Portfolio Site Critique

[TheKuz]

Hello, I'm new here so I figured I might as well throw my site out there to get critiqued.

http://www.crystalkuznik.com

This site's main purpose is to display my work so I was going for a simple, easy to navigate design that would be easy to add to. I want most of the focus to be put on my work.

All feedback is welcome.

 

[pinkfluffybunny]

Hi Crystal,

I got to ask if you just plan on referring people to it, Like putting it on your business cards, freinds?

If that's it and you're not worried about search engine placement go ahead with the flash look.

Next:

go to your desktop find a blank spot
right click
select properties
then settings
try a couple other resolutions and see what it looks like.

If you're not happy with the look - there a few hundred free templates here - http://www.freewebtemplates.com/

Have fun

 

[TheKuz]

What do you mean by search engine placement?

And this site is my portfolio site for school - I send the link out to potential employers for cooperative education jobs (alternate school/work every quarter).

 

[Mr. Websites]

Not to stir up more mischief (take it to the PM's if you want to start again), in my opinion flash is good. I prefer interactive flash websites rather than plain HTML-based websites. I'm sure numerous people besides me find them to be more appealing.

 

[pinkfluffybunny]

Yes mr. websites, I'm sure you do. I'm sure you would have asked her some questions and tried to help her.
But instead you wrote "flash is GOOD"....,

Crystal,

I have examined your site. I will offer some suggestions for work-arounds.

at 56k the site takes 3 minutes and 46 seconds to load.
I know people are tired of hearing about 60% of the people in the US are using 56k modems and the average comnnection speed id much lower. So if you mine losing most of your visitors before the first page loads. OK. It's something you should be aware of.

Next: If you plan on having it indexed by search engines, enabling prospective clients to find you, google and the others search engines can't yet read Flash, or flash links (there are some flash designers who disagree.. In fact there is only one now, which is FAST AllTheWeb.com.

but you won't find those full flash freaks by searching for them.

I got to believe you can't afford $10,000.00 a month to buy placement.

Go to google type "flash designers", and look at the page designs from there on down. You'll notice that only one "Polar" has a full flash design and they obviously have a budge to get them there. You'll also notice that all the others have used html pages, hidden links or doorways.

Example: http://flash-style.com/

Flash does have an important role for any type of online business. Entertainment and graphic Web sites especially, are in the business of delivering non-text material. Therefore, Flash is good content. Search engines don't want any part of Flash, not enough "spider food", however, there are workarounds.

I see that you are somewhat concerned about SEO because you took the time to include meta tags. so I'll give you some tips, or you can take Mr. Webmaster's "Flash is Good", advice.

Oh I'll give it anyway:

Give your 56k viewers a choice. Create a indexable doorway.

Add links and text below the flash, so searchs engine can index it. It will be seen if people want to scroll down. example - http://www.bwkc.com/

(scroll down on the sites you see that look all flash.)

Place your design in a frame set and optimize the surrounding frames.

Ask yourself if the Flash page is doing anything *good* for you - if it will increase the percentage of visitors who become customers.

Is pay-per-click affordable for you.

If the flash is actually effective in getting customers interested, it might make a good landing page for your pay per click visitors.


Good luck

 

[TheKuz]

I am aware at how long it takes my site to load. The only people who are looking at my site are design firms looking hire me, so I have no problem with the load time. They all have broadband connections and on a fast connection it takes about a minute to load, if that. If someone is on a 56k modem, I don't care if they stay - they're not my target audience, so oh well.

I put my swf file in an html file, and I do have metadata attached for web search engines. If you search my name in Google, my site is the second or third one that comes up. I'm fine with that.

I'm not putting my site up on the web to get business, nor am I looking for clients. I included what I did in the metadata just to put it in there - I am not looking for freelance work. Once again, this site is sent to only people I want to be looking at it.

I asked for feedback on the site, not how to make a million dollars off of it.

 

[pinkfluffybunny]

Obviously I waisted my time.
Obviously you didn't really want a site critique!



My mistake .......

 

[TheKuz]

I wanted a "site critique," not a "running your own business on the web" critique.

Like I said in my other post - you just need to settle down. Quit throwing out every ounce of crap that you know and just give feedback. No one thinks you're any better for what you're saying.

 

[pinkfluffybunny]

Sorry crystal I misunderstood what you meant by:

"Critique" - analysis, evaluation, review, appraisal, you know like what it means.

Next time I'll know "Critique" means: tell me my site looks good!

I wasted time writing that crap for you. It won't happen again for you.

Crystal there are people reading this kind of stuff, who have hopes of working someday.

Last bit of advice - take your personal information, like home phone number and address off the site. Or I'll tell daddy.

 

[Tjobbe]

you said:

::only people who are looking at my site are design firms looking hire me::

Then surely if some one is looking to hire you they are going to wait and wait and wait for your site to load? I wouldnt. I mean, do you think if you send a resume by post 2 weeks after the application date that the boss may read it? I know it doesnt compare, but you want to WOW the prospective clients / employers, not put them off.


::so I have no problem with the load time::

you should be..


you have a "download the flash plug in here" link in your flash screen, whats the point in having this there? if i havent got flash, i wont see it, if i have flash, i see it??

 

[John Kennedy]

I am aware at how long it takes my site to load. The only people who are looking at my site are design firms looking hire me, so I have no problem with the load time. They all have broadband connections and on a fast connection it takes about a minute to load, if that. If someone is on a 56k modem, I don't care if they stay - they're not my target audience, so oh well.

I'm still a student but I do some part time work for a couple of local web/graphics firms. On two occasions when I initially went to meet with these employers about doing some work for them, they looked at my web portfolio on both 56k and broadband.

Any web company that I've ever been in contact with have been more concerned about usability than fancy flash gimmicks.

 

[TheKuz]

Yes, I know this. That's why I've kept my site simple and just functioning as a case to display my work. I've seen many "over-the-top" Flash sites sent out to employers, and at times I got the job over those just because my work was better.

 

[Bye Bye]

Hi I know pinkfluffybunny was banded,

I'd tell administration how to really band, but why bother.

Crystal,

Many of my employees make 6 fiqures. If you had submitted that site, to one of my firms. In what position do you think you would have been hired and in what pay range, if at all.

I can tell you I would not have bothered to meet you personally. (third layer manager, maybe). If the site is outstanding, and the kid knows about techniques, like I listed above. I would probably say something like, "this kid knows what she's doing, let's talk to her, send her a ticket.

We get lots and lots of applications, Crystal. Only a few stand out. It's unfortunate but most are from Asia.

 

[armstrong]

Originally posted by Bye Bye
Many of my employees make 6 fiqures. If you had submitted that site, to one of my firms. In what position do you think you would have been hired and in what pay range, if at all.

His employees make 6 figures, yet he can't even spell 'banned' if his life depended on it? Sorry, I don't buy that story.

Hi I know pinkfluffybunny was banded,

I'd tell administration how to really band, but why bother.

 

[TheKuz]

Originally posted by armstrong
His employees make 6 figures, yet he can't even spell 'banned' if his life depended on it? Sorry, I don't buy that story.

THANK YOU. I didn't even understand that post. All I was thinking was, "Am I the only one here who speaks English?"

 

[Jeff]

Pssst .... here are the not so subtle matching IP addresses:

Bye Bye
pinkfluffybunny

We get these from time-to-time, folks ... apologize for the inconvenience.
-Jeff

 

[TheKuz]

Oh my lord, how pathetic. Maybe now he'll learn his lesson - what a freaking jerk.

 

[Mr. Websites]

:lol:
He'll be back...

 

[Spirited]

Hiya Kuz,

Without trying to get into the big flash debate, your site design is very simple, which makes me wonder why it is worth having such a long download time. I could understand your position if you had a "wow" site, but most people expect simple design to download quickly. I would have a look at that flash file and see what is slowing you down - it may not be top of your priorities but there is no point alienating a potential employer when your code might just need a few tweeks.

Although I like clean and simple design, this is a little too bare for me.... how about your favourite portflio piece in that square on the front page to entice potential employees deeper into the portfolio. Otherwise cool

 

[John Kennedy]

Yes, rejoice in the fact that Pink Fluffy Bunny is gone, all because some people can't take some criticism or listen to someone with a different opinion than themselves. If you didn’t like what he had to say then ignore him!