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For some
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Without prejudice Preliminary report
regarding website www.goldonian.org.
On first sight of the website in question it was apparent to me that
the site had been constructed by an amateur or last maintained and
updated some five or six years previously. The basic layout is
designed around what was known as a framed layout, (in layman's
terms the web page is made of three smaller pages set into one
parent page); this practice was outlawed by the industry some three
or four years ago. If you can imagine the home page, as one big
picture frame holding three further frames, these frames being
different sizes and shapes but made to fit perfectly in the parent
frame. The first one being the left of the parent frame with all the
links. The second being the top of the frame the header and the
third being the main body of the website which changes from page to
page. The first problem with using framed pages is that not all web
browsers actually work with frames, the second and sometimes
considered the main reason is that none of the major search engines
actually consider framed pages for inclusion in to their listings.
The remedy for this is to use the basic design technology now
employed to set the layout of the site in one main page and
accessible by all. The site should be W3 compliant, a recognised
worldwide industry standard. Please see http://www.w3.org/
The site has music played in the background without an option to
turn it on or off. This is not only annoying if you browse the
internet whilst listening to the radio or some other audible
entertainment, but also slows down the loading of the web page
enormously. Industry standards now dictate that any audible sound on
a web site should be offered as an option for the user rather than
forced on them.
The remedy for this is to remove the sound completely or if sound is
imperative to the users enjoyment, to offer a link to the sounds
required.
On further examination of the site it is quite obvious that the
designer does not use the standard spelling check in his software,
as spelling mistakes are abundant on the web site. This is basic
design principal and as such is just not acceptable.
The remedy for this is to proof the site before publishing it and to
use a spell check after proofing.
The colours employed on the website are childlike and very dated for
web site use. They are also very mixed and not uniform, something,
which should be employed. Not so much to give a corporate image,
however, to give a pleasant experience when surfing, the site.
Almost every page you visit gives a different background and layout;
one even has a background behind a background and looks very silly.
Backgrounds made up of pictures are now frowned upon in the industry
and again slow down the site. They also appear different in
different web browsers, not allowing for a guaranteed vision for the
surfer.
The remedy for this is to make to site colours uniform, using a set
of colours that reflect the content of the site. For example if the
school has three colours in its badge these colours should be
considered for the main colours of the site. It may be that a
particular colour scheme is preferred, but this needs to be the same
throughout the site. If a background is really necessary then again
the background should be the same on each page and made of small
images rather than large ones as the smaller the image the easier it
is on the eye. It also blends as a background better.
The pictures used on the site are at times not too good, they have
not been optimised for the web properly and as such sometimes look
either grainy, out of shape or plain silly. Some are much too large
files and cause the surfer the inconvenience of having to wait far
too long for them to load.
It appears that the designer of this site has used every little
novelty available to basic web design. Things such as the clock
spinning around your mouse on the home page, DHTML to make images
drop in on pages, weird page transformations etc. Using one of these
things may be acceptable, although not really recommended as they
are well know to be annoying and off putting. They also cause
unusual things to happen on web sites at times. This is apparent to
me especially, as every time I visit one particular page on the site
my Internet explorer crashes.
The remedy for this is to keep the site simple and not
extraordinarily top heavy with gadgets.
The "guest book" employs a very crude and old script to operate and
is rather clumsy.
The remedy for this is to use a more up to date forum, which will
enable excellent user participation and generate extra interest
whilst people to return to see comments placed.
On the web site there is a notice regarding the cost of hosting this
domain name and site. I feel that the figure quoted is rather
extortionate for what is needed in the way of hosting. Our standard
charge for a hosting site of this size would be no more than £20 per
annum with a further charge for registration fees for the domain
name of £12.99 bi-annually.
I notice that the site has to be funded in some way and would
suggest that the use of affiliate programs would be worthwhile on
the site. These are small banner adverts linking to third party web
sites, these third party sites pay for visitors that you send them.
Some pay for leads, some for visitors and some for sales. Companies
that offer these affiliate programs include the likes of Tesco,
Comet, Argos and Lloyds TSB amongst others. As a not for profit
organisation I am sure that your visitors would not mind the odd
advertisement and may visit these sites making a possible revenue
for your web site.
These are our findings after visiting your web
Quotation for www.goldonian.org
To rebuild the goldonian website from
scratch using existing available images and content and adding
further content as required:
£450
The figure quoted would include the
following:
* Completely rebuild to industry
standards using existing detail of site and liasing with
client/clients on further content and design issues
* Optimise existing images to be web
friendly
* Include a modern web forum to allow
people to leave messages and ask questions. (Similar can be found on
www.italymag.co.uk)
* Host the site on our servers
* Set up third party affiliate
program enabling the web site to hopefully generate some revenue for
organisation funds
* Set up further services on the site
as required.
* Monthly maintenance of the site to
ensure continuity of service, to include all required updates and
management of the site
29th February 2004
What a lot of old bollocks, When I
phoned the author of this report he back tracked on most of what he
put in his report. When I asked him why Microsoft still uses frames
in their number one web site builder Front Page he had no answer and
I think Microsoft knows a little more than this anal retentive
person.
See one Goldings old boy's thoughts on
this report, this was one of many emails in support
click here to view
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Well its now 2005 and we have some good
news and some bad news, The good:-
Mr Wood's web site failed and failed
miserably. It was done on the spec above but somehow cost over
£500.00 it was reported. It lasted just a year with the only good photos being nicked
from this web site, surprising when the above wording went something
like:-
"The pictures used on the site are at times not too good, they have
not been optimised for the web properly and as such sometimes look
either grainy, out of shape or plain silly. Some are much too large
files and cause the surfer the inconvenience of having to wait far
too long for them to load."
I think the guy was
referring to his own web site that he did for Blower and Wood, I would like to place on record
The Goldonian Web has not spent anything like £500.00 since it
started in 2001 (Note 2001) so the only person that's been ripped off is Blower,
the banker for Wood.
The Good News:-
Goldonian Web is still going with great photos and content. The
thanks should go to all the old boys who have sent their old copies
of The Goldonian and Guild messengers. Keep the information coming
as I have just increased the web space to over 100Mb which has been
paid for by the old boys who know a good thing when they see it.
Finis Coronet Opus |