[thelist] Site Check (edgetech)

Madhu Menon webguru at vsnl.net
Thu Nov 15 15:27:27 CST 2001


At 01:32 PM 11/15/2001, you wrote:
> >I need a site check on http://www.twitch.ca/edgetech

I wish I could spare the time for a detailed critique, so I'll keep it short.

When I went to the site, I was immediately aware of the brooding black and 
green colour scheme. You don't want dark and  brooding for a company site. 
It casts a gloomy shadow.

The major area that you need to improve is content. I think you've been 
reading a bit too much of Jakob Nielsen ;)
Please take his views on writing everything with bullet points with a pinch 
(or more) of salt.

Your site needs to sell your company. The content is a major part of that. 
Somehow, when I look at the bullets, I just don't feel excited or motivated 
to click any further. For example, just read the following from the home page:

<quote>

* Authorized reseller of major personal computers and products
* Custom tailored computing solutions
* Competitive prices
* Prompt delivery
* Highly qualified technicians

</quote>

Now read them again in your head and imagine if your sales pitch to a 
potential customer sounded like that. Go on, say it out loud just as it's 
written. People read text silently in their heads anyway.

Your content needs a bit of life and marketing power. Tell me why I'll save 
money/effort/whatever by hiring this company. Put your 30 second elevator 
pitch [1] onto your home page.

I'd also advise that you put up some case studies on your site. If you 
don't have them, make up a fictitious company and describe how you *would* 
help Acme, Inc.

Since your site is only 5 pages, there aren't any information architecture 
issues nor any major usability issues.

Oh, and I do recommend that you drop the green shadow below the heading 
text. It doesn't stand out against the black. I also recommend that you 
don't have light text on a dark background for any large passages of text. 
It's much harder to read.

Sorry for sounding so harsh, but I'd like your site to succeed for you. 
(and I like to encourage meaningful critiques :)

Regards,

Madhu

[1] Elevator pitch: Essentially, a 30 second summary of what your business 
is and what's so great about it. Named so because... well, read the 
explanation here: http://www.collegegrad.com/jobsearch/8-6.shtml


<<<   *   >>>
Madhu Menon
User Experience Consultant
e-mail: webguru at vsnl.net

Weblog: http://madman.weblogs.com





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