My villa website is finished - comments/suggestions for improvement?

BeeKeeper


Joined: 29/09/2009
Posts: 137

Message Posted:
16/03/2010 22:55

We've finally finished our website - http://www.levantvillas.com



Fairly new at this - but think we've covered all the main bases.



However, if you can help us with suggestions for improvement - or tips to maximise the chances of bookings, we would appreciate your input.

luvincyprus



Joined: 03/12/2009
Posts: 96

Message Posted:
16/03/2010 23:21

Hellow,



I think it could be better, bullet points are longer than pictures and there are loads of things on the main page.



ı would advertıse them on seperate pages



colours are good.



please don't miss understand me it is just an advise. if you need any help with coding send me an e-mail me ı will help you .

keithcaley



Joined: 13/06/2008
Posts: 2521

Message Posted:
17/03/2010 09:24

Layout and presentation is fine (sorry, luvincyprus )

Availability calendar is good

You need to make at least SOME of the boxes on the 'contact form' MANDATORY - I just wrote 'hi' and sent it - you would have no way of getting back to me...

Also, as many people use webmail, and don't have a clue as to how to alter the 'default programmes' in Windows, it is not such a good idea to use a 'mailto:' link - it will tend to automatically start Outlook / Express, which would confuse a lot of people by asking them to set up an email account - better to simply include your email address as plain text.

fiendishpaul


Joined: 18/05/2008
Posts: 1720

Message Posted:
17/03/2010 10:03

A really nice site.



I agree with the points made by Keith particularly use of a 'mail to' link.



Well done



Paul

BeeKeeper


Joined: 29/09/2009
Posts: 137

Message Posted:
17/03/2010 10:06

Thanks very much. The mail point is very interesting - I wonder what the percentage of webmail to POP3 users is these days, My concern is that I might lose some POP3 users if they can't just click through. Would appreciate further thoughts on this.

hilda


Joined: 10/09/2009
Posts: 80

Message Posted:
17/03/2010 10:08

Great site,I also agree with Keith

luvincyprus



Joined: 03/12/2009
Posts: 96

Message Posted:
17/03/2010 11:54

No need to say sorry Keith



I been very honest as i studied Computer sciences.



Layout on home page is not good enough.

mrsgee


Joined: 23/06/2009
Posts: 396

Message Posted:
17/03/2010 22:59

Hi BeeKeeper



I think that your site is excellent. The information on the front page, in my view, is good because it gives the basics without having to go further into the site to look for them.



Only comments I would make are, it would perhaps be better to keep your bullet points for each property in the same order so comparison between the two is easier. Also, one has a dishwasher as a feature and the other a washing machine.....fine.....but don't they both have washing machines? In terms of attraction, and knowing where Kayanlar is I think a washing machine is essential - I can live without a dishwasher but personally would not book a villa without a washing machine.



But, as I said, I think you have done a really good job. Good luck

Albert5



Joined: 19/12/2009
Posts: 59

Message Posted:
17/03/2010 23:27

Hi, I think that your site is good enough, specially if you are not a specialist on web design.



Visually, the only thing that I think needs to be improved is the pics in the home page: make one and two the same size, and three and four the same size, and it will look more organized. That's all.



And good luck with your project

donga


Joined: 01/04/2009
Posts: 272

Message Posted:
18/03/2010 00:33

I can't see all the dates on the availability page





other than that looks ok to me

BeeKeeper


Joined: 29/09/2009
Posts: 137

Message Posted:
18/03/2010 02:19

These are excellent points -



MrsGee - thanks for this. I will even up the bullet points in the next day or two.

Albert5 - thank you - and you are absolutely right. I'm going to take some new pics and will improve the dodgy ones over the next couple of weeks.

Donga - I'm concerned you can't see the dates. Could I ask you to do a print screen of what you see and email me a copy to bookings (at) levantvillas.com? I'd appreciate this very much.



I had a weird message from someone in France who said they couldn't see any of the pictures and that the whole thing came up in plain text. I'm hoping it was "operator error"...

rdsteve


Joined: 01/03/2009
Posts: 187

Message Posted:
18/03/2010 07:21

Nice site. Clear booking calender and good prices for peak times yes there could be some improvements but i think as people have pointed these out to you i am sure you will address them. I have added it to my favorites to recommend it to friends.



Steve

negativenick


Joined: 10/11/2008
Posts: 6023

Message Posted:
18/03/2010 07:25

from the website "The worst that can happen in Northern Cyprus is that you are slightly late for dinner"



I think the worst that could happen is that your purchace isn't worth a tap bacause of the land issue - but that's jut my ten penny worth...



Good site by the way....

RoxyBob


Joined: 13/07/2009
Posts: 205

Message Posted:
18/03/2010 07:58

Nice Site.



On the contact page I would suggest using some form of a popup date chooser. Dates can get very confusing when the user can type in the date. Some people may type in DD/MM/YY other people may type in MM/DD/YY



Hope this helps



Bob

RoxyBob


Joined: 13/07/2009
Posts: 205

Message Posted:
18/03/2010 08:40

Hi again,



May be a trivial point but showing flags of Britain,Holland and Germany may insult other nationalities. I know it would be impossible to put up flags of every nation, a few more could make a difference. Some Suggestions -Turkey, North Cyprus, America, Sweden and Italy



Bob

RoxyBob


Joined: 13/07/2009
Posts: 205

Message Posted:
18/03/2010 08:45

My mistake it's not the Dutch flag.



Bob

proger1



Joined: 18/04/2009
Posts: 2919

Message Posted:
18/03/2010 09:08

RoxyBob,

I hope this doesn't make you feel too silly but the flags are there for the availability to see the website in the language of the flags country and not just a nice way to say, we prefer people from this country. I am sure that if they can get the page accurately translated into other languages they will add the flags. As for the USA, yep they could change akll the spelling into lazy speak and then stick an american flag there but is there any point.



Paul

proger1



Joined: 18/04/2009
Posts: 2919

Message Posted:
18/03/2010 09:12

BeeKeeper,

I thuink it is fantastic for your first attempt.

As for the website, I think it is fine with a few small exceptions that have been mentioned already for the most part.

I am still trying to finalise my first site and I just keep adding more stuff so I know how hard it is to feel it is complete.



The 2 things that spring to me at first look are on the index page. The header almost looks like it has been forced between the pictures of the villas rather than placed between 2 lovely photographs, might be better to use a long header but thinner and this would allow more visible space below it on page opening.

I had a similar thing on mine with a large photo that took up a third of the page and you then needed to scroll down for details. I cropped the photo and now much more space is avilable without having to scroll down.



The second thing would be the disabled badge, I personally would put it at the top of the bullets. If your able bodied you will think -cont.

nurseawful



Joined: 06/02/2009
Posts: 5934

Message Posted:
18/03/2010 09:14

I like the site it answers all the questions that people coming on holiday want. The only thing is and it is not a criticism as it could be my eyes! The map is a bit fuzzy.



Good Luck hope you get lots of booking and put in your information packs in the villas under medical help. TRNC Healthcare are a group of UK trained nurses who can be called out or called for advise any day between 8am and 6pm. on 0533 884 562. It sometimes saves unnecessary expenses with Doctors.



Chris

proger1



Joined: 18/04/2009
Posts: 2919

Message Posted:
18/03/2010 09:25

cont: think "Oh that is good" but if you are diasabled and need it, that would be vitally important.

These are just personal points that I would add to the list of advice.



The only other thing I would question is what screen resolution you are using. I think you are set to 800 x 600 which I personally think is an overkill these days, most people are running on at least 1024 x 768 these days and it leaves big blocks of space with the res you are using.

These by the way are not needed at all, the site works, it has all the info and ask anyone who saw my first loaded page for my site and they will tell you that yours is 400% better.



Good luck with the future,

Paul

jock1



Joined: 06/01/2008
Posts: 3786

Message Posted:
18/03/2010 09:37

Nothing wrong with it...however i did notice you did not dot one of the i's ......lol



well done.

RoxyBob


Joined: 13/07/2009
Posts: 205

Message Posted:
18/03/2010 10:34

Proger1



Take your point but it is not obvious that the flags are there for that purpose. A little text would clear things up such as Choose Language to show on Web Page.

proger1



Joined: 18/04/2009
Posts: 2919

Message Posted:
18/03/2010 12:32

Maybe I spend too much time on the internet and new about the standard use of flags.



Your point is fair but it does tend to clutter up a site if you actually write text to say. View in english and the other counterparts of foreign language.

I think maybe there are too many short cuts to page graphics that we take for granted that people will understand. Personally I would leave it but then I know that almost all non english speakers expect to find a flag or a specific word for the site in their own language.

For example, go to turkishbank.net you will notice that the web site name is in English. All web sites are by the way, meaning script not nescessarily the words but the site is turkish unless you click the english button. Non english speakers will always look for an indicator that there is another language.

Redwine


Joined: 15/01/2009
Posts: 565

Message Posted:
18/03/2010 12:40

On your gallery page I think it would be better if you could see a larger image if you click on it or do a flash photo gallery. Easy to do and dosen's take up too much page length.

proger1



Joined: 18/04/2009
Posts: 2919

Message Posted:
18/03/2010 13:03

Flash can be a pain but redwine is right, the code for opening a larger window with the photo is quite easy

BeeKeeper


Joined: 29/09/2009
Posts: 137

Message Posted:
18/03/2010 20:04

Thanks very much for this - really useful.



rdsteve - that's really kind, thank you very much.



Roxybob - I'll try and work out how to do a compulsary date chooser -and to make the forms on the booking form compulsary. I'm using MS Frontpage 2003 - in order to make things actually work you tend to need to split the view and fiddle with the code. Will consider flags advice.



proger1 - thanks for taking the time to make such a thorough appraisal. May I take a look at your header? If you could send me your website details I'd appreciate it very much. bookings (at) levantvillas.com Also, what software do you need for flash?



nurseawful - your medical advice is a really good idea. Fortunately I've never been ill in the TRNC - but I had a terrible experience a few years ago in Malta. This sort of stuff in the visitor's guide pays dividends.



Jock1 - where's my missing dot please? I can't see it.



Version 1.1 coming in a few days!

proger1



Joined: 18/04/2009
Posts: 2919

Message Posted:
19/03/2010 06:18

BeeKeeper,

My website is rescueuskyrenia.com.



There are a few flash software systems. I personally use adobe dreamweaver because it does everything for you including creating the swf. file

Are you running windows or Mac software on your computer?



Paul

BeeKeeper


Joined: 29/09/2009
Posts: 137

Message Posted:
20/03/2010 11:26

Dear Paul,



Your site looks fantastic - so clean and inviting. And also, such a good idea. I'm away for two weeks as of today - my biggest worry is my cats. (I'm being paranoid - I have fantastic neighbours - but I still hate leaving them).



I'll check out dreamweaver. Would it make a flash file that I could integrate with Frontpage? What I don't want to do, if I can avoid it, is to go all the way back to square 1 and start again. Also, I am (famous last words) almostbecoming an expert with Frontpage.



I'm not using mac software - in fact, I'm just using a small asus netbook. I need to keep logging on to other people's computers to make sure it actually look OK on something proper.



I'm going to have only erratic access to email & internet over the next couple of weeks - will keep checking in though whenever I can.



Best regards,



Alex.

proger1



Joined: 18/04/2009
Posts: 2919

Message Posted:
20/03/2010 11:59

Hi Alex and thanks for that, my fiirst attempt was way to busy and colourful.



Dreamweaver is probably in my opinion the best software for web development there is but it is damned expensive. If you had a mac I could help you with that. You can download a 1 month trial which as far as I am aware has no restrictions.



Send me a mail on proger1@hotmail.com and I can send some more infor for you.



Regards,

Paul

proger1



Joined: 18/04/2009
Posts: 2919

Message Posted:
20/03/2010 12:07

One other advantage to dreamweaver that I should mention is that it has a preview ability to show your page in any broser you like and if you browser check the page it will warn you if there would be an issue on a particular browser type. I mostly get that on IE 6 or before but I ignore anything before 6, nobody I know would not have upgraded to at least 6.



Check it out, download the trial software and run it as I am trialing for 1 month. Once you have created your pages CSS and html they are saved in personal folder so you can use any software to edit afterwards if you decide to give up with dreamweaver

BeeKeeper


Joined: 29/09/2009
Posts: 137

Message Posted:
20/03/2010 13:58

Thanks, Paul - I'll be in touch by email soon (am currently writing from the airport).



Dear MrsGee - I have added the washing machine to the menu of villa 2 - thanks again for spotting it. Can't believe I didn't see it before. Other changes in the next few days.

SidsPinkFloyd


Joined: 01/09/2008
Posts: 69

Message Posted:
20/03/2010 14:04

Re: Message 19 - Nurseawful

Is there a charge for this call out service (I would expect one) If so what are their rates?

Thanks

SPF