New Website for my business

[Bob Carnie]

Hi All

I would appreciate any constructive criticism or praise

http://www.alternativephotoservices.com/

thanks

Bob

 

[Ian Grant]

Your Blog part isn't secure, that usually means the Admin can be hacked as you've not deleted set up files.

Some examples of prints etc would be useful, also the type of client you deal with in a bit more detail. Looks like you had a big tidy up downstairs

You have printing under services an then Bob Carnie Printmaking, why not list BCP first and include what you have under services for printing so all in one place, then Services should maybe become Other Services.

Ian.

 

[MattKing]

You have printing under services an then Bob Carnie Printmaking, why not list BCP first and include what you have under services for printing so all in one place, then Services should maybe become Other Services.

+1
I first went to "Services", then clicked on "Printing" and was really disappointed that I saw no evidence of either darkroom or traditional/alternative printing services. It was only when I noticed the "Bob Carnie Printmaking" further along the header that I found that stuff.
Do I assume correctly that you are no longer offering custom film processing? There is no reference to it that I can find.
And the last line on your "heads-up email to me announcing the change reads as follows: "We would love you feedback!"
Otherwise, the site looks great.

 

[Bob Carnie]

+1
I first went to "Services", then clicked on "Printing" and was really disappointed that I saw no evidence of either darkroom or traditional/alternative printing services. It was only when I noticed the "Bob Carnie Printmaking" further along the header that I found that stuff.
Do I assume correctly that you are no longer offering custom film processing? There is no reference to it that I can find.
And the last line on your "heads-up email to me announcing the change reads as follows: "We would love you feedback!"
Otherwise, the site looks great.

Hi Matt

I thank you and Ian about making BCP first but this is deliberate, , and yes we are doing custom film processing but to be honest only on larger projects with clients I have known for years... At this point we are Not looking for single roll or mail order roll processing. Acutally not set up for that.

A large part of our buisness is with the Gallery and the Connections, you will hear a lot more about that in the future, In fact a Connections show will be coming to the West Coast sooner than you would think.. we have a local photographer Brendan Meadows out of Vancouver setting up
a show as we speak

best regards

Bob

 

[MattKing]

Bob:
Re: BCP - those services should at least be listed under "Printing" so that people who are looking for the services but aren't necessarily familiar with you will know to look further.
Something like: "Traditional and Custom Darkroom Printing" see Bob Carnie Printing (in a link).
And with respect to film processing, you could always just add to your blurb something like "If you are a film photographer with exacting requirements, please contact us to discuss whether we can assist you".

 

[cowanw]

Very clean look; my protection program does not like your blog security certificate.

 

[Bob Carnie]

I am cutting and pasting all your comments and really appreciate all help

 

[carioca]

I think it is a great start! Bravo!
Growing the image portfolio of your gallery space would be my only critique, but I'm sure that will come.

Sidney

 

[Eric Rose]

I find the landing page rather uninspiring.

 

[Ian Grant]

Bob, I'm not sure about the "Alternative Photographic Services" bit, yes alternative as in not the usual, OK for the web address but I think something is missing and needs adding.

It's more Unique, Unusual, Innovative, Creative etc, something a bit stronger to build from Alternative make it more punchy - your looking for clients to build a creative relationship with so the site needs to be more demonstrative that needs images as they are your business. Also examples of Matt cutting, framing etc.

Ian

 

[Eric Rose]

Bob if you are trying to use this website to generate business I would take it off line and get a professional in web marketing to design one for you. And I don't mean a graphic artist, generally they know nothing about marketing and what drives conversions utilizing a web presence. I'm sorry to be so harsh but there is just to much wrong with it to really get into it on this forum. Here is a graphic I use when I am working with my clients. It is just the basics of what it takes to leverage your website to achieve basic KPI's.

 

[Ian Grant]

I think Eric is right, I went to evening classes at my local college back in the late 1970's aimed solely at small business owners with marketing and sales. Most are still trading some extremely profitably.

We were taught all marketing/sales material needed to follow a very simple adage - AIDA - Attention, Information, Desire, Action that's really just a simplified version of Eric's graphic.

When you start to think like that the first page or pages are the key to grabbing potential clients attention. Having seen the kind of work you do first hand Bob and the sort of clients work you showed me, I think you need to say far more about these clients, links to their websites (with their permission), ask them to reciprocate - it's beneficial to you and your clients, that'll also help take you way up on Google searches.

Ian

 

[jvo]

Upon landing was a bit unclear about what I was looking at, thought I might have gone to the wrong site. Clicked around and quickly realized what was going on. Is it a gallery site? Exhibition site? Printing? Services? It might just be a brief phrase, motto, catchphrase, illuminating the different capabilities under one roof/website.

 

[Ian Grant]

Relevance is important, take 2 views of the same page:

That's relevant, this isn't it's an oversized header completely hiding what's below, these are screen grabs and there's no indication I need to scroll down.

I'm confused by Enlarger Print on Silver Gelatin, seems a clumsy term and I'm being pedantic, surely you offer Silver Gelatin Enlargement or Contact prints.

I'm just getting to grips with new web authoring software myself after 20 years of web design and it's now a steeper learning curve to make sites that look great on Desktop Computers and Laptops while also being very Mobile friendly.

Ian

 

[Bob Carnie]

Hi Ian

I have to make the distinction that I can work with enlarger and Lambda to make silver gelatin and the wording can be revised.

 

[Ian Grant]

Hi Ian

I have to make the distinction that I can work with enlarger and Lambda to make silver gelatin and the wording can be revised.

That's totally understandable Bob. I think you need to expand on that and explain the Lambda you can make Silver Gelatin prints from digital files. I have an idea for you which I need to think and sleep on it and maybe the discussion should be either PM or email, or Skype.

Ian