flash site

[new]

check out my new all 100% flash site. http://www.stricklygraphics.com and tell me what you think.

[RTK]

Not sure what to think...

Looking (and listening) to your site - you are only looking for sub-par rappers as customers? Surely you can't believe you can get serious businesses as web design customers? If you are only targeting sub-par rappers - you might have found an untapped niche, and I think you should run with it!

I thought the site was "cute"/"nice" - with effects you see on most teeagers homepages. But perhaps in "sub-par" rapper circles it works?! If it does - all the power to you! All the best!

[new]

thanx for the real input, thats what i was looking for. now as far as the rapper thing yes i have alot of work from them. but i am also looking for more international clients. also.....this is a new approach to this and the site was 100% hand made all art work and code..so thanx for the input and hope to see more from other users

[RTK]

new,

I was a bit "harsh" - yes, "rude" even... I appologize. It was a looong day - not an excuse, just an explanation.

In general. If you hope to get more web design work (and design work) in general. You have to widen you portfolio, and the appeal of your website. If the music/rapper thing does it all for you - by all means - milk it for what it's worth! Finding your "niche" can be more valuable than spreading it out. If this focused thing works for you - ignore what I said. In plain terms - "grandma's petshop will probably turn at the first 2 seconds of the intro page..."

The "cute/nice" was dumb too... A better way of putting things perhaps - dressing up very little content is just that - "dress up". Perhaps "effects" look cool to people that don't know any better... But in general, if it doesn't progress/show off the content - it's just "effects", no?

Then again - I'm not a web designer (or designer) so perhaps I'm just flapping my lips here.

As said in the PM... Ignore as you see necessary.

AND as also said in my PM - carry on!

[pauland]

I'm inclined to go along with Ristos comments. I think you're operating in a very niche segment indeed - very much "in your face" stuff.

One thing I particularly disliked was the use of the pen pointer replacing the mouse - maybe it's just me, but I suggest you go for some other symbol or just leave it alone (I don't like the pen, but another reason I find it awkward is that I'm used to having the point at the top, not bottom part of the pointer symbol). Given the colours on the site I'd probably suggest a red pointer would work well.

In some parts of the site you have staff members names. Clicking on them I would expect to see more information about them, but instead it gave me an email link. I'd suggest that you make this completely clear to the visitor.

You have a credits section 'coming soon'. I'd suggest you remove it until you have something to go in there.

I wish you well. Your site confines you to a very niche market - not one that would appeal to me because I'm not part of that niche. If you want to expand your business outside that niche, your site is a disaster.

I think it would be possible to have a more 'neutral' site that doesn't alienate potential customers outside that niche, but would have a more specialist section that would embrace your current niche. It may be that artistically that doesn't interest you.

My comments are well intentioned. I can see that you have some talent - problem is it's in a style that won't appeal to the mainstream (or me). As a mainstream user I will run fast from the site.

I think you are at a crossroads - your 'History' (which is really an 'About' section) states "STRICKLY GRAPHICS is ready to bloom from a local business to a national graphic design company". I think there's a real problem with that using this site to promote yourself. Why?

Because you have a list of customers but no case histories. National companies tend to grow through having sizeable accounts or business and there's no evidence of that - the fact that you list $ prices for work contradicts your ambition. Much of your offering is the kind of thing that many printers do locally. I think that some of your work goes beyond that but your site isn't really geared to show that.

A good starting point (just as you have done here) is to find some people that you think would make good clients or at least give an honest opinion and understand this niche. Ask them about the site but don't tell them it's yours (say you're thinking of using Strickly Graphics).

Lastly, look out some rivals and see what their doing and judge how your site and business compares to them.

I suspect, from what I've seen that you haven't had much feedback outside your own close circle of friends.

Please take my comments in the good spirit in which their offered - I would be doing you a disservice by not making them. Good luck.

Paul