May I put this out there?

I have a website by the name of NEONVACATION and if its ok to advertise it in this thread I will do so now.
I would love some feedback on it, both Negative or Positive. Please be kind I see what some posters can do. LOL
www.neonvacation.com is a site for other Vegas enthusiasts like myself. I have had the opportunity to meet a ton of cool people through the site directly or indirectly.
I like to review everything from rooms to food to bars to attractions, I plan on growing the site as time goes on and eventually it can be a go-to site for all Vegas questions to be answered. I dont make money off the site, I do all the "designing" on my own (so there are a few glitches). I am very amateur.....
I just really have a love for Las Vegas and want others to enjoy it as I do.
Let me know what you think.
Thanks

any site with an auto playing video with sound is just an instant command-w for me

Thank you..........
Whats command -w ?

Quote: NeonVacation

Thank you..........
Whats command -w ?

Not a compliment.

Is the video too loud? or just cheesy?

I'm not certain that he got far enough into the video to adequately answer the question. It seems that his problem was that there was an auto-playing video in the first place.

I will perhaps look at your website tomorrow, I'm afraid I haven't the time right now. We're running low on all kinds of Continental Breakfast stuff, so it's off to Wal-Mart for me.

I gather from that, that either you run a bed and breakfast or do overnight audit for a hotel..........

Location: Ohio
Occupation: Hotel Manager

I just answered my own question I guess...........

Thanks for the warning about the auto-video ... hate those!

Oh man, where to start?

The auto-play video with sound is as good a place as any... just, don't. Turn off the auto-play, or figure out how to turn off the sound by default. No one wants to be surprised by music suddenly blaring out of their computer, even less so if they're browsing at work or other environment where it might be embarrassing.

The layout looks like a template at first, but kinda goes to hell after the fold. Then it looks like a mish mash of widgets you embedded and don't have any control over. Also, the tool you're using to generate the code for the site is... well, there's no polite way to put it, it sucks. It's creating crappy code that won't validate. If you're going to go the "let's make it look generic" route try Wordpress, it's fairly easy to customize and it can look just as crappy if you try, but the code should at least validate. If you don't know what that means or why it's important look it up. I'm just telling you what's wrong with it, if you want more you have to pay.

Typography. If mentioning this word doesn't make you cringe go look it up as well, you're breaking just about every rule there is regarding it. And not just the front page, the blog goes from one size to another and some are randomly all in bold. Also, paragraphs are your friend, or at least your readers' friend, so use them.

The vertical um... buttons? that you created for:Dining Out, Hotels & Casinos, etc that are next to the video... cheesy. And half of them aren't very readable because there's not enough contrast between the text and the picture behind it.

I can believe that you don't make money off the site, but I can't believe it's for lack of trying. I counted at least half dozen affiliate advertisements and I wasn't really looking for them. I don't like being lied to, and I don't think anyone else here does either. Saying you don't make money off the site may be true, but you are definitely trying, so pretending like you're not is an insult.

Pretty cool to get all this detailed feedback. I hope you make a lot of improvements from the feedback these guys have made time to give you.

Quote: MonkeyMonkey

I can believe that you don't make money off the site, but I can't believe it's for lack of trying. I counted at least half dozen affiliate advertisements and I wasn't really looking for them. I don't like being lied to, and I don't think anyone else here does either. Saying you don't make money off the site may be true, but you are definitely trying, so pretending like you're not is an insult.

As with any other similar site, it will depend on the site's content particularly its quality and organization.

Too many site operators are content to tout a half-priced pat of margarine at some unheard of joint across town while the site's visitors are interested in butter from a nearby location.

Strive for quality of content, currency and arrangement by geography.

Thanks for ALL the feedback MONKEYMONKEY, was there anything you liked about the site? lol
Im not trying to hide anything. I did say, I dont make any money off the site. I guess I do have a banner for a hotel chain I use my self a lot, and if someone books a room through it I get a certain percent(never happens unless its me) and the Restaurant.com button is also for me mainly but same as the hotel deal. Sorry to " LIE", but i wasn't thinking that made a big deal, I did sign up for affiliation banner placement so I had some other Vegas related show ads on certain pages too, in other words I guess I mean I dont MAKE any money from the site, not that it wouldnt be nice eventually in some form. I work 2 full-time jobs and this is my hobby/passion.
In the very near future all that should be removed and cleaned up anyway thats kind of the reason for the post to get some ideas of how to do the stuff to neaten up the site.
BTW it is a template program through the web hoster company, remember I said I dont know shit about web design, and It seems to offer new changes to the template all the time so I get crazy looking stuff some times.
I was very proud of those buttons in the welcome page, it took me like a week to make those things............lol(again)
really though thank you for the honest feedback, there are a lot of changes coming.

Keep the comments coming folks, I do need em.

Quote: MonkeyMonkey

I can believe that you don't make money off the site, but I can't believe it's for lack of trying. I counted at least half dozen affiliate advertisements and I wasn't really looking for them. I don't like being lied to, and I don't think anyone else here does either. Saying you don't make money off the site may be true, but you are definitely trying, so pretending like you're not is an insult.

damn bro don't take things so serious...its just the Internets :)

Quote: NeonVacation

Thanks for ALL the feedback MONKEYMONKEY, was there anything you liked about the site? lol

Not really. The content is already available elsewhere (except I suppose your blog) and the execution is flawed. To do a site like this right you really need a database driven back end but I'm guessing since you're using a WYSIWYG editor that putting this together with something like PHP & MySQL is out of the question.

Quote: NeonVacation

Im not trying to hide anything. I did say, I dont make any money off the site. I guess I do have a banner for a hotel chain I use my self a lot, and if someone books a room through it I get a certain percent(never happens unless its me) and the Restaurant.com button is also for me mainly but same as the hotel deal. Sorry to " LIE", but i wasn't thinking that made a big deal, I did sign up for affiliation banner placement so I had some other Vegas related show ads on certain pages too, in other words I guess I mean I dont MAKE any money from the site, not that it wouldnt be nice eventually in some form. I work 2 full-time jobs and this is my hobby/passion.

As I said, I can believe that you don't make money off the site (maybe setting up Google Analytics or something similar will tell you why... I'm guessing the auto-play video with sound gets your page closed about as fast as the users can has something to do with it). It was the "I'm a good guy, doing this out of the goodness of my heart not a profit motive" presentation in the OP contrasted with quite a few blatant attempts to make money off it that struck me as hypocritical. I have nothing against capitalism, saturate it with affiliate links if you'd like, just don't pretend that it's some kind labor of love with no profit motive at all.

Quote: NeonVacation

In the very near future all that should be removed and cleaned up anyway thats kind of the reason for the post to get some ideas of how to do the stuff to neaten up the site.

I actually don't think it's a bad idea, the ads just need to be integrated into the site a little more smoothly. Affiliate advertising is one of the easiest ways to monetize your effort.

Quote: NeonVacation

BTW it is a template program through the web hoster company, remember I said I dont know shit about web design, and It seems to offer new changes to the template all the time so I get crazy looking stuff some times.

All I can say is that is creates some of the fugliest code I've seen on a modern web site. The point of code that will validate is so that you have some idea of how users on various browsers/platforms will see the site. With code that will validate you get some consistency, without it... well, anything could happen. Have you looked at the site with IE, Firefox, Chrome, and Safari? With an Android phone and an iPhone? What about if I have internet access through my PS3 and use that to browse the internet? When the code isn't valid the client (browser, etc.) has to make it's best guess about how you want things displayed, and here's the best part: They don't all guess the same!

Quote: NeonVacation

I was very proud of those buttons in the welcome page, it took me like a week to make those things............lol(again)
really though thank you for the honest feedback, there are a lot of changes coming.

Sorry, they struck me as cheesy. Not only because they were hard to read but the colors didn't necessarily go with anything else on the site, and the fonts seemed random (which leads us back to the typography issues...). Another potential issue regarding the buttons is the picture in the background of each (as well as the big banner at the top of the page), do you have the copyright or permission from the copyright holder to use them? I'm guessing the answer is probably 'no' but it won't be an issue unless you get big enough to notice, or stealing images causes a moral conflict for you personally.

What does execution being flawed mean? I really dont care if the code is "ugly" either its nothing I do anyway, I asked people to look at the site and give me some feedback thats all, I dont do CODE or WYSIWYG editing or PHP & MySQL or whatever that shit is. My hobby is Vegas and my Vegas website, which IS a Product of love or however you want to phrase it to belittle my effort. I could care less about making money on the site and dont care if people think I am or not, just removed a few out of place banners I thought would make it look a little more professional. I hope you realize I am saying all this in a due respect, not meant to sound mad or bitter at your comments in all seriousness. I just want people (including myself) to have a one stop site for links and info to other links etc.
The next step is trying to perfect it and get it to MOBILE version etc, I understand thats the way to go now days.
I did change the video settings since I agree it was a little shocking to have that play as soon as the site opens, and I dropped a few of my homemade buttons and enlarges the ones left so they look a little better now as well.
As far as the content, most of the pictures on the site I have taken myself, there are a few that I stole from google or other sites but never had a problem with it so far, hope it dosent become a problem, isnt there something about creative license when it comes to amateur websites? ( i might be way off, thought you could use images if they were allowed on sites like GOOGLE or YAHOO search.
BTW MonkeyMonkey, do you like Vegas or just the gaming? live there? What kind of business are you in? Just questions no need to answer if you dont wish, just offering something else to talk about. I like to meet interesting people.
Thanks.

Quote: NeonVacation

What does execution being flawed mean?

It means the code generated by the WYSIWYG (pronounced Whizzy Wig, and meaning What You See Is What You Get) editor that you're using is horrible. The reasons that it's bad I have already explained.

Quote: NeonVacation

I really dont care if the code is "ugly" either its nothing I do anyway,

It's more than ugly, if it were simply ugly it wouldn't really matter all that much unless you wanted to make a change by hand.

Quote: NeonVacation

I asked people to look at the site and give me some feedback thats all,

You should be concerned, and I'll explain why shortly (has to do with your plans to go mobile).

Quote: NeonVacation

I dont do CODE

You should learn to. I was making database driven websites as a teenager. If I can do it anyone can.

Quote: NeonVacation

or WYSIWYG editing

Um... yes you do.

Quote: NeonVacation

or PHP & MySQL or whatever that shit is.

That shit, is the shit. The thing about the approach you're taking is that if the site ever grows to be quite large and you'd like to make a global change (a change effecting the entire site) you're going to have to edit each and every page. With a database back end you can easily make changes to how things are displayed (this is especially important for areas of the site that list information, like all casinos, or restaurants). I'm pretty sure you're interested in that aspect of the site. Using PHP you could also have the header and footer portion of every page in one file that is simply "included" on every page.

Quote: NeonVacation

My hobby is Vegas and my Vegas website, which IS a Product of love or however you want to phrase it to belittle my effort.

My characterization has nothing to do with belittling your effort. You put it out there that you weren't making money on it and that's essentially not true, if not in fact, at least in spirit when you have affiliate ads on there.

Quote: NeonVacation

I could care less about making money on the site

That may be true, or it may not be. On the one hand we have your word, and on the other we have your actions (placing affiliate ads on the site). One of these things is easy to see is true, the other... not so much. Personally, if it were me I'd have a lot more ads but I'd integrate them in to the overall design more fluidly. So you see, I don't care if you're trying to make money or not, just don't pee on my head and telling me it's raining.

Quote: NeonVacation

and dont care if people think I am or not,

That's certainly obvious from the way you've been defending yourself about it.

Quote: NeonVacation

just removed a few out of place banners I thought would make it look a little more professional. I hope you realize I am saying all this in a due respect, not meant to sound mad or bitter at your comments in all seriousness.

LOL. Feels like it's raining again. But whatever, I don't care if you're soaking up this free consultation or are getting mad about it. The choice is yours and it doesn't make any difference to me which you choose.

Quote: NeonVacation

I just want people (including myself) to have a one stop site for links and info to other links etc.

I'm pretty sure this already exists, but that's not to say you shouldn't try.

Quote: NeonVacation

The next step is trying to perfect it and get it to MOBILE version etc, I understand thats the way to go now days.

You might want to start taking an interest in the code then. If my phone wasn't also my camera I'd take a picture of my phone showing how horrendous your site looks on an Android phone. Your big banner picture? Not there. The menu across the top? Doesn't look or even work the same at all. Your little graphic that says 'Welcome' is so tiny I can't read it. Next comes the block of text that begins with "Now that you're here..." It takes up the whole screen width and the YouTube video is below it. I can see the edge of one of your "buttons" peeking out from behind the video. I'm guessing the rest are all covered by the video. The stuff underneath that is even worse. There are 3 columns. First column has the "Unwrapping Vegas..." stuff in it. There are no more than 3 words on any line of it. The middle column has your Twitter widget, but it's so compressed it's unusable. I can tell what it is because I've seen the site otherwise I wouldn't be able to tell what it is. The third column is links (Begins with "Vegas Unwrapped") but there is no more than 1 word on each line. It effectively looks like one long text link because there's no way to tell when one link ends and another begins. The weather widget is below that and it displays fine. The first column is a LOT longer than the others so there's a huge area of unused white space while column 1 content is still confined to a narrow column. After all that is a ton of ads that you have to scroll sideways back and forth to read.

How do you correct this? Well, you could have a style sheet for mobile devices, but then you'd have to know something about the code. Also having code that will validate under a given DOCTYPE will help the client program know how to render the page. Otherwise it gives it it's best guess and none of them guess the same. For example, your horizontal menu, looks the same in IE8, Firefox and Safari, but in Chrome the "off the beaten path" link doesn't show up. Why? It's guessing about your code differently than the others. I'm sure if I went through the site element by element I could find dozens of such examples.

Additionally, you're breaking several rules that are important to SEO (Search Engine Optimization). This could easily be remedied if you took an interest in the code.

Quote: NeonVacation

I did change the video settings since I agree it was a little shocking to have that play as soon as the site opens, and I dropped a few of my homemade buttons and enlarges the ones left so they look a little better now as well.

That's good about the video. I didn't think the size of the buttons was a problem. It was more the random font and font color in conjunction with a lack of contrast on some of them.

Quote: NeonVacation

As far as the content, most of the pictures on the site I have taken myself,

That's a good start but if you're using an image of something specific (i.e. identifiable) you might find that the party that owns that something wants a little taste of what you're making off the site. Telling their lawyers that you don't make any money off the site may or may not satisfy them. Dropping your pants and waving your behind at a bull may or may not make it charge you. In either case, if you're going to do it, you should know there could be repercussions.

Quote: NeonVacation

there are a few that I stole from google or other sites but never had a problem with it so far, hope it dosent become a problem, isnt there something about creative license when it comes to amateur websites?

Except when you put up affiliate ads you're no longer considered an amateur, and it doesn't matter if you're actually making money (let alone a profit) from it. And even if you were just a Vegas fan site you're still not allowed to just use anything you find laying around on the internet. Your best bet would be to purchase a license for the images from a Stock Image vendor. Many can be had very cheap, especially if you don't need versions that are large enough for print purposes. Now, as a practical matter you may get away with using whatever you want, but that doesn't mean the potential for litigation doesn't exist.

Quote: NeonVacation

( i might be way off, thought you could use images if they were allowed on sites like GOOGLE or YAHOO search.

I don't know how you got that impression but it's completely untrue.

Quote: NeonVacation

BTW MonkeyMonkey, do you like Vegas or just the gaming? live there? What kind of business are you in?

I'm a table games dealer, but not in Vegas. However, I majored in Public Relations and Marketing in college and interned at several marketing firms that did a lot of "new media" and social media stuff, so consequently I've been exposed to a lot of issues that web sites face. Plus, as I mentioned before I did a lot of coding before that, so at a couple places I served as a sort of liaison between my marketing bosses and the tech staff, because I could translate between the two. I got into dealing because I could make more money at it than in my chosen field, and it turns out I enjoy dealing so there ya go.

Also, you really might want to consider WordPress. It's got a lot of themes to customize the look and it can be used for far more than blogging, though it excels at that too. There are all sorts of add-on widgets like one that makes it so people can post your blog stuff to their Facebook page or dozens of other social media sites. I believe it's called "Share the Love" but it's been a while since I set up a site using it. Installing and configuring WordPress is really easy, and there's tons of support on the web. I doubt the tool that your web host offers has anywhere near the following WP has. And if you ever wanted something so ambitious that you couldn't do it yourself there are many professionals that could do the work for you in WP.

And an additional note that I haven't mentioned before: You should probably proof read your pages there are numerous occurrences of words not spelled correctly and other grammar/syntax faux pas. For example, your "Dining Out" button says: Dinning Out.

And finally, I'm not a lawyer or qualified to give legal advice, but I have sat in on a lot of meetings that discussed intellectual property so you should double check anything I've said involving legality with your own lawyer. Or alternately, find a bull and wave your butt at it and see what happens. If you're not in a rural area and bulls are hard to come by you may substitute a pit bull for similar results.

Holy Shit, that's a lot of awesome advise and I DO appreciate it.
I cant believe I never caught the spelling errors, i try to be very anal about that. lol
I will clean it up and try to spend more time learning coding, etc.
Thanks man.

Its been a month since I posted this, I appreciate what Ive heard so far, is there any other feedback?
Thanks