Question
I was reading some the articles about branding from the other thread, and I ended up here: http://www.yudkin.com/websitequiz.htm
I think the quiz is right on target. (I scored 4 out of 5.)
But you know what?
I hate her website.
It's blah....and a little cheesy. Hate the "spotlights" in the header. Hate the photo of the author. Hate the layout. And she's got waaaaaaaaaay too much text. No bulleted lists. No quick and easy way to skim. Where's the "Buy Now" button? AND she repeats. If I don't buy what she's selling the first time she makes the pitch, why would I keep reading?
If you get past the first page, you really have to hunt for what else she's selling. Is it the books? Is it a training course? Where are the prices? Arrrrrgh!
Oh...and I hate the domain name. I lets me immediately know that she's a one-person shop. Not a company that I can depend on for answers. It's less likely that she (or the website) will be around next year. I wouldn't risk my money.
Even though I *liked* the quiz, looking at the website would send me running. She knows her stuff, but she can't seem to apply it.
So, what was your impression?
Would you buy from her?
Answer
OUCH! I'm not serious about setting up my own website (just don't think I'm capable of building/maintaining one at least in the foreseeable future), but clicked on that link and that is just hideous! And to the owner of that biz/site, I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings! I was in advertising/marketing for over 20 years and think you might want to consider another business. Again, I'm sorry, but that is NOT what design is all about.
Answer
First the quiz - I got 4.5/5
(I did a tandem answer on #2 of B and C -
Less Is More, and Say Whatcha Mean)
And the website itself -
Looks dated.
I like the blue colors, but just use one or the other -
both of them together look sickly
(AND DO NOT MATCH YOUR CLOTHES TO YOUR WEBSITE BG! DAAAH!)
Don't like the weird offset on the black BG -
Book images in the sidebar were nice.
Thats the 2nd time in about 10 minutes I've seen a "logo" using the Cooper Black font
(just a weird observation on my part)
Overall not terrible but WAY too much text to try to read on that page -
make the quiz a seperate link (like with the answers) and it would help.
- like, Take This Quiz! then come back to read more!
But this certainly rings true:
It's difficult to spot gaffes, blather and omissions at your own site because you lack objectivity. In addition, you may be erroneously following highly flawed industry models, believing that if leading companies do it that way, they know what they're doing
OH and no, I dont thik I would. Buy from this website.
~ gem ~