Positive criticism needed

[wanda]

Made a new website for my business just wanted opinion from you guys. Remember 2 things still work in progress and I have 0 knowledge in programming.



Thanks.



www.mgwce.co.uk

[Ray]

i've made a few websites in the past with similar background to yours. last one i did was for a small subsidiary of the company i work for - clicky

1. is that the colour scheme you want? From research a lightly coloured background was more pleasing for people viewing the website. e.g. clicky
2. Standardise your fonts and sizes of them - Home and Contact Us have quite a large font size.
3. Not sure if it's IE8 but the menu pop up is blocking services and careers - even in compatibility mode.

Otherwise, you're on your way to having a website!

[wanda]

Thanks. As I said to save a bit of loot in the beginning I thought I would give it a try.

1. I know blue doesn't go with red. I will try a more "gentle" colour.

2. I thought the more important stuff such as contact details should not be missed. Should shout and say here I am.

3. Not sure what you mean. Can you not get to the sub pages?

Thanks got lots of polishing up to do this weekend.

[Paddy]

I always like an introduction page to a website...

Something with a few pictures, (java, flash) and then a brief statement stating what the company does.

This is the company i work for, have a look at their site and you will see what i mean.

http://www.denroy.com/

As said above look at other companies pages that are within the same sector.

P

[wanda]

1) I agree on Rays colour comments, personally I don't think you can beat white background and black text, a bit boring maybe but I guess its down to personal taste. I work for Architects and although we don't have website at the moment I've seen a fair few engineer's websites. A poorly designed website puts me off straight away tbh.
2) I'd include some photies of your work and some techy drawings even if they were done in your last practice.
3) If a website has a ‘news’ page it ought to actually have relevant news or don‘t bother.
4) Why are the first names of the directors etc only initials? Does no one else work there? A whole page with a portrait (b/w) photy of everyone goes down well I think. Edit: I guess not as you only started last month!
5) In the services page I'd list a whole lot more too eg
Commercial Buildings
Heavy Industrial Structures
Historic Buildings & Structures
Hospitals & Medical Centres
Housing & Residential
Leisure & Sports Facilities
Marine Projects
Restaurants
Retail
Roads, Bridges and Car Parks
Schools Colleges
Special Structures
Structural Repairs
Warehouses & Distribution Centres
Wind Farms
6) If you're going to have a careers page I'd stick a few positions on there even if they're not available, ask people to apply by email you can easily reply and put them off, that way you'll give the illusion you've got more to do than reality. You may also end up with some choice peeps you can contact when you do get 'the big one' and you need somebody PDQ! Is easy enough to decline someone by email. Alternatively take that bit off your website, your just highlighting the fact that you're workload isn't bulging.
7) I know this ones a bit daft and you'll have done it already but Id spend some time looking at other engineers’ websites to cherry pick the best bits.
8. What’s with the opening hours? Keen newbies don’t have set hours lol!
9) I hope my comments haven’t felt like a kick in the balls, they’re genuinely meant to be constructive. When we finally get ours up and running finally I’ll post the link and you can do the same!

ps I don’t wanna teach you to suck eggs but if you’re new guys join the Faculty of Building and get out and about and go to all they’re poncy dinners etc lol!

Thanks thats quite a bit, but the more the merrier. Are you sure its "legal" to post positions that do not exist? I have a few guys on "stand by" we made a deal I have been tendering abroad for very big projects and should they materialise I will grab them. I have a lot of work that I have done but for other companies, I was worried that I could get into trouble for showing work that I have done for others as it isnt really mine even thought I did it. Or what do you think?

As for fancy flash, I am going to look for a professional to tidy up the website once the current clients become regular or I get regular clients. Its a litte unpredictable at the moment.

Alright the news is going to disappear