[tbk]

tbk

#4937

Hi

I would love feedback on my site http://independenttravelhelp.com. It still isn’t quite how I want it yet but it’s getting there slowly. I have struggled a bit (being a newbie).

Thanks!

Teresa.

[Kenneth John Odle]

Kenneth John Odle

#29979

I suggest

1. Use a header image that is a little less dark and muddy.
2. Increase the width of the main context area a little bit.
3. You have a weird widget on the left side (“Latest Tweets, Recent Posts, Posts by Category”) that is dark, and a little bit confusing. I would separate those items out into their own widgets.
4. Add a third footer widget to balance out the bottom.
5. Add more than one post in the homepage panes. This is a good place to showcase your recent posts.
6. Find an arresting and/or interesting background image (and then set it to fixed, rather than scroll). You could probably create something interesting here: http://bgpatterns.com/ but if that doesn’t work for you, here are other options: http://blog.kjodle.net/2011/09/01/some-useful-background-generators/

Other than that, you’re doing great! Keep tweaking, keep playing around, and get input from your readers. A webmaster’s work is never done!

Ken

[Kenneth John Odle]

Kenneth John Odle

#29980

As a followup, that “Some Photos” widget is odd: Tiny little pictures that aren’t clickable, so we can never really see what they’re about.

[tbk]

tbk

#29981

Yes, I wondered that myself. I added them yesterday to try them out and I clicked, thinking it would show me an enlarged photo but it didn’t. Maybe I should remove them for now and think again.

Thanks for the feedback!

[tbk]

tbk

#29982

1. I did change the header yesterday, having reduced the brightness but I will go back and change it again.

2. How do I increase the width of the main context area? It would be great to do so!

3. The weird widget is a plugin that I thought would be save space but, if it’s too weird, I will remove it.

4. I will add a third footer widget – thanks for the tip!

5. I had more homepane posts but took them out so I will put them back in again.

6. I tried to put the header image as a fixed background but it was never big enough for the screen and it looks awful tiled. I will have a look at the links you have so kindly provided to see if I can do it.

Thanks for all the feedback. It’s really useful because I am new to this. It’s been a real struggle but I’ve learned loads. It’s good to know that the ‘webmaster’s work’ is never done. I thought it was just me!

Thank you!!!

[Kenneth John Odle]

Kenneth John Odle

#29983

Quote:

3. The weird widget is a plugin that I thought would be save space but, if it’s too weird, I will remove it.

I guess I’m used to seeing these things on their own.

Quote:

2. How do I increase the width of the main context area? It would be great to do so!

Graphene Options >> Display Options >> Column Width Options

You can enter a larger number in the “Container Width” box and then use the second slider to change the center content width.

Quote:

1. I did change the header yesterday, having reduced the brightness but I will go back and change it again.

Looks much better.

Quote:

5. I had more homepane posts but took them out so I will put them back in again.

It looks great now. It gives me an enticement to keep reading.

Quote:

6. I tried to put the header image as a fixed background but it was never big enough for the screen and it looks awful tiled. I will have a look at the links you have so kindly provided to see if I can do it.

Tiling is really only for small images. You can have large images for backgrounds, however. I have it on two of my blogs. If you have some specific questions or goals for this, let me know. In the meantime, this post http://blog.kjodle.net/2011/08/27/how-i-created-the-background-you-see-here/ might get you started.