Website Review - dare I ask...

[chicken/egg]

I'm quite a 'silent' member of this forum but read through most people's posts and have really liked the honest opinions from members when asked to review websites.....so.....I'd really like to know what people think about mine.

chicken/egg is only six months old and I work predominately with marketing/design agencies to date, and so far everything is going well - I've tried to keep my offering simple and to the point but would welcome any feedback.

I've not bothered with any SEO on my site, as I'm finding that clients are coming to through word-of-mouth or through my own active marketing. I'm not 100% convinced that anyone would try to do a search for what I offer - but again, your comments are welcome.

well here it is, the url....go easy on me please!

www.chickenegg.co.uk

Karen

[Ian J]

I know that you say that you aren't sure that people would look for a business like yours using a search engine but as you have gone to the trouble and expence of having a website, you might as well optimise it a little better as you never know who might find it.

Currently no-one will ever find you via a search engine as Google doesn't seem to think that the site is worth listing. This is because Google (like other search engines) relies on a combination of the site's title and description plus the actual content to see how relevant it is to a search.

The title of your site is "Chicken Egg", there is no description and worst of all there is no text at all so Google will just assume that you are hosting blank pages.

If you ever want to be ranked by Google you will need to replace all of the graphics with text that the search engine spiders can read but the look and feel can remain exactly as it is currently if that is what you wish

[chicken/egg]

Thanks for your feedback.

You're right in the fact that's it's an on-line brochure - this was my aim, I wanted to give a snap shot of what I offer.

I've been thinking about case-studies - but it's quite hard, especially with PitchDoctor as a lot of the work I do is highly confidential and it's pitch work - but I'm looking at how I can case study the workshops.

With regards to SEO - I take all your points on board. However, my web designer has told me that I can still leave my site as graphics and he can re-write some of the meta-tags so seach engines can pick up the text. But I'm very happy with the look of it (as I designed it!!) so wouldn't look to change that. So I'll look into getting some things changed to help get me some listings.

Thanks again.

Karen

[peterjhale]

look and feel is great

Meta tags is prob only 5% of what you need

On your images add "alt tags" with a sentence of what is in the graphic

Then get people to link to your site

[Ian J]

The other area that Google looks at is inbound links from other sites. If you look here you will see that Google has only picked up three inbound links but I am sure that Peter will agree that they are indeed quality links

[inbakumar]

Karen,

Nice and clean web site but I'm going to be a bit brutal here.

(1) Do you think your home page explains to an average visitor what business you are in? (Are you a personal communication specialist, a marcom consultancy, a telephone re-seller or an evangelist of rural living - only kidding here ?) You talk about "communication" but it can mean different things to different people.

(2) Who are your target clients? Your client list suggest large corporates but you are asking the opinion of small business owners here which confuses me.

(3) The lack of an address, no telephone number (only a mobile number listed) etc gives the impression that it is a one person business contradicting your large corporate client list.

(4) Your consultancy page says "Chicken/egg will work with you to re-establish your business objectives" - do you think it is a valid statement for your company to make? Don't forget usually business objectives cover a wide area including finance, operations etc.. not just business development.

(5) The breaking news about your christmas gift of chickens to people in Honduras is a bit ott. Why is it a breaking news in the first place?

Hope you don't take my comments the wrong way - only interested in you succeeding in your venture.

Best regards,

[andrewl]

Karen

A great website, and I'm sure you have a few pointers to go on already, however here is one more...

Where the text appears in light blue try changing it to, say, black... My first impression is that these were all links, only when you place the cursor over the words nothing happens. (Obviously).

Best wishes

Andrew

[Inzvestor]

Karen

Brilliant site, with a nice flow and the pictures are great too.

Nice use of theme colours.

Perhaps 'Cracking News' would have been a better title but all-in-all a great site.

An 0845 number would help with a larger presence, but the mobile gives a nice touch (and says to me that you are immediately contactable, and personally responsible for your clients account enquiries - which in your line of business is great !)

Will keep checking back and wish you well for 2005.

[InterACT]

That is true Inzvestor and I can help with the 0845 number. I would be happy to advise or even talk more about it on the thread.

I like the site and the borchure idea. I would have maybe a few instant hits and tips on each page as people like to get a taster for nothing.

[chicken/egg]

Thanks to everyone for their feedback.

Joel - I think you mis-read my site somewhat as my clients are not large corporates at all!!! I mention some large corporates on by 'About' section as I think it's important to let people know that you have worked with some big names - but I actually work with a lot of small marketing and design agencies - so the feedback from this forum is worthwhile asking.

I have purposely left my address of the site as my office is based at home and as a consultant I spend a lot of my time at clients offices my mobile is the best number for people to ring to speak direct to me rather than to an answermachine - but hopefully, if all goes well, the business will grow that I'll need proper offices soon!!

But I've taken everything people have commented on board and I'll be making a few tweaks here and there.

Again - many thanks for taking the time out to give me your comments.

Karen