Don't Mess with Texas

[mdmcmullin]

Hello from Tyler, Texas!

Just found this forum today.

I am the Discipleship Pastor at my church and also the "Web Guy". I didn't like our old site (never updated, looked cheesy etc) so I was appointed "in charge of the website". I feel it is functional but not sure of the look.

I'd love some feedback. I want to change the colors and perhaps the banner.

Check it out:
http://www.roseheights.org


Thanks!

[StubbyD]

Hi and welcome to the forums.

As to the site. I don't know why but I like it when I feel I shouldn't as it doesn't fit with my preconceived ideas of what makes sites look good.

That said, the navigation is a bit funny. When I mouse-over 'about us' I get the obligatory pointy hand but then when I drop down to any of the sub-menu links my pointy hand becomes an I cursor and whilst this worked it doesn't flow.

Other minor picky items ....

1. The address / contact details on the front page don't appear in an expected place (the bottom) other than an eMail address.

2. That eMail address is very hard to read and what's worse I can't cut and paste it. Either make it a clickable link (then it becomes a spam magnet) or allow me to CnP it. I don't want to have to type your address each time.

3. I don't like the way the calendar opens in a new window and doesn't keep to the sites standards.

4. Perhaps for me one of the biggest crimes is the lack of use of ALT tags for those less able than ourselves.

These things (except 4) are all extremely minor but may be worth bearing in mind for future makeovers / ammendments.


Stu

PS- Texas ain't all that. If Wales were ironed out it'd be bigger than most :)

[mdmcmullin]

Thanks for the feedback.

I'm looking for some help with colors.

I've thought of changing the burgundy to a light blue or possible white.

BTW Stu - How do the Welsh drink their tea? I bet it's hot with lemon and honey. ;)

[Faithhb_lutheran]

Michael,

with regard to colors, different colors produce differenet feelings, reds and yellows excite while blues and greens sooth, so it depends on what reaction you want the inital intereaction to get. I bet David or someone with more education in the area can be more specific , but I have always found that when your site design has a good deal of free space, use red for pages or section with little information ( people get motivated and look for the next page they want to do something) and blue for sections that you want people to stop at and read for a while. just my thoughts.

[Bettygott]

I'm new to this forum, so forgive me for charging in. I'm primarily a graphic designer, but also do some web design and I'm currently working on a whole new web site for my church so I've been dealing with color issues a lot lately.

I'll address the look and feel of the home page of your site. I like the fact that the designer made use of the colors from the logo. However, red should be used sparingly, and in my opinion, the red background is too strong. You might try using the same blue that was used for the banner background, keeping the banner as it is. You'd be surprised how cool it will look. You want the content to pop, not the background.

Everything in the main part of the site has a flat look because each box is two-color (albeit two different colors for each box). A few real photographs would give more warmth and realism to your site.

I like the use of icons with your links, but there are too many colors. Counting active and over states, you have 6 colors just in those three boxes across the bottom, and that's not counting the larger boxes above. The only red in that whole area is some text giving instructions. Save the red for something more important.

A final observation, my eye doesn't know where to go first, or second or third. Decide what you want people to see first and give that the largest piece of real estate on your home page. Your denomination logo at the bottom right seems to be stuck there for a lack of a better place to put it. It's too much the same size as the three box links adjacent to it. I was confused by that icon logo because it was large enough to be your church's logo, but it was in the wrong place for that (besides, there was a logo at the top!). Perhaps some resizing and strategic placement, as well as some verbage about why it's there, would be helpful (i.e. "member of the Church of God International" or appropriate text).

Well, I messed with Texas. Hope I haven't offended you, but you did ask!

[JackWolfgang]

Welcome to the forum!

I agree with the remarks about the e-mail address. However, it's my opinion that contact us on a web site should allow interaction. Back in the old days, posting a mailto link with an e-mail address was safe. Now, the spammers will bury you for that. So my recommendation is a contact form!

[StubbyD]

BTW Stu - How do the Welsh drink their tea? I bet it's hot with lemon and honey. ;)

Don't ask me about colours - I leave that to my wife ....

As to tea, pah! I drink proper coffee and au naturelle.

[flutem3]

Hello from Tyler, Texas!

Just found this forum today.

I am the Discipleship Pastor at my church and also the "Web Guy". I didn't like our old site (never updated, looked cheesy etc) so I was appointed "in charge of the website". I feel it is functional but not sure of the look.

Hi, Mike,

Welcome, welcome, welcome. I am a bit behind since the forum decided not to send me the info. However, now all is well. I took a quick look at your web site. Where is your church? The name of the church is there, the phone number is there, and contact us. But it could be in any English-speaking country in the world.

I too found the font too small. I like to be able to read a page and not have to mess with changing fonts. Many people do not know how to do it anyway...they should but many don't.

I think what strikes me most though as I look at your index page is how impersonal it looks. It looks like it was made by someone who had no idea what your church community of God is all about. I noticed that a couple of people liked it. It is not ugly....it is impersonal in my eyes. That is one reason I don't use a template. I would end up with a "slicker" looking web site, I have no doubt. But whether ours is ugly or beautiful people know that a person took the time to do it. It is a decent web site with lots of room to grow!!! As time goes on, it gets better bit by bit. But it does reflect our church as it grows into the future. And that is what I am trying to do along with other stuff, of course.

That is really the main thing the occurs to me as I look at the index page. I have not had the opportunity to look much farther. I will do that later.

Once again, welcome to our happy throng. :D At least I hope everyone is happy. Happy New Year to Everyone!!!

Carol