Re: Before I Go Any Further - Can Some of You Folks Give Me Some Feedback
Quote:
Originally Posted by
cmpan1
Hi Paul, sorry for the late 'thanks'.... Are you saying my online ebook...
isn't "elegant?"
With regard to this link: http://www.learnpopandjazzpianonewsl...s/polychords1/
I would say "much room for improvement".
Quote:
has "distracting gimmicks?"
uses "multiple fonts?"
and "garish colors that clash?" LOL
Very much so.
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I do appreciate your feedback.... again thanks.
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Would love to see some of your work for an even better idea of some of the things you suggest other then just the one (flowkey) you recommended.
regards
Cliff
You'll be amused to know that I don't make many websites, I mostly make iPad and iPhone apps, and that most of the people I do do work for have a strong requirement for iPhone support. However poor you might imagine my site to be, it doesn't make anyone else's site any better!
Check out the link at the bottom of the post. I don't hold up my website as an example to be copied. I'm even wondering if it too has too many gizmos. In my opinion the best practitioner of the website build on TG is Cloud.
Here are some more interesting sites:
https://www.hoffmanacademy.com/
https://www.playgroundsessions.com/
https://www.pianomarvel.com/
The main point about these sites is that they are easy to navigate, don't blast colour at you ( bright orange and deep blue, red text, orange text, green text, etc..) and don't rely on gizmos such as moving text, pointing stuff and explanations about technology that aren't required or pertinent to learning music. I don't feel that you have the balance right at all between telling people about the website and actual teaching. I don't think any of the example websites feel a need for explanations about their website.
For example, there's an explanation about why the "booklet" is online. This explanation is superfluous because being online is now the norm, not the exception. People should be on the site to learn about music, not about the rational behind the website/technology choices.
I can tell you're an enthusiastic, knowledgeable guy, eager to get your message out there, but that message is being lost (I feel) by the unnecessary big fonts, long explanations, and excessive use of colour.
If your site was more like the examples I provided, I think you'd reach more people, is all I'm really saying.
Re: Before I Go Any Further - Can Some of You Folks Give Me Some Feedback
Thanks Paul.
It's easy for one to get fooled in their own design.... But I had put this general design in front of roughly 25 people so far for feedback.
The response was enthusiastically positive in most of the areas that you described.
If fact some of the comments were that it "wasn't 'academic like', easy to follow and pleasant to view".
So, needless to say, I'm a bit confused. Do you think this is intended as a full piano teaching website? Maybe that's where I'm not being clear.
It is not intended to be a 'piano teaching' website. I'm not "trying to reach more people." It's just a simple 'one subject', approx 20 pg specific ebook.
It's not selling me, or anything for that matter—nor is it meant for the serps. It's just, sort of a handout kinda thing or something free for the taking
when posted on my MAIN website. Also not meant for 'smart phones'. Strictly tablets and PC's.
So is it possible that it may have been a bit 'over-thunk' by you. Or again, maybe my fault in that I did not make myself clear as to its intention.
But again, I thank you for your time and considerate recommendations. I will take them to heart.
Thanks again
Cliff
Re: Before I Go Any Further - Can Some of You Folks Give Me Some Feedback
Cliff, I'm not going to make any more posts about this after this one.
As far as your content goes - it's there for a purpose otherwise there is no point in making it available. If you don't care how many people battle through to access it, there's no point in producing it.
Most people are clueless about what would make a good website/publication/flyer whatever.
People's tastes vary - so some people will think all the bells and whistles are a great idea. You will see a range of opinions on TG about this.
Probably what makes a good designer is knowing what frills and fancies are available to use and knowing that most often not using them is better than using them. Sadly (in some ways) Xara makes gimmicks easily available and so often people use them and really they shouldn't or use them sparingly.
First of all - to get this absolutely straight - I'm not an expert and there are many out there that do a far better job than I'll ever do. As I said, on TG I would say Cloud is the website and publication design master.
It's easier to tell someone 'Good Job' than say 'Err.. '. The worse thing you can do is ask family and friends for opinions when they know it's your work they are commenting about.
I am the 'bad boy' of TG as far as website critique goes. I usually pass these days on commenting on websites unless I'm impressed by the design (Cloud gets a lot of this), or criticism is invited (as per your website), or it's a business website badly done (tends to be the case with 'favours' for friends). I think I would do you and your website visitors a great disservice by saying 'Great job, Cliff' if I don't feel that is the case.
Some people here may think my posts on your website are nonsense, but that's fine by me.
OK, this is what I have to say as a last hurrah!
Whether it's a freebie/paid item/hobby/business idea/public information/whatever then the website should always serve the information - if you like there's no point in having real content if it's lost amongst a lot of superfluous and distracting stuff on a website.
I've mentioned the colours/multiple/fonts/gimmicks. They all take away from the content. Just about all the advice out there tells us to use few fonts, a small compatible colour pallette and to have white space to let items breathe and a sense of hierarchy so people know where to look.
I routinely walk away from websites with clashing colours/gimmicks/etc. because the design makes me doubt that the value of the content is worthwhile.
This kind of basic design advice supercedes just about anything else and transends multiple formats - it matters not whether it's a website, a PDF, a printed poster, flyer etc. Sometimes 'real' artists and designers can keep these principles (and break them) and still produce some amazing piece.
I've done my best to encourage you to reign in the fonts, colours, gimmicks and superfluous and distracting text by showing how others have approached this genre. If the value of doing that is not clear, I have failed and you should continue.
Let's leave it at at that and I wish you well going forward.
I'm not that happy with my own website, but it's not my main door to clients and it's a bit of a tale of the cobbler and his shoes. I think it's probably 'good enough'.
Paul.
Re: Before I Go Any Further - Can Some of You Folks Give Me Some Feedback
Cmpan1, I advise you to take Paul's feedback to heart if you want to learn how you could improve your websites' design. I looked at your sample site after reading his post and I agree with all of his points, especially when he warns against the use of colors, fonts, gimmicks etc. in a way that distracts the visitor from the content. His feedback may hurt a bit but it's constructive.
Re: Before I Go Any Further - Can Some of You Folks Give Me Some Feedback
Mate, you built all that with Xara? I feel much better about what I'm doing now. It's great. I love your animations. But Pauland is right, especially about the fonts and colors.
Re: Before I Go Any Further - Can Some of You Folks Give Me Some Feedback
Well thanks to all. I appreciated all feedback.
Made some changes to what I'm really intending it to be. A 'booklike' ebook. Not a 'website' 'website'. Still far from finished but this is the idea.
As far as the colors that all are expressing dislike. There's only 3 that are part of the scheme. I really don't think it's 'overdone'. It's not a business site. It's a simple 'book'.
So, I put it front of another 10 people that DO NOT know it's mine. (Paul claimed that friends and family will 'be nice' and not tell the truth at the risk of hurt feelings)
And again, nothing positive feedback. So, I'll stick with the general idea. (stubborn?) :-)
Signing off this thread... because, I've got to be boring the hell out you kind folks by now. LOL
Thanks again
Cliff
http://www.learnpopandjazzpianonewsl...rds1/index.htm
Re: Before I Go Any Further - Can Some of You Folks Give Me Some Feedback
Cliff, I wish you all the best. Good luck with your project.
Paul