feedback / constructive comments on...

[brad@atlantis]

... my new site. PLEASE!

not been up long but been working on it for ages! got a snag list as long as my.... arm! lots and lots of teething probs but could do with a fresh set of eyes on it to spot the ones i've missed. its by no means perfect but its ok. could do with some help, suggestions, inclusions, ommitions and general feedback good and / or bad. would be really helpful.

thanks guys and girls!!!

Brad the newbie!!!

[chris_lamb]

Hopefully constructive:

The size of the front page is 277Kb including all the images but excluding the two flash animations. This is far too big for a front page, particularly over slow connections.
The black text down the bottom is very difficult to read.
Using a flash animation for the entire site makes it fairly inaccessible. I couldn't increase the font size and some of it is rather small. You can't copy any of the text (including contact details) which means that you have to write/type them again, possibly making mistakes
The background makes some of the text hard to read, particularly the overview on the structure page and the white text on the info page.
If I click on lessons at the bottom and then on contact at the top I get a 404 error (page not found)
As far as I could tell you don't actually say where you are! That is an important bit of information for anyone looking at the site.

[Chris]

Link's here for those of you who couldn't find it ....

http://www.atlantis-swimming.com/

Welcome Brad!

I have to say first-off that I'm not a huge fan of Flash websites. They're great for design agencies/graphic artists who are trying to showcase their work, but for an information site I prefer something a little more straightforward.

That said, it's pretty well laid out, colour scheme is easy on the eyes but it's missing a link to www.SwimClub.co.uk (http://www.SwimClub.co.uk) (!!!)

Not looked at other swim school sites, but you might want to keep full torso shots of children off the site. Check the ASA website guidelines here: http://www.britishswimming.org/vsite/vfile/page/fileurl/0,11040,5026-145129-162345-49474-0-file,00.pdf

Other than that, best of luck with the new venture!

Chris

[brad@atlantis]

Thanks for the feedback so far. its much appreciated. more required.

1) the black writing isnt supposed to be there (or hidden i think)
2) we dont say where we are because were negotiating the pool hire as we speak - but bournemouth should be mentioned!
3) I agree that the fact that it is all flash makes it slow.

A very very good friend of mine put hours into the flash stuff and built the site for FREE so im a little bit stuck for telling him to scrap the flash!!!

so basically im a tad limited!... but the following will help you think?

a) compressing the pics / background files etc will reduce the front page size (in kb) and that will help???
b) fade the image beneath the "structures - overview" section or / and emboldening the text to clarify
c) change the text colour on the info page - any suggestions? to?
d) correct the links from lessons (bottom) to contact (top)
e) review images that are possibly not asa compliant.
f) place a link to swimclub.co.uk lol!
g) possibly make the central flash box bigger to enlarge the font size??? will this make it more legible?

more comments / criticism please... will these help or are they pretty pointless?? this is really helpful

thanks again guys

www.atlantis-swimming.com

[aswim]

The site looks very good. Font size ok though maybe a tad bigger would help. The rest of the questions i am unable to answer as i have no experiene in making websites. Good luck

[mammamedley]

Hey Brad!

I think is great.......Good luck with it all.........such an exciting time for you when the business is just starting..........before long the phone will be red hot!!!

Provide good quality swimming lessons and you can't go wrong!!

All the best
mamma
www.farnboroughfins.co.uk

[brad@atlantis]

thanks for the positive replies ppl!!! still doing no better on the supplier front - need bulk load of arm discs!!! about 60 i think. any ideas / suggestions???

[mirror]

When I clicked on the further information about eg helping child to float then the titles on some bits are like a foreign language!!

Nice site by the way!

[restors]

Sorry no advice on the supplier front but the website looks great

[brad@atlantis]

figured out the problem - basically they were written in word but were opened in Rich text format and didnt convert back too well to .doc files!!! My friend doesnt have microsoft word!!! working on putting it right. thanks for the feedback. any probs with any of the other links? is the enrolment form working your end? its been tempermental for us!!!

thanks guys and girls

brad

http://www.atlantis-swimming.com

[brad@atlantis]

could some ppl try my message form on the contact us page please to make sure its all working well.

thanks

http://www.atlantis-swimming.com/contactpage.htm

[H2o]

could some ppl try my message form on the contact us page please to make sure its all working well.

thanks

http://www.atlantis-swimming.com/contactpage.htm


have replied form your contact page... got too enthusiastic and sent it twice!!!

Good site BTW.