New website: The History Team

They have: 112 posts

Joined: Aug 2001

Hi All,

Please review this new site for a client. Not quite finished but close.

http://www.thehistoryteam.com/index2.html

Please note: there will soon be three video excerpts in the right hand column - at the moment only one of the three images is active - the middle one that loads video. Click on it and tell me how it works I haven't done streaming video before. Only configured for Media Player at present - should I configure for Real Player as well?

Hope you like it Smiling

Thanks,

Blue

They have: 4 posts

Joined: Aug 2006

The opening page is really attractive. than its also much easier to use.
colour scheme i feel little dull, content images are good.

Megan's picture

She has: 11,421 posts

Joined: Jun 1999

Blue;207475 wrote: Click on it and tell me how it works I haven't done streaming video before. Only configured for Media Player at present - should I configure for Real Player as well?e

It works fine but it is a little on the small side. It loaded nice and fast but I think I would rather wait for a larger screen size. Do consider offering different formats - Windows Media Player is proprietary software that isn't avaialble to everyone. Flash is at least free and cross platform compatible. See YouTube as an example - they wouldn't be so successful if the videos didn't work for people. They use flash, and at a larger size than what you've got.

The overall design looks pretty good. I think the top header is a little too complicated. I think it would look better if the navigation menu was moved up directly under the green bar. Also add some padding to the navigation so it isn't rammed up against the borders. You could probably do that menu with CSS. I think the drop-down is unnecessary, especially considering that it's only on one item. Remove that and just make an index page for the Repitoire section.

I don't think the home page should be the about us page. It's too much text, and too boring. I barely saw the splash page you're calling "home" right now because I was switching back and forth between tabs. You're assuming that people are giving your site their undivided attention. It would be better to have a more comprehensive home page that briefly explains what the group does, similar to the splash animation with maps and such. This is too text heavy and boring (but fine for an about us page). Or maybe the animation should redirect to one of the content sections instead, I don't know.

Good job overall. I do like the header graphic. You've done a good job in creating a sense of history there. Perhaps the green could be a little less saturated.

mandyjb's picture

She has: 164 posts

Joined: Aug 2006

Super site, very interesting. I think you ought to put a skip option to the flash intro. That's all really.

Well done!

He has: 38 posts

Joined: Oct 2005

Great site - it was really interesting to look at. I like the colours you have used and I think the intro page is good and goes well with the site. Best of luck.

She has: 17 posts

Joined: Sep 2006

Great site. I love the layout, colors, theme. You may want to up the font size on your footer navigation, the letters are a little small and distorted.

Other than the footer nav. I really like the site and it's overall look and feel Smiling

Love the intro.

They have: 112 posts

Joined: Aug 2001

Thanks everyone for your helpful comments. I'll take on board a few of the suggestions and work on them. Megan you are right about the home page issue and I had discussed that with the client but he said he liked it the way it is. I'll bring it up again.

Good points about the footer font size and intro skip button.

Cheers,

Blue

They have: 87 posts

Joined: Aug 2006

Hey Blue ! I can't notice any page on http://www.thehistoryteam.com/index2.html . Is it under construction. I could only see a green colored blank page.

Busy's picture

He has: 6,151 posts

Joined: May 2001

All I see is a big "click here to download plugin" message. (which I wont)

How about doing a non flash version as well or at least a "skip intro" text link for the many folks that want the info and only the info.

Why use flash? some search engines can read it, a lot can't, I have no idea what the site is about so don't know if you are doing your clients any favors by them not being listed in search engines.

They have: 6 posts

Joined: Oct 2006

Great content and a really interesting site, I REALLY dislike flash intros and theres no point to them, ur domain should link directly to your content, this earn you a higher readership and indexing with google.

Ont ehs design front its not bad, the greens not to my taste but it looks neat and tidy! Needless to say you need to learn web standards.

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