new website for me...

ram2500

in case anyone looks at this discussion board anymore...

i'd like y'all to critique my new website for me. it is nothing fancy, and i am no web designer. i just threw it together.

here's a little background first - i finally started up an independent martial arts school in waco. the class i had at mclennan community college for almost a year got cancelled, so i stepped out on a limb to do my own thing. please check out the site and let me know what you think. i want to improve it, and i need ideas, so i came to where there are those who have opinions...

thanks,

eric

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stuck on the trane...someone please help!

Willie

Eric-
I don't see a link man...give me a link...
But for what its worth here are my top things for a local business website:
1. Your address (not just a map, the entire actual address)
2. Your phone number
3. Your email
4. Your hours of operation / class schedule
5. You basic bio / qualifications
6. Your reason for existence- If you teach classes say "we teach karate classes" if you do private instruction say "we have private instruction"

This may seem obvious but I have been on many a website that forced me to guess what they did and how to reach them.
Plus its worth it to take the time to get decent pictures. Spend a afternoon taking photos and then crop/correct them so they look good.

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"Our cars are different in Texas, we want to be able to carry guns, spit chewing tobacco, call on our cell phones or sharpen our knives while driving"
- State Representative Joe Pickett, D - El Paso, as quoted in the Dallas Morning News April 2009

ram2500

that's funny! i even thought about it while i was typing, "be sure not to forget the link..." what a dumb-ass! sorry.

http://www.harmonizewaco.com

thanks for your ideas even before you were able to see the site! you make very good points. i knew someone would be helpful. i'll speak to what you wrote so far...

1. i don't have my own space. i'm renting from an elementary school. i don't want people just showing up without contacting me first. it could be confusing if they don't know all of that before going to the location. in the website i ask them to call or email for more info. perhaps i should spell that out on the site. i've described the address so they know about where it is.
2. it is there.
3. it is there.
4. it is there.
5. i wasn't planning to do that, but i think you have concisely summarized the concerns of a few people i've met. they poked that question without actually saying, "what are your qualifications?" i didn't realize at the time what they were doing until i read what you wrote. i need to add this.
6. i think i did cover that, but you may have a different perspective.

one of the guys in the class is a camera man for a local film company here in waco. we've talked about taking some photos/videos. we should be able to get this rolling soon, i think.

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stuck on the trane...someone please help!

ram2500

ok...has anyone seen the website, yet? any thoughts?

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stuck on the trane...someone please help!

Wizbang

- Change the title of the web page to have the name in it
- Is the left side suppose to be links? I'm not seeing them
- Your name/ instructor's name not showing up?
- Hours/Schedule not showing up?
- Move phone number to the bottom (It's just floating up top)
- Create a top banner with the name (w/ picture or something)
- Emails should hyperlink so it'll open a new email

Let me know if you need any help

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'99 TJ/'01 Dodge Ram/'99 Trans Am

ram2500

Wizbang wrote:

- Change the title of the web page to have the name in it
- Is the left side suppose to be links? I'm not seeing them
- Your name/ instructor's name not showing up?
- Hours/Schedule not showing up?
- Move phone number to the bottom (It's just floating up top)
- Create a top banner with the name (w/ picture or something)
- Emails should hyperlink so it'll open a new email

Let me know if you need any help

- how do i change the title? i think you are talking about the word "home" which appears in the search engine...
- i know explorer 8 doesn't allow the links on the left, but i haven't heard of any other issues...what browser are you using? i'd like to know why you can't see some stuff.
- my second page has scheduled classes listed as text. i also have a calendar page. are you not able to see either of those?
- i can put the phone number on the bottom, too. i want to keep it visible up top.
- what is a top banner? if you can't see my links, you may not be able to see my business name at the top of each page...
- how do i make the emails a link?

eric

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stuck on the trane...someone please help!

ram2500

Wizbang wrote:

- Change the title of the web page to have the name in it
- Is the left side suppose to be links? I'm not seeing them
- Your name/ instructor's name not showing up?
- Hours/Schedule not showing up?
- Move phone number to the bottom (It's just floating up top)
- Create a top banner with the name (w/ picture or something)
- Emails should hyperlink so it'll open a new email

Let me know if you need any help

- i think i've successfully changed the title, but i need to wait for google to run through their update process.
- we've addressed the stuff not showing up to be a browser issue. i need to figure out what needs to be done about ie8.
- i removed the phone number from the top.
- emails should be hyperlinked now.

thanks, ben!

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stuck on the trane...someone please help!

Wizbang

check the VML setting in publisher

Pictures not showing in IE8?
http://social.expression.microsoft.com/Forums/en/web/thread/5566081b-bee3-40c3-82dc-06907a0ebd5a

how do I make sure "VML settings" are off in Publisher?
http://www.eggheadcafe.com/software/aspnet/33107216/how-do-i-make-sure-vml-settings-are-off-in-publisher.aspx

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'99 TJ/'01 Dodge Ram/'99 Trans Am