website design help

natanddan1

Hi

I have started my website but it really needs that professional touch to make it look good. As a new business I am trying to set this business up with minimal expenditure!
Does anyone know where I could get advice and possibly some cheap web designer who could help

Thanks in advance

natanddan1

Gorgeous_George

There is so little info there OP.

What is the business doing? What have you got so far? Why do you feel the need for a web presence? Who are your target customers?

Cheap is not necessarily best value.



GG

natanddan1

Hi
If you type in (qainspections .co.uk) you will see what the business is about and the target customer.

save-a-lot

Hi

Free ways of getting a good template - use http://www.oswd.org/

Otherwise use https://www.scriptlance.com and post a design project and get a whole of the World quote. Designers, programmers in other parts of the World are substantially cheaper. I can recommend some.

Scriptlance works in a similar way to ebay. Each member is rated by the user after a project, you can view all of their comments, so find a cheap price from a designer with good feedback and pick them. Simple.

lemontart

location location location or at least areas covered needed also you do not need to put click on navigation bar on the bottom of the site.

Beth
xx

Astaroth

A good web designer will do much more than simply make your website look pretty but will do search engine optomisation, establish things like content management systems so ongoing you can make alterations without use of a designer.

Whilst it can be done on the cheap you tend to get what you pay for and as this is your income do you really want to jepodise it from day one?

natanddan1

Astaroth wrote:

A good web designer will do much more than simply make your website look pretty but will do search engine optomisation, establish things like content management systems so ongoing you can make alterations without use of a designer.

Whilst it can be done on the cheap you tend to get what you pay for and as this is your income do you really want to jepodise it from day one?

I know you are right, although the whole purpose of setting this up was to enable it to be done with the minimal of outlay. The idea is to reinvest 100% of the earnings back into developing the website at the start. I already have a very good carrer so am happy to start this project low key if you like. I am hoping to build on the business slowly to ensure steady progressive growth rather then hit them hard and get swamped and have to turn custom away.
The point of the business is to enable me to earn enough income over the next couple of yours to be able to work full time on the business. The logic behind this is there is very little overheads to the business other that paying my feelance inspectors etc.

[Deleted User]

minimalism is the key. Simple and easy to access navigation, white space (don't crap the site full of too much info per page) and good text. Take whatever you've written and get rid of 1/2 of it.

I usually try to get some stylish pictures in, they fill some space and look nice (i tried it when i made this site http://www.linkagerecruitment.co.uk/index.htm). Wish i'd not made the colour scheme so washed out now.

Whats your url, maybe i can give you some advice on some changes to make

natanddan1

ringo_24601 wrote:

minimalism is the key. Simple and easy to access navigation, white space (don't crap the site full of too much info per page) and good text. Take whatever you've written and get rid of 1/2 of it.

I usually try to get some stylish pictures in, they fill some space and look nice (i tried it when i made this site http://www.linkagerecruitment.co.uk/index.htm). Wish i'd not made the colour scheme so washed out now.

Whats your url, maybe i can give you some advice on some changes to make

Hi

https://www.qainspections.co.uk

any advice would be greatly appreciated

[Deleted User]

Ok, let me find the 'snags' in your website:

* Textured background - a bit 'old skool' but its actually growing on me
* Flash animated title
* poor use of images (bad resizing, poor layout)
* Links on menu too small
* Far too much text on the front page
* Typeface: try to stick to one, except for page headings
* No 'back to top' on long pages
* ditch the visitor count
* Design is possibly too narrow - ideally a stretchable design would work better but i do like the space
* Your enquiry form is badly laid out, that needs a make-over
Ideas:
You could have the link to terms and conditions at the bottom of the page, this would narrow your menu
People don't mind a deeper layers if you give them appropriate navigation, you may want to look at a site i made for firm in a similar vein as yours: http://www.liability-risk.com/

The site does have quite a look of being from a template, and that is just par for the course when you use one. I like the top banner though, and the colour is ok - it does remind me of a neutral 'new home' colour scheme. With a bit more work you'll get there.

natanddan1

Thanks for the advice, I am aware of the problems with my site, all the items you have listed are correct but I need the help to change it all as I am a complete novice. Thats why I need to get some one to design it proffessionally.
I do like the format of the link you posted. I also like the idea of the drop down menus in the navigation bar!.

Unfortunatley, the template I am using has loads of limitations whith what you can do so I am a little stuck there. I only created this site so as to get down my ideas and hopefully someone out there can use what I have done to create a better website for me.

Not too sure where I go from here

Thanks