Dju Member Website Reviews

[Gary 0]

With just over a week elapsed since the last DJU Member website review, it's time for another.

 

This time its Otronics offering his website of www.otronics.co.uk up for review. This website has undergone a major revamp a couple of months ago and so Oliver is looking forward to having feedback, error spotting etc.

 

Clicky, looky, talkie time.

Edited December 10, 2007 by Paul Smith

[Paul Smith 0]

OK Oliver - in a Simon Cowell kinda way this is for your benefit smile icon

 

My 1st impressions were that it is a DIY site. Not bad but not overly impressive either - to me it looks dated and I was surprised when I read this

We can construct a website to meet your needs in HTML or CSS and extra code such as JAVA/Javascript if required. News tickers, advertising banners, time based pictures, rollover images, hotspots, site maps and Google search components can all be added.

 

If you are capable of all this why aren't you using more of it on your own site?

 

Your own logo in the top LH corner needs tidying (look at the start of the curves) - it's little things like this that give the website an amatuer feel to it.

 

Glad to see that you haven't gone for black :Thumbup: but the background is a bit bland and lifeless.

 

In a number of areas your wording can be interpreted in possibly a different way to that intended (maybe not) eg:

Unless a very short booking, we will not be charging £50 for a Birthday, or £80 for a Wedding.

I read from this that you will go out for £50 for a short (time scale) party. Further down the page you state

You may have received a quote from another disco charging £50 (or less) claiming they can do the job ....

 

On your mobile disco page

Nearly all bookings are required to pay a non-refundable 25% deposit although this depends on the event, for example primary school discos may wish to pay the entire fee on the night.

What's so special about primary schools that you make an exception for them - and, even if you do, is it wise to tell everyone else about your varying policy?

 

I would delete your availabilty page - what it shows is at the moment is you have 365 days still free for 2008 - people like to book busy people so if you already had a lot of bookings for next year a page like this would work to your advantage - as it is I think it could do the opposite.

 

On the about us page the photo of you is spoilt by all the wires. I would suggest cropping it (or using the last one from your gallery page). Also you mention your web design service in the middle of talking about weddings, parties etc. You have 2 distinct and separate businesses that you are trying to sell with one site. I would guess that people looking to book a disco are not interested in web design services and vice-versa.

 

Back to photos and I would suggest adding a 4th one to your header so that it's the same width as the banner above it. On your PA hire page it's hard to define anything in the 2nd picture apart from 2 people in red shirts.

 

Your 'sitemap' link at the bottom goes to a blank page.

 

And finally back to your web design services - with hosting & domain names so cheap I feel you should have this on a different site. Of the 4 you show one has a 404 error and another has a page under construction since August 2006.

 

A somewhat harsh review I know but I am mindful of the fact that you also offer a web design service "with a professional feel" and you won't achieve progress if I simply told you it was great :scared:

 

[Revelationroadshow 0]

Maybe one day I'll pop my own web site up to counteract the comments I'm making about other peoples!

 

I think Paul has said most of it already.

 

There are some simple wins which would work for me -

 

1. the "notes" buttons have to go - way to busy and don't actually add anything to the site for me.

 

2. The general feel and layout of the site does nothing for readability - as Paul said, it looks and feels home made, not a well designed site (particularly if you are offering site design services). Yellow background is not nice and there is way too much text (in fact that's not fair, the text is fine it's just badly presented - made for very hard reading).

 

3. Equipment pages - a big big bug bare of mine. Even though you tried to explain to the reader why you want to include it, I have to be honest, saying "Some ask why this page is here. Well, would you book a holiday, buy a house, hire a dress or suit without looking first?" to a client I would guess would result in the response "so when can we come and see you perform". Trust me, absolutely nobody (other than some very very rich corporate clients) has any interest in your equipment and the very very very rare few who do know what they are looking at will not be very impressed - if you are a great DJ, sell yourself as a great DJ. A Vasto will never help to demonstrate that!

 

4. Photo's - now I am absolutely not a great photographer (as my wife), but if you are going to put pictures on your site, make sure you can at least make out what they are. I've taken loads that I thought were great only to have others look puzzled and ask what it was. Yours are too dark, too blurry and difficult to see. They won't help. Personally (and this really is just my own thoughts) I am not a fan of photo galleries. I think usually they are good places for other DJ's to have a nosey at your rig! Why not intersperse the pictures in the pages of your site. Video's also seem to be the new photo these days. I know a number of guys who sell there show's more now on the back of some well placed youtube clips.

 

5. Emergency bookings - as a client it reads "I have no work so I'll be sat at home waiting for you to call on a Saturday". I think Paul said something similar about your availability page - this does the same thing

 

6. PA hire - I'm trying to do a similar thing to you I think. As I read your PA hire page, you are simply trying to hire out your disco gear when it's not doing disco's? right? Nice idea, but you need to be careful. Through experience it's clear that not all disco gear is particularly suitable for PA hire and secondly, the corporate / conference end of the market want to know what they are getting - 600 watts isn't much, but I'm guessing these are your DAP speakers that are listed on the equipment page? If you are serious about doing PA hire, you probably need to think about gear. I've just invested in a set of Mackies which are superb with vocal - used monthly at a comedy club I supply gear to, but I'm not convinced these are right for the bigger market.

 

Just my thoughts!

[otronics 0]

Thank you very much - my replies are below and action will be taken soon.

 

My 1st impressions were that it is a DIY site. Not bad but not overly impressive either - to me it looks dated and I was surprised when I read this

 

QUOTE

We can construct a website to meet your needs in HTML or CSS and extra code such as JAVA/Javascript if required. News tickers, advertising banners, time based pictures, rollover images, hotspots, site maps and Google search components can all be added.

 

 

If you are capable of all this why aren't you using more of it on your own site?

 

I feel it looks OK as it is....generating lots of bookings....even had one client comment on it at a gig the other day......not an issue whether I use fancy coding etc here or not.

 

Your own logo in the top LH corner needs tidying (look at the start of the curves) - it's little things like this that give the website an amatuer feel to it.

 

Yes, true. I may sort something here.

 

Glad to see that you haven't gone for black but the background is a bit bland and lifeless.

 

OK - I will get a more exciting background sorted.

 

In a number of areas your wording can be interpreted in possibly a different way to that intended (maybe not) eg:

 

QUOTE

Unless a very short booking, we will not be charging £50 for a Birthday, or £80 for a Wedding.

 

I read from this that you will go out for £50 for a short (time scale) party. Further down the page you state

QUOTE

You may have received a quote from another disco charging £50 (or less) claiming they can do the job ....

 

OK, I will make the wording more clear. I can see what you are saying there.

 

On your mobile disco page

QUOTE

Nearly all bookings are required to pay a non-refundable 25% deposit although this depends on the event, for example primary school discos may wish to pay the entire fee on the night.

 

What's so special about primary schools that you make an exception for them - and, even if you do, is it wise to tell everyone else about your varying policy?

 

OK, I will change. Why are they special? Some are on a tight budget but only one I deal with does not pay a deposit due to this and only getting the money on the night. This is actually not 'policy' but was added for some flexibility for such groups, schools etc. It will be changed.

 

I would delete your availabilty page - what it shows is at the moment is you have 365 days still free for 2008 - people like to book busy people so if you already had a lot of bookings for next year a page like this would work to your advantage - as it is I think it could do the opposite.

 

364 actually! Maybe....

 

On the about us page the photo of you is spoilt by all the wires. I would suggest cropping it (or using the last one from your gallery page). Also you mention your web design service in the middle of talking about weddings, parties etc. You have 2 distinct and separate businesses that you are trying to sell with one site. I would guess that people looking to book a disco are not interested in web design services and vice-versa.

 

May alter the wording again and the photo. I see what you mean though never saw that as an issue as could perhaps be a piece of discouse although on first thoughts maybe not.

 

Back to photos and I would suggest adding a 4th one to your header so that it's the same width as the banner above it. On your PA hire page it's hard to define anything in the 2nd picture apart from 2 people in red shirts.

 

Point taken to both of those things and will sort.

 

Your 'sitemap' link at the bottom goes to a blank page.

 

Works fine - its JAVA (see, I have used some!) and is a basic service so not major.

 

And finally back to your web design services - with hosting & domain names so cheap I feel you should have this on a different site. Of the 4 you show one has a 404 error and another has a page under construction since August 2006.

 

Not sure what happened there - 3 out of 4 work and the one that does not states it is not currently available. Another to be added by Summer next year.

 

Different site? Its a very small, select service I operate and other media services have more than one service on their website. I will do the same here but can again see what you are saying.

 

1. the "notes" buttons have to go - way to busy and don't actually add anything to the site for me.

 

I like them and these certainly have discourse so will stay tongue out icon

 

2. The general feel and layout of the site does nothing for readability - as Paul said, it looks and feels home made, not a well designed site (particularly if you are offering site design services). Yellow background is not nice and there is way too much text (in fact that's not fair, the text is fine it's just badly presented - made for very hard reading).

 

Did break stuff up into smaller paragraphs a very short while ago - will see what I can do (and see above too). What did you have in mind for presenting it better?

 

3. Equipment pages - a big big bug bare of mine. Even though you tried to explain to the reader why you want to include it, I have to be honest, saying "Some ask why this page is here. Well, would you book a holiday, buy a house, hire a dress or suit without looking first?" to a client I would guess would result in the response "so when can we come and see you perform". Trust me, absolutely nobody (other than some very very rich corporate clients) has any interest in your equipment and the very very very rare few who do know what they are looking at will not be very impressed - if you are a great DJ, sell yourself as a great DJ. A Vasto will never help to demonstrate that!

 

This is mainly for PA hire to demonstrate. Again, I have had recent comments from clients such as 'we booked you as we saw your equipment and it looked good' so it is staying. I may alter the wording though.

 

4. Photo's - now I am absolutely not a great photographer (as my wife), but if you are going to put pictures on your site, make sure you can at least make out what they are. I've taken loads that I thought were great only to have others look puzzled and ask what it was. Yours are too dark, too blurry and difficult to see. They won't help. Personally (and this really is just my own thoughts) I am not a fan of photo galleries. I think usually they are good places for other DJ's to have a nosey at your rig! Why not intersperse the pictures in the pages of your site. Video's also seem to be the new photo these days. I know a number of guys who sell there show's more now on the back of some well placed youtube clips.

 

People like to see photos. I will not add videos. I have some new ones to put up and delete some old ones. On that note, I will be going through every image on the site to make them more clearer.

 

5. Emergency bookings - as a client it reads "I have no work so I'll be sat at home waiting for you to call on a Saturday". I think Paul said something similar about your availability page - this does the same thing

 

Will sort in some shape or form.

 

6. PA hire - I'm trying to do a similar thing to you I think. As I read your PA hire page, you are simply trying to hire out your disco gear when it's not doing disco's? right? Nice idea, but you need to be careful. Through experience it's clear that not all disco gear is particularly suitable for PA hire and secondly, the corporate / conference end of the market want to know what they are getting - 600 watts isn't much, but I'm guessing these are your DAP speakers that are listed on the equipment page? If you are serious about doing PA hire, you probably need to think about gear. I've just invested in a set of Mackies which are superb with vocal - used monthly at a comedy club I supply gear to, but I'm not convinced these are right for the bigger market.

 

Kind of - its just another service and has been hired out numerous times and equipment IS suited to what is stated on the website - 'bands who need vocal or instrument backup, but can also tailor to suit the needs of outside events such as fetes, sports days and fun days etc.', ie/ small - mediumish events.

 

If you feel this is still not clear, I can change.

 

Ah, quotes not worked above but you can see anyway...

[Dukesy 0]

OK, very interesting points to take on board so far.

 

You are offering:

 

A mobile disco service

A PA Hire service

A Web building service

 

Why not consider creating a portal index page with the option of the available services you offer and brief description, or consider hosting all three services on different web sites and linking them?

Why? Personally, I feel that it would allow you to focus the potential clients attention directly to the specific service on offer / they are looking for. Some other sites I've seen (mobile) provide such a choice.

OK, the PA hire can go hand-in-hand with the mobile business, but there is always the possibility that you may attract more customers if they have a specific choice upon entry to the site.

 

I feel that your Home page info and the Why Choose Us us page info could be combined, made a little more interesting by splashing more than one piccy and kept as the Why Choose Us Info page.

The Home Page needs (IMHO) to sell your service and could be spruced up a little by adding sub headings to lead the reader to specific points of your text, images splashed here and there.

 

I like the colours used on the site but perhaps you could possibly be a little more daring in the general layout?

Everything is fairly clear to read, but the use of headers, for example, are sparse, hence you are not leading the readers attention to specific points of your service - the About page, Why Choose us, Mobile Discos, etc have a banner like heading that I feel needs to be lower, in-line with the Navigation if you're intending in keeping. Don't forget to add keyword tags to these banner headings as they are in effect images.

 

The space left at the top of the pages would allow you to place either a company name header with background image, or move the current series of combined photos (on placed pages) to the top of your page with your company name perhaps which could be on every page. Experiment! If you do not wish to enter text into the image, place the image into a 1x1 table (cell) and use the image as a cell background image which will allow you to add text over the top, either left, central or right of the image. Remember to keep the cell dimensions the same as the image or you wilol see a 'tiled' effect!

I like the idea of your logo but for me, it does not do your service justice in that l/h corner! Why not use the whole of the top of the page for a header?

 

I would consider the placed images with and without borders (say 1px black) to see which has a better finish / end result, such as on your equipment page.

 

I feel that your websites credit and copyright page could easily be combined too.

 

Apart from that, please do not take comments to heart as I can see you have spent a great deal of time working on this. I feel that the site is a great improvement on your last.

 

 

[Paul Smith 0]

I feel from your replies to the points raised by me and others that you are not totally convinced by what we say.

 

I feel it looks OK as it is....generating lots of bookings....even had one client comment on it at a gig the other day

 

Leave it as it is then. Just one point I will make though - next year is a leap year

[otronics 0]

I feel from your replies to the points raised by me and others that you are not totally convinced by what we say.

 

Not at all. Some things yes, but as indicated above, it will be given lots of attention over the next week thanks to the replies from you guys!

 

smile icon

[digitaldistortion 0]

I found the following statements (in your terms and conditions) either rather strange or downright dangerous (for yourself): (Comments relate to the line(s) above.

 

4. Should OTronics Media Services be temporarily rejected at arrival of the venue due to late arrivals of guests etc, the full remaining fee is expected to be paid at the end of the performance.

 

I don't even understand this one...why would you be rejected due to the late arrival of guests - temp or otherwise

 

 

3. In the extremely unlikely event of OTronics Media Services failing to attend the performance, the Organiser will not be expected to pay any remaining balance and in this instance only will any deposit be refunded.

 

Surely the point here is that Otronics would be in default, and so any monies already paid would be refundable.

 

7. Should there be a power failure upon arrival of OTronics Media Services at the venue, 50% of the remaining fee is to be paid. Should a power failure occur at any point after the performance has started, the full remaining fee is to be paid. Should equipment failure of OTronics Media Services occur during the event prematurely terminating the disco entirely, 50% of the remaining fee is to be paid. Should the above occur and backup equipment be used to restart the event, the full fee is expected to be paid. Note: backup equipment is always carried.

 

Sorry guys, if you have terminal failure during a gig...then you 'ONLY' want 50% - for what? Turning up and giving it a good try?????

 

 

11. OTronics Media Services will conduct themselves in a proper and efficient manner throughout the event and will respond to any of the Organiser’s reasonable requests such as volume levels.

 

I don't believe this forms part of the terms and conditions. This is supposed to be a 'legal' contract!

 

12. The Organiser’s will ensure suitable supervision of it’s guests and assistants at the venue. OTronics Media Services will not be held responsible for any unforeseen damage to the Organiser’s facilities caused by disco equipment a third party. However, any accident that could have been avoided or was caused by OTronics Media Services to such facilities will be financed by OTronics Media Services to recover any loss.

 

I think you're opening a BIG can of worms here. You are PLI'd etc and this kind of statement (esp in these days of litigation) is very dangerous (and unecessary!)

 

 

 

 

[otronics 0]

I will reply properly to Dukesy actually:

 

OK, very interesting points to take on board so far.

 

You are offering:

 

A mobile disco service

A PA Hire service

A Web building service

 

Why not consider creating a portal index page with the option of the available services you offer and brief description, or consider hosting all three services on different web sites and linking them?

Why? Personally, I feel that it would allow you to focus the potential clients attention directly to the specific service on offer / they are looking for. Some other sites I've seen (mobile) provide such a choice.

OK, the PA hire can go hand-in-hand with the mobile business, but there is always the possibility that you may attract more customers if they have a specific choice upon entry to the site.

 

Good point, and has been mentioned kind of...will come up with something and implement. Problem here is that website design is a very small, very select service. PA expanding. Will do something.

 

I feel that your Home page info and the Why Choose Us us page info could be combined, made a little more interesting by splashing more than one piccy and kept as the Why Choose Us Info page.

The Home Page needs (IMHO) to sell your service and could be spruced up a little by adding sub headings to lead the reader to specific points of your text, images splashed here and there.

 

Why choose us used to be on the home page actually, then moved to its own page but yes, was never happy with it totally.

 

So move some home page blurb to Why Choose Us and add general stuff to Home?

 

I like the colours used on the site but perhaps you could possibly be a little more daring in the general layout?

Everything is fairly clear to read, but the use of headers, for example, are sparse, hence you are not leading the readers attention to specific points of your service - the About page, Why Choose us, Mobile Discos, etc have a banner like heading that I feel needs to be lower, in-line with the Navigation if you're intending in keeping. Don't forget to add keyword tags to these banner headings as they are in effect images.

 

Layout will be updated as mentioned...better background for one. Will add all you have said in the above paragraph.

 

See what you mean about the headings....will do something.

 

What do you mean by 'keyword tags'?

 

The space left at the top of the pages would allow you to place either a company name header with background image, or move the current series of combined photos (on placed pages) to the top of your page with your company name perhaps which could be on every page. Experiment! If you do not wish to enter text into the image, place the image into a 1x1 table (cell) and use the image as a cell background image which will allow you to add text over the top, either left, central or right of the image. Remember to keep the cell dimensions the same as the image or you wilol see a 'tiled' effect!

I like the idea of your logo but for me, it does not do your service justice in that l/h corner! Why not use the whole of the top of the page for a header?

 

Cool idea and will help 'fix' the page header issues.

 

I would consider the placed images with and without borders (say 1px black) to see which has a better finish / end result, such as on your equipment page.

 

Maybe. As mentioned, all images will be looked at and better quality ones added to the Equipment page in particular. Borders may work well with them like you have said.

 

I feel that your websites credit and copyright page could easily be combined too.

 

I like seperate ones! tongue out icon

 

 

AND MR DIGI:

 

4. Should OTronics Media Services be temporarily rejected at arrival of the venue due to late arrivals of guests etc, the full remaining fee is expected to be paid at the end of the performance.

 

I don't even understand this one...why would you be rejected due to the late arrival of guests - temp or otherwise

 

Has happened (not to me though) and another member here ages ago recommended adding it on. If guests are eating in the same room as the disco (late) and we arrive to setup but are not allowed in (don't want flightcases going through while people eating etc) then there is an issue.

 

Basically, we can't get in, setup late and customer says they will pay less. Could be worded better so will be.

 

3. In the extremely unlikely event of OTronics Media Services failing to attend the performance, the Organiser will not be expected to pay any remaining balance and in this instance only will any deposit be refunded.

 

Surely the point here is that Otronics would be in default, and so any monies already paid would be refundable.

 

Will change.

 

7. Should there be a power failure upon arrival of OTronics Media Services at the venue, 50% of the remaining fee is to be paid. Should a power failure occur at any point after the performance has started, the full remaining fee is to be paid. Should equipment failure of OTronics Media Services occur during the event prematurely terminating the disco entirely, 50% of the remaining fee is to be paid. Should the above occur and backup equipment be used to restart the event, the full fee is expected to be paid. Note: backup equipment is always carried.

 

Sorry guys, if you have terminal failure during a gig...then you 'ONLY' want 50% - for what? Turning up and giving it a good try?????

 

Good point. Have backup so not really (and never has been) an issue. Will alter as if main sound goes and backup too (unlikely) and party cannot continue then nothing to be paid on the night is better. Will change.

 

11. OTronics Media Services will conduct themselves in a proper and efficient manner throughout the event and will respond to any of the Organiser’s reasonable requests such as volume levels.

 

I don't believe this forms part of the terms and conditions. This is supposed to be a 'legal' contract!

 

Hmmmmmmmmmmm.

 

12. The Organiser’s will ensure suitable supervision of it’s guests and assistants at the venue. OTronics Media Services will not be held responsible for any unforeseen damage to the Organiser’s facilities caused by disco equipment a third party. However, any accident that could have been avoided or was caused by OTronics Media Services to such facilities will be financed by OTronics Media Services to recover any loss.

 

I think you're opening a BIG can of worms here. You are PLI'd etc and this kind of statement (esp in these days of litigation) is very dangerous (and unecessary!)

 

Will cut the last two sentences of 12.

 

Thanks all - this is what I am after - a critical response of the whole site.

 

[Dukesy 0]

Hi

 

You can add tags / alt-tags to images which help...i.e. when you place the mouse over the image, the image 'tag' will be revealed, usually as a word within a yellow box, or it maybe a description of the image for example.

The 'tags' will be looked at when your site is crawled by the web-bots and will naturally help when a keyword is punched into google / search engine.

 

Sorry I can not explain any better, but look up image tags and websites for examples.

I believe you may have used for the equipment items?

 

Also, don't forget to submit your site to the search engines via their submit pages once you've updated everything.

 

 

 

 

[otronics 0]

Ah, though you meant that - alt text/tags/whatever.

 

Every image has alt text - took ages but banners' text could be better.