Take a look and give me your thoughts.

SoCalAutoSpa

SoCalAutoSpa

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Hello all,

I just had my website designer finish up the final few changes on my website. I would like you guys to take a look at it and give me your thoughts.

I am looking for constructive feed back so if you feel the need the to be mean or rude I would ask that you keep your thoughts to yourself.

Please take a look at the SoCal Auto Spa site.

Thanks!


Much appreciated!

PS. They are still working on the pricing/service page. I don't want it as a PDF.
 
Where do I start...

The top banner should be JUST big enough to contain your legible contact information.

The social networking links (Should be gone, imo) but would be less intrusive if they were on the bottom and about 50% in size. Also, there's really no need for every single one. Major web design faux pas. It's like the flashing text and mouse-trails of the mid 90s, if you recall... Pick just the three most popular and put them at the bottom with both a text and icon link, if you must have them.

Move your special offers to where the social networking buttons leave a void. I almost didn't notice them.

Web design feng shui dictates that you should have the important stuff at the left, top, and center.

Right, and bottom right are for unimportant things (like polls and fun-facts, that kind of thing.)

Honestly, and I don't mean this in a rude way - it looks like someone loaded a Joomla template and used the dart-board method for placement. I would highly suggest looking at other successful sites (I dont mean just mobile detailing) and seeing how people do effective element placing.

One other small note - Blue and grey text on blue gradient backgrounds are not legible enough. White on blue would be much better.
 
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Do you really need the menu on both the top and side?
 
2K4CE said:
You made me itchy to close the window with the oversized top banner, but you totally lost me at the massive giant clutter of social networking buttons.
Click to expand...


Lol... Those are just links to most of the social media sites that you can follow my company on.

Thanks!

I am noting all feedback and will make changes that I feel will help.
 
CieraSL said:
Do you really need the menu on both the top and side?
Click to expand...

From what I am told and the research I have done. Most sites give you options for the service menus. It is a bit much... But some people like them on the side and some on top. Why not have both?
 
2K4CE said:
Where do I start...

The top banner should be JUST big enough to contain your legible contact information.

The social networking links (Should be gone, imo) but would be less intrusive if they were on the bottom and about 50% in size. Also, there's really no need for every single one. Major web design faux pas. It's like the flashing text and mouse-trails of the mid 90s, if you recall... Pick just the three most popular and put them at the bottom with both a text and icon link, if you must have them.

Move your special offers to where the social networking buttons leave a void. I almost didn't notice them.

Web design feng shui dictates that you should have the important stuff at the left, top, and center.

Right, and bottom right are for unimportant things (like polls and fun-facts, that kind of thing.)

Honestly, and I don't mean this in a rude way - it looks like someone loaded a Joomla template and used the dart-board method for placement. I would highly suggest looking at other successful sites (I dont mean just mobile detailing) and seeing how people do effective element placing.

One other small note - Blue and grey text on blue gradient backgrounds are not legible enough. White on blue would be much better.
Click to expand...


WOW!!! You make some really good points!
Thanks for the feedback!
BTW - Didnt think your comment was rude at all.
 
2k4 makes alot of good points and as a professional. I have to agree.

somethings i noticed was that it seems some what unorganized.

the pricing page is a PDF, a big NO NO. now less then half of your potential customers are not seeing your pricing sheet because they are either too scared to download stuff or dont know how.

the social networks. Never heard of half of them. Use facebook and twitter. everything else is a waste of time.

the about us page just regurgitates information from the main page.

the graphics are not rendered correctly. the text in the banner is blocky and pixelated. leading me to believe that it was done in something like MS Paint or other very basic image editing programs. I suggest using photoshop, illustrator or even photoshop elements.

also the color scheme is tiring. im not saying to change your entire color scheme you can use that blue and yellow i guess it is. but carrying those blues over into the rest of the site is a little much. i kind of feel like im looking at a Sham Wow box. I suggest trying to find a more complimentary color scheme. you can use blues, but dont use such a vibrant blue every where.
 
My site isn't together yet because I'm not really in a hurry to launch my mobile detailing thingum.

But I'll share the mockup I did for my layout.

This isn't exactly to scale. Notice the proportions of things, though.
I used the middle as the place to put my biggest graphics/most flashy stuff. (NOT shockwave flash) The attention grabbing stuff that would make me money. This is where people look first.

navigation.jpg


The top navigation bar would be fairly fancy looking and likely include a search.
The bottom one would be plain text only, mostly for search engine optimization.
 
Fire the clown who wrote the home page copy, then fire your web designer.

The first paragraph should tell the reader WHAT YOU DO, not what's located next to you. It should be paragrph three or four. All of it is poorly written.

Get rid of the crappy photos. The SUV with chopped off front and rear with an industrial street background, the poorly framed Harley, etc.

This makes your bikini car wash slide show look good!

(Don't tell you web (cough) designer, but maybe he should copy ideas from successful sites like, oh I don't know....Autogeek.net? Nah, that's too simple and to practical.)

P.S.: Do you really need "OFFICE" in front of your telephone number? I mean, I wouldn't want to confuse it with the other numbers at the top of your home page.
 
next to the picture of the white Audi, it says"Top knotch customer service by our experienced auto detailing experts." there is no "k" in Notch. It also says"High-End Luxury Treat your luxury vehicle to a wonderful spa treatment!
Wax and Detail We use the finest, high-end products to pamper your vehicle! " I think that the finest, high end is bit redundant. Aren't ALL of the finest products high end by definition? Also, maybe it's just me, but when you have said "Road Warriors De-Stress, Clean, Spoil your custom bike", I think, Spoil your bike?? How is your bike going to really know? I have a bit of animism in myself, but I think that is a bit much. I think that makes paying for detailing for your motorcycle sound a bit frivolous, only for the most eccentric somewhat auto-erotically inclined. I actually believe that to be a pretty limited clientele. The idea is to spoil the customer with the luxury of a nicely detailed vehicle that they can be proud to show off and ride.
 
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In your section "about us" You say you do restorations. Do you mean that you are also a body shop, upholstery shop, hammer out the dents on damaged trim, and sand and buff, and rebuild engines? That is what comes to mind when I hear the word "restoration" If you really can do that, you are indeed a full service company. There are a lot of people who would misunderstand you if you only did detail work like cleaning, sanding, buffing, waxing,steam clean, dressing, ect
 
I came to the right place for suggestions/opinions! Thanks guys!
 
Do you only service BMW, Cadillac, Ferrari, Ford, GMC, Honda, Infiniti, Jaguar, Jeep, Lexus, Lincoln, Toyota, and Aston Martins?

What if a potential customer has a Smart, KIA, Hyundai, Noble, Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Maserati, Mercedes, Dodge, Saturn, or one of the many other makes of cars? I only mention this because potential customers can be a PITA and may think that you are excluding them. Also, the website is very busy, IME being concise is a good thing.
 
There are some spelling issues on the detailing services page


SoCal Interior Detail Auto $129 | SUV $149
Full Vacuuming- Floor, Seat Trunk
Heated Extraction- Carpet and Floor Mats
Cleaning of Center Console and Cup Holders
Removal of Dirt and Grive from Door Jams
Cleaning / Dressing of Leather Vinyl
Cleaning / Dressing of Dashboard
Streak-Free Windows and Mirrors
Dusting of Air Vents
Click to expand...

Grime**



SoCal Executive Detail Auto $249 | SUV $299
SoCal Interior Detail Services
Thorough Hand Wash of Entire Vehicle
Streak-Free Interior and Exterior - Windows and Mirrors
Surface Clay Bar Treatment
Bug and Tar Removal
Rims and Tires - Cleaned and Dressed
Wheel-Wells Cleaned
Chamois Dried
Removal of Light Scratches and Oxidation
High-Grade Canuba Paste Wax
Wax Applied to Protect "Showroom Shine"
Clear Coat Polish
Click to expand...

carnauba**



SoCal Mini Detail Auto $59 | SUV $79
Complete Hand Wash
Express Hand Wax
Shampoo Floor Mats
Clean Rims
Stripe Floor Mats
Tire Dressing
Clean Center Console
Clean Door Jams
Air Freshner of Choice
Click to expand...

Freshener***


Those just stood out to me. Good luck with the site
 
Well, it's unanimous. Stick to detailing and hire somebody who can write, spell, photograph and create a website!:xyxthumbs:

"There is no k in notch."Im the MAN
 
Blackthornone said:
The idea is to spoil the customer with the luxury of a nicely detailed vehicle that they can be proud to show off and ride.
Click to expand...

I went though your website as if I were a potential customer. Found it to be a little busy. Words that are misspelled bother me enough to ask myself, “Is this how they run their business? Not paying attention to detail. As a consumer myself, I only give a website on average less than 30 seconds to find out; “How’s this company going to provide the service(s) or product(s) I’m looking for to satisfy my wants or needs”. It needs to cut to the chase. A website is like a business plan, it’s always a work in progress. Look at your website through the eyes of your customer. If they can’t answer their question in a short amount of time, they will move on. My comments are with all due respect and not a knock, just trying to help.
I really like your logo.

Greg
 
It's quite a busy site, but good. Maybe you could work on speeding it up alittle. The images slow your site down quite alot. Other than that it looks quite good.
 
Just a tip, you spelled Carnauba, Canuba each time.
 
I hate... templates...

sorry... my comments are not very positive, just an honest opinion of what I see... I am a photographer, a visual person...

first thing I notice... it is way too busy... have your home page/splash page clean, simple... as is... I view you as a pushy salesman... trying to sell me everything at once...

remember the viewer... I come to see your site for a reason, at my choosing, do not chase me away, with overload...

I hate templates... even more, when it is used on following pages... this tells me, you gave this to someone who spent as little time as possible, to complete your site... lack of creativity...

being in the "detail" business... you should be aware of every detail... spelling errors, should have never gone on-line... should have never gotten past the webmaster, let alone you, the site owner...

photos...
being a photographer... your images are all over the place, with crops, centering/composition... understanding that you might not be a photographer, yourself... at least find someone to do it, for you... these images need to pull people in... and represent your work as professionally as you are, in your work...

overall format...
most monitors I see... are horizontal in format... vertical websites are out-of-place from the start... truthfully... I never scrolled to the bottom, and most other people will not...
 
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