Please :: Nortiq Web Services

[lynlimz]

Hi,

I've posted a review really long ago, and since then, I've added much content, did several revamps of the site navigation, pages, search engine optimisation, inclusion of scripts and more.

I would appreciate if the Website Review Community could lend some assistance in furthur improving the site? You can go into any field, corner, part etc. of the entire site from coding, to scripts, to spelling to bleh! everything. as you wish =) crituqes and cimpliments are both welcomed

You can go into:
- Meta Tags
- Search Engine Friendliness
- Color Combination
- Page Filenames
- Page Titles
- Category Navigation
- Navigation
- Banners
- Images
- Load time
- HTML errors
- CSS Errors
- JavaScript Errors
- Script Errors
- Site Presentation

Commentary on how I can improve the scripts like:
- Newsletter
- Search Engine
- Multi-Purpose Form
- Error Reporting (try going to an invalid link etc.)
- External Frame Script (when loading a page that doens't reside on nortiq's server, the page will load within a frame)

And more.
Sorry if I bombarded too much information. Thought it would assist you.


URL : http://nortiq.com


I would like to thank you in advance for your help!
Regards

[lucas]

T1, 1024x768, a ton o' colors

first impression, i have no idea what your site is for, the top and left side border suggests that your a corporation in some kind of information service business. looking further into the site, the bottom right to be exact (the last place my eyes normally look due to tradition of putting most important information in the top, centered area) i see that your a web development site.

other things:
- decent loading
- minimizes/expands VERY well to fit resolution
- you seem to be a web development site yet you have little/no information on your web development service (where's your portfolio?)

overall the site seems kinda bland to me. black, white, and grey just don't do it for me. also the generic top and left borders appear less of a cutting edge web development business and more of a corporate content site.

[Silverado4x4]

Tip One:
Get a better host, or e-mail them! There's a "Cannot find server" error!

[allie]

This review of your site is offered from a user perspective. I will offer opinions on what I see and leave it to those more knowledgeable to offer advice on the internal workings of your site. Site viewed in 800X600 resolution, true color, IE5.5.

The overall design is pleasing to my eye. I really like the fine mesh part of the logo and think it fits well into a technical type of site.

The part of the logo tag line "where creativity knows no boundaries" could stand out more. The color blends into the background of your logo and the text is small and hard to read. Perhaps a different or brighter color would be appropriate? Also a change of the wording to "where web design creativity knows no boundaries" or something to that effect would add instant recognition of what your site is about.

Top of page navigation. The white being used to designate where you are presently just doesn't seem right. Something is missing. Perhaps it should be a color or reverse background/color text. Can't put my finger on it.

I assume your site is about selling web services, design and such but you have chosen to put this in a less than prominent space. If that is the most important thing your visitors will want to see, it should be where "nortig chronicle" is placed and should have a bolder heading. It seems that the four sections need to be reorganized according to what's most likely to interest visitors.

I noticed many bulleted items and sub-headings that I expected to link to something and didn't. This led me to believe that the site was not finished and in good working order.

See several places where you tell your visitors to click here. Internet visitors are more savvy now. If it looks like a link that goes to information of interest to them, they will click without being told. On the other hand, there are way too many places on your site where I expected a link and there was none. Ex: "click here for more information" under Services.

Clicked on top navigation to get to your Services page and the first thing I see of prominence is how to report errors, not services information! Services definitely should be number one top priority occupying prime selling space. Reporting of errors could be elsewhere. It almost appears that you have more interest in getting error reports than in selling me your services.

The poll in a prominent spot on the home page asking if you have a web site also gives the impression that you are more interested in collecting statistical information than in selling your services.

MP-form heading in left navigation. What's an MP-form? Had to click on that one to discover that it stood for Multi-Purpose form! By the way most people hate to fill out forms. The very use of that word conjurs up negative feelings and may cause them not to click on it.

Once again, the first thing I see is a request from you that I use this form to send you information about problems I encounter while visiting your site. Do I really want to host with, or have someone design a site for me if they are asking me to report problems that they should be troubleshooting themselves? I think not! On the other hand, if they asked for my input on ways to improve their site or their service, I wouldn't be at all offended. I would be doing something that could ultimately benefit me, and you.

Just where on this site am I invited to contact someone with my questions about the services you provide? If it's there, I've missed it.

Not again! I just clicked on Support and guess what! You asked me to report site errors yet a third time. And I haven't even clicked on all every links at the site!

I leave.

Why?

Too much attention given to what I can do for you as opposed to what you can do for me.

Summation: Good overall look. With some minor changes, could be really good. Didn't get your message across to your target audience. The services you sell and what you do are not clearly defined. No portfolio. I want you to SELL me on you and the services you can provide. I bet you could do it!

Do keep in mind that this critique comes from a user, not a professional web designer! Take everything I say with that in mind. Hope I wasn't too honest. I really do admire your design talent.

[poil11]

when making a website you need to figure out what the most important parts of your site are going to be. you need to have it planned out before hand. when you are trying to sell something from your web page, the best way to sell it, is to show the product, show how much it costs, and how they can get the product. yu don't want to bury any of that information. that information should be one of the first things that a user sees.

When i go to your page, it seems to me that you want me to know about your privacy policy, or the terms of use. that is put in a menu on the left side. most people think that a menu put like that is what your site has to offer.

4 links to the home page, when i am on the homepage, not needed. what is the location thing also? i know i am on your site, i don't need it again?

privacy policy is on the main page 3 times. do i really need to know what you stance on privacy is? does it take three links to do that? one is fine. i didn't sign up fo rthe newsletter, but instead of puting a link below the newsletter. why not when someone signs up, put a link to the privacy policy on the confirmation page?

what is the na to the left of home | services | download ?

you got that cool graphic why ruin it with when you last modified the page text?

weekly poll, put the poll on the main page, i don't want to have to go to two pages to cast my vote. i want to vote now.

Your icons are pretty good, maybe a little bigger.

a lot of things are reduntant, you don't need to say it a hundred times unless you are selling me something.

i would like to see the grid background behind everything. instead of the white spaces. i hope people are reading this.

[lynlimz]

wow! This must be the Best Review I've ever received.
I'll go work on the pointers you guys have so thankfully provided.

Anymore?

[lynlimz]

Hi,

Thank You all for your reviews.
I have since made several major/minor changes.

Thank You allie, for your wonderful review.
I'v made changes which addresses the points that you have provided.

Thus Modifying the Follow Areas
- Main Page. Lays out the services more distinctively
- Support. Not so Error 'Concerned'
- MPForm (Multi-Purpose Form) Modified the Content Pull-Down menu, hence placing User Suggestions as the First Item.
- Contact Page.
- Several Corrections to prevent user into think there's a link
- Services Page


I'm having problems trying to describe the MPF. Multi-Purpose Form.
Reason being, I have created a script to handle all affairs with regards to form usage. That includes refering users to pages on Nortiq.com, User Suggestions, Bug Reporting, error Reporting and more. If you noticed for example, when encountering error 404, there's a link to report the error. Thats to MPForm.

Could you give me some suggestions on how to present the MPF that users would understand? thanks

Silverado4x4, did you refresh the page when you encountered that problem? I get that on IE5.5 on not only my page. its the browser.


Let me explain a little.
If you noticed, I've not gotten Web design up. Its going to be the primary service, and when its up, it'll be on a separate domain. www.nortiq.net (try going there. nothing)

Its going to comprise of several domains. hence the purpose of 'location : nortiq.com' at the top of the pages.

Navigation (the one at the top-right with the white background) is just the definition of the menu bar. Navigation Menu to the Main Sections of the site.

I would appreciate if you could take a little more time to review my modifications.

Thank You!

[freakysid]

Lyon,

Site is looking good A couple of things that caught my eye:

1) The white bar about your logo at the top left of each page is in high contrast to the other darker tones of the site - too much contrast? Sticks out quite a bit.

2) Can you manipulate that Poll script you have so that the poll question and options appear on the home page (same with the result). I think it would be more enticing to enter the poll if the options where just there and you could vote without needing to click through to another page.

Cheers.

[lucas]

big improvement the services are now right where i look first, and the page looks a little cleaner also. a couple of others things i'll mention while i'm here,

- the left border is to big for me, it seems to crowd into the main page space, it doesn't even need to be that big for the content it holds.
- the white area at the top left just seems inappropriate, like there was a chunk that fell out of the top of your site maybe if you darken it a bit, or make it smaller.
- i like the last modified indicator.
- the logo seems like its in a weird space, right in the middle. usually you associate your logo with your company, so they are right next to each other. it just seems odd that it would be centered far from the name of the company.
- i like the graphic on the top left
- i think you need to be a tad more consistent on the graphics on the top, you go from a grid pattern, to a vertical line pattern, to a horizontal pinstripe pattern.

i am going to reinterate the need for a portfolio. all the experience and proffesionalism means squat when i can't see any of your work. looks good though

[allie]

Answers to a few questions would be helpful before I offer other suggestions.

What is the overall purpose of your site?

What products are you selling?

What services are you selling?

List products and services in order of priority or importance.

Will you be selling hosting services?

What level of support for services/products will you provide?

What is the purpose of the poll?

Who is your target audience?

Why 11 categories on pull down menu on MP Form?

[lynlimz]

*yawn*
I've made some minor adjustments for now.

- set to show the poll + options on the main page
- modified the services column a little to provide a clear picture. (less clutter too)

I wanted to include a flash that I did..
What do you think? Just needed something simple. Hence I did one before I made this post. http://nortiq.com/nortiq.swf

Let you once again. I'll get back the next morning on continue working on the points you guys have provided.

Thanks! nite~!

[lynlimz]

Hi,

i did an update on the design. Now it works completely like IE in Netscape 4 and Opera! PHEW!

I'll be working on making the pages and portfolio etc. now.
BRB soon!

[donaldfish]

I think you may have too much contrast. It is very artful as well as neat and organized, but a little hard on the eyes and the text is a little obscure. There also seem to be a lot of unnecessary copy: why do you label the navigation buttons? Why a last modified date?

You made good choices for keywords, but where are they in the content? Plus you have to many META tags above the keywords; and the META TITLE should be the first tag, followed by the DESCRIPTION and then the KEYWORDS.

[lynlimz]

Originally posted by donaldfish
I think you may have too much contrast. It is very artful as well as neat and organized, but a little hard on the eyes and the text is a little obscure. There also seem to be a lot of unnecessary copy: why do you label the navigation buttons? Why a last modified date?

Hi,

I'll work on that. which part has too much contrast? i set the colouring so it won't appear too dark. hmm...the last modified date is to allow users to know when the page was last modified. it is unique to every page.

Originally posted by donaldfish

You made good choices for keywords, but where are they in the content? Plus you have to many META tags above the keywords; and the META TITLE should be the first tag, followed by the DESCRIPTION and then the KEYWORDS.

i never knew it must be at the top? my search engines read it properly. quite difficult to make that adjustment as its database driven. the first few are standard...keywords/description/title are unique to eveyr page. so to change the arrangment would mean modifiyung the database, every single page in the entire site and osme other minor parts.