Constructive crit on my website

[Gutsy]

Hi guys,

Please can I ask you to give me constructive crit on my website?

Typewrite Transcription and Typing Services - Home

Pretend you're a potential transcription client, please can you tell me what you would be looking for on my website, whether it's there, whether my site is easy to read and to navigate etc, etc. I do this every so often with my site, shake it up a bit and ask for input on it. It's ranking 2nd on the list in my local search engine in SA but I'd like to get it a bit higher on google and other smaller search engines. Is there a good one to submit it to in Scotland?

Thank you

 

[Tim Barlow]

Some instant thoughts:

I am actually a potential customer as I will be requiring a transcription service soon. I have done some intitial research (on google naturally) and have an approximation of what I am willing to pay. For reference these are my primary criteria (in that order):

• cost
• turnaround time
• accuracy

How would I improve the site.

1. Have some bullet points of why I should use you rather than someone else (and ideally make these address the above criteria)
2. Have a prominent call to action that involves a much lower risk than me buying into you straight away e.g. offer me a free trial of up to a 10 minutes transcription.

One point about your copy:

number one South African transcription / administration / typing service

...followed quickly by

I can help you with

To me this lowers your credibility. Whether it is true or not, my naturally sceptical behaviour leads me to conclude that I can't believe much more of what is said (I find it very difficult to beleive that a single person can be the leading company in a service such as this).

 

[nothing does]

My gut reaction was that there was far too much copy. Try breaking in down into smaller sections or introduce sub navigation to reduce the appearance of swathes of information that is a bit much to digest.

 

[Gutsy]

Thank you, I will address these things - Tim, I do not work alone, I have a team that I work with, although I oversee all work that they do. This is what enables us to turnaround quality product within sometimes tight deadlines. I've toyed with the idea of a free trial previously and your input there is the final deciding factor - that will be done.
I would be only too happy to provide you with a quote!

 

[stugster]

Gaynor,

One thing I would say is that the image on the page fills up my available space quite quick. If the image could be changed so that it was a wide landscape shape, rather than square, you'd be able to have the text much further up and visitors wouldn't have to scroll so much

 

[Gutsy]

Thanks Stugster ... have to get my thinking cap on to rework that as I'm 'challenged' ... but it will be done, I've done a bit of reworking in the meantime. Thank you guys again.

 

[Gordon N]

I agree with David, too much copy. The other thing I noticed and is personal gripe of mine is a 'hit counter' - lose it and use Google analytics, it's far more powerful/useful and more importantly free.

 

[Scottish Business Owner]

Hi Gaynor,

On the plus side I think there is loads of information on the site but I do feel it's very jumbled up and this is reinforced by the different fonts etc that are used sometimes even on the same page. I also agree with all the point above, Tim's one especially about call to action. What is it you want someone to do? Make it simple.

I'm also not a fan of these hosted sites, I think it looks much more professional to have your own domain and they are not that expensive either but thats more personal preference as I said.

The free trial is a great idea and this could be that call to action. Gather people's email addresses and then you have a way of getting back in touch with them etc. Instead of selling the ebook why not give it away for free in return for an email address?

You come across very professional and courteous on this site and I really do feel that your website could do so much more for you

 

[Gutsy]

You guys have given me much food for thought, thank you. I've done some of the things you've suggested already and am weighing up my options for the others. I'm beginning to feel that I'm at the point in my business where it's time to appoint someone professional to do my website, so I'm looking into these options. Thank you again.