to be called up.

[NeilP]

Cancellation changed to 30 days - i much prefer that!

Price Guide - hopefully a bit clearer now.:)

[TonyB]

I would query the following bits under your philosophy:

# All our equipment is PAT tested to ensure that it exceeds regulations.
# We carry Public Liability Insurance for all events to ensure the safety of you and your guests.

Firstly with regards to PAT testing, the PAT test in itself doesn't ensure that your equipment exceeds regulations. Perhaps something more along the lines of:

# All our equipment is PAT tested to ensure that it complies with current regulations.

Secondly PLI isn't there for the safety of the client and guests. It is there for your protection if you get sued so I would change that to:

# We carry Public Liability Insurance for all events

[Marc J]

PPS. Does anyone know how i get the title bar to say 'www.odysseysl.co.uk/Index' instead of the hosting name of 'www.hartfield.uwclub.net/index'? Thanks

This is caused by the parent frame which "masks" the true domain (hartfield.uwclub.net) on www.odysseysl.co.uk but not on other pages. Is it a free host? Might also be the cause of the slow browsing, which I also noticed.

The domain masking frame would also be the first thing to get rid of in any Search Engine Optimisation excercise.

The contact form has a strange character: -

Organization/Fianc�

But it seems to be framed from www.djfinder.com/request_information.asp?djidnumber=3209 and appears OK there.

The link to Compass Marquees on the services page isn't right. Start external links with http:// otherwise they are linked to as pages of your site.

[CRAZY K]

Sorry Crazy, I always give my customers the option of guest requests when they book; most wedding couples take it and it's a feature I get a lot of good feedback about it. Oddly though it doesn't seem to be popular with non-wedding folks. I also offer to send the hirer a bunch of pre-printed cards (cheap ones off vistaprint) with instructions how to access the website.

Agree wholeheartedly with #2. I publish actual questionnaires or thank you letters/emails on the site to back up the comments shown and I try to keep a reserve of 2 or 3 customers willing to be called up.

The reason I dont offer guests requests is in case someone wants something completely inappropriate for Cheesy Middle of the Road Weddings that I cover.

Unlikely that will happen but I dont want to be involved in an argument ---works for you--thats cool---:cool:

I do state on my website--you, your family and guests choose the music you want--so they can--- but its coming through the B and G so they can filter out problems.

CRAZY K

[CRAZY K]

Cancellation changed to 30 days - i much prefer that!

Price Guide - hopefully a bit clearer now.:)


NO TRY SOMETHING LIKE THIS--

Straight Disco - i.e.Birthday, Christening etc.
4 hour set ........................£200.00..
5 hour set ............... ........£250.00.

Weddings
4 hour set -£275
5 hour set -£325

I can understand that:D


CRAZY K

[NeilP]

Marc,

Thanks

Compass Marquees link changed and now OK

I take it then that the only way to get the address bar looking right is to go for a hosting package? If so, any reccomendations? The domain is supplied by Telivo, who offer Web Hosting for £30 a year.

The odd symbol i think is because of the e with an accent on Fiance. As i cannot alter the form as is is supplied by DJEP, not alot i can do about it i presume

Neil.

[Marc J]

Marc,

I take it then that the only way to get the address bar looking right is to go for a hosting package? If so, any reccomendations? The domain is supplied by Telivo, who offer Web Hosting for £30 a year.

For hosting recommendations I'm not the best person to ask, as I'll always recommend myself (click here (http://www.djbids.co.uk/auctiondetails.php?itemname=1-Months-Web-Hosting&id=287))!

Maybe someone else can come in with an unbiased recommendation :rolleyes:

[rob1963]

Maybe someone else can come in with an unbiased recommendation :rolleyes:

Yes, I can!

Neil...go with Marc J.

He does my hosting & he's excellent.

:)

[Vectis]

I've never used Marc (yet! :D ) but I've never heard a bad word said.

Personally (and I started using them before I knew Marc existed) I use Weycrest and have had only good experiences. Their basic hosting package (which is probably all you'd ever need - my site's hosted on it) is £14.99 + VAT p/a.

I also have a couple of older sites on Daily.co.uk and they've been fine too, but don't seem to be as responsive as Weycrest.

[Shaun]

Maybe someone else can come in with an unbiased recommendation :rolleyes:


Yes, I can!

Neil...go with Marc J.

He does my hosting & he's excellent.

:)

Marc's service is exceptional. I'm another happy customer of his.

[Dragonfly]

Marc yes i admire his honesty ... i like that in anyone upfront and honest and by all accounts very helpful.

[Corabar Entertainment]

Neil

Can't imagine what it is, but something on that site looks VERY familiar! ;) ;)

[flatliners]

its not to bad but i wouldnt put on what you dont do as in garage hardcore ect because that could be lost work or sound like you dont like that type of music there are some types of music i dont like personally ( indie ) but i play it at gigs

[Vectis]

its not to bad but i wouldnt put on what you dont do as in garage hardcore ect because that could be lost work or sound like you dont like that type of music there are some types of music i dont like personally ( indie ) but i play it at gigs

Not sure I'd agree with that. It all depends on the reason why he doesn't "do" those things; maybe it's not about personal taste but rather a lack of knowledge/confidence in those genres that would likely result in a sub-standard show and therefore harm to his reputation. It's a bit like a plasterer saying he doesn't do artexing - probably because he's rubbish at it and wouldn't do a top job.

[Corabar Steve]

Why do a job if you really don't like a type of music? Nowt wrong with saying we don't cover X genre or Y genre if you don't cover it. How is that lost work?

[flatliners]

maybe its just me being very versitile i tend to look at discos where they want a type of music that i know not alot about as a challange i never really turn work down just because i dont like the music

[Corabar Steve]

Even though you could get in very out of your depth?

[Dragonfly]

this is going way off topic but if I maybe permitted to answer ..... Im very open about such gigs as this ....eg. my northern soul night.. I sat down with the client told them I had never done anything like it before , but wanted to learn about new genres of music so was more than prepared to try it if they wished ......I spent the whole fee for the gig on getting music together , had a list compiled by the client and came on here and a few other places and researched the music ,

I am honest if I dont know a great deal about a certain genre but am keen to learn and have in such cases as 60s garage and northern soul ......

its very satisfying when you get to do something a little different but you have to give it 110 percent commitment to pull it off.

[flatliners]

i once done an 85th birthday not knowing much about the music but i done a little bit of homework and got by ( this is the army mr jones, )

[NeilP]

The reason that i don't do Hardcore, Garage etc is that i can't stand it! Why stand all evening playing music that i haven't a clue about, can't stand to listen to TBH no fee would be large enough for me to do it! (well, it would have to be a large fee!) Honesty is my best policy here, and would prefer not waste my or the clients time doing the pre-event things only to ask the question ...... and what music would you like played.......

Perhaps i should re-phrase it to say that although i don't do that sort of music, i am happy to see if i can arrange a more knoweldgable DJ for them....

Vectis- It's funny you should use the Plastering example - i am a plasterer - don't do artexing, in fact spend half my life plastering over it!!

[Dragonfly]

The reason that i don't do Hardcore, Garage etc is that i can't stand it!!!


same here if im honest ...... and being really snobby i dont really like the kind of culture that attaches its self to this sort of stuff either. :D

[discomobiledj]

The reason that i don't do Hardcore, Garage etc is that i can't stand it! Why stand all evening playing music that i haven't a clue about, can't stand to listen to TBH no fee would be large enough for me to do it! (well, it would have to be a large fee!) Honesty is my best policy here, and would prefer not waste my or the clients time doing the pre-event things only to ask the question ...... and what music would you like played.......

Perhaps i should re-phrase it to say that although i don't do that sort of music, i am happy to see if i can arrange a more knoweldgable DJ for them....

Vectis- It's funny you should use the Plastering example - i am a plasterer - don't do artexing, in fact spend half my life plastering over it!!


same here if im honest ...... and being really snobby i dont really like the kind of culture that attaches its self to this sort of stuff either. :D

Feel exactly the same, hate the stuff, much rather stick to the "normal" party songs, etc that everyone loves and dances to.

If you have to play the dross that they call music, it makes the night feel so much longer because I'm not enjoying the night and start clock watching.

[rob1963]

Personally, on my general page I don't like to say what gigs I DON'T cater for. I prefer to talk about what gigs I DO cover. Therefore, it says something like "We cover many occasions including weddings, anniversaries & most birthdays"

I then have a FAQ page which includes the questions "Do you do cater for 18th birthdays?" "Do you cater for 21st birthdays?" and "Do you cater for childrens parties?".........the answers all being "No"

[NeilP]

I can see that keeping everything positive on the home page is beneficial as it entices people to look further into your website and that is what you want.

I haven't done a FAQ page (yet), which is something that i think is a good idea...... yippee another evening gone!:bang:

[rob1963]

I can see that keeping everything positive on the home page is beneficial as it entices people to look further into your website and that is what you want.

I haven't done a FAQ page (yet), which is something that i think is a good idea...... yippee another evening gone!:bang:

Neil,

You're welcome to look at my FAQ page if you're after some ideas.

:)