Website... please take a look!

Subject: Website... please take a look!
From: Becks
Date: 04 Mar 09 - 08:22 AM

I thought it was about time I sorted myself a website out, since I have decided to launch myself full throttle into making something of my music. Currently recording an album and got a myspace page but just wanted to take it up a notch.

Any input would be greatly received! Am I missing any vital info off it or what else should I include.
I plan to add a gallery and media stuff as I get it, I have only just started playing so I am a little bare on the quotes and such like. But thats the beauty of a website you can update it so easily!

I know the email link doesnt work yet (having a Java script issue, I'm not very technically able!).
It is currently work in progress and intend to publsise it by the latter end of this month with business cards, postcard etc to support it.

Just thought I would get some valuble feedback from you mudcatters, if you dont mind!

Cheers..... link is below.

http://www.rebekahfindlay.co.uk/index.html

Subject: RE: Website... please take a look!
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 04 Mar 09 - 08:31 AM

Enjoyed listening to your music/singing... and would happily buy a CD. Love the song about the Lighthousekeeper.... Hope to see you down our way sometime soon.... not too far away in Lincolnshire (Gainsborough)
Best wishes, Mike.

Subject: RE: Website... please take a look!
From: GUEST, Sminky
Date: 04 Mar 09 - 10:30 AM

Hi Rebekah,

Nice site. Look forward to hearing you sometime.

Re: your javascript problem. The script is looking for [at], but your email address contains [a]. Change the maildivider variable to "[a]" and Bob's your Uncle.

Subject: RE: Website... please take a look!
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 04 Mar 09 - 10:39 AM

Best of luck with your venture! I enjoyed your singing and have a few thoughts on the web page.

Like many people, I am near-sighted. I find your site hard to read. I suggest darker print, possibly larger. Also, whenever you have a block of print, you should use a print with serifs (the little blocks at the bottoms of each letter.) Times New Roman is such a font.

You will notice that the print of a Mudcat post has serifs. Open a magazine and peruse the advertisements, and you will see that when there are blocks of print, they switch from sans serif to serif fonts. Serifs guide the eye from word to word, and if a they are missing, people will soon stop reading.

I also suggest you say something like 'Click on the myspace link to hear me sing.'

Can you do something to guide those who are interested in you but who assume your name is spelled Rebecca?

Subject: RE: Website... please take a look!
From: GUEST, Sminky
Date: 04 Mar 09 - 11:03 AM

I would also suggest that you think long and hard before publishing your personal phone numbers - especially your mobile. There are some real weirdos out there and, aside from the heavy breathers, technology can now allow people to discover your location by tracking your mobile. The dangers are obvious.

Sorry to sound so foreboding - but we wouldn't want anything bad to happen to you!

Subject: RE: Website... please take a look!
From: BusyBee Paul
Date: 04 Mar 09 - 11:07 AM

Becks,

It all looks good to me!.

See you again soon,

Deirdre

Subject: RE: Website... please take a look!
From: Rasener
Date: 04 Mar 09 - 11:25 AM

Hi Becks
Nice website and enjoyed listening to the songs.
I would agree with what Leeneia has to say.

Les

Subject: RE: Website... please take a look!
From: Becks
Date: 04 Mar 09 - 11:42 AM

Leeneia, thank you thats really helpfull to know... Difficult one though, I have a personal hatred of Times New Roman, but I shall have a look at other web friendly alternatives and take on board what you said, and will definately increase the size. I was a web designer in my previous job and there is a big debate about what is easier for the eye, some say 70% tint of black as the contrast is less harsh. But us web designers do tend to be a bit stubborn and choose design and search friendly stuff over other factors.
I don't know what I can do about the spelling of my name, I have always had problems with that one, I blame my parents, lol!

Thanks Sminky too, i thought that but it doesnt seem to want to work, I am probably doing something wrong!

Subject: RE: Website... please take a look!
From: GUEST, Sminky
Date: 04 Mar 09 - 11:59 AM

Tried and tested!

  
  <a href="mailto:info[a]rebekahfindlay.co.uk">Email</a>
  
  
  <script type="text/javascript">
  var maildivider="[a]";
  for (i=0; i < (document.links.length); i++){
  if (document.links[i].href.indexOf(maildivider)!=-1)
  document.links[i].href=document.links[i].href.split(maildivider)[0]+"@"+document.links[i].href.split(maildivider)[1]
  }
  </script>
  

Subject: RE: Website... please take a look!
From: bfdk
Date: 04 Mar 09 - 12:21 PM

Re: your name, pop in 'Rebecca Findlay' next to the correct spelling (comma separated) in the section near the top of each document

< META NAME="keywords" CONTENT="...

That's where Google etc pick up the keywords they use for indexing your page.

You need to do each page, as those Meta tags are on all pages.

As for the text, I agree with leeneia that it's on the small side and would be better in a somewhat darker colour (I've also reached the age of glasses on - glasses off ;-)). However, I don't think there's any need to search for a serif font. As far as I can see you're using Arial, just like Mudcat is, only yours is 2 points smaller. It's probably the most used font around today. Don't go lower than 10 in font size, I'd say.

Best wishes,

Bente

Subject: RE: Website... please take a look!
From: Banjiman
Date: 04 Mar 09 - 12:42 PM

Looks good Becks. I'll share some thoughts when I see you next.

Paul

Subject: RE: Website... please take a look!
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 04 Mar 09 - 01:08 PM

'As far as I can see you're using Arial, just like Mudcat is'

The Mudcat does not appear in Arial on my computer. Does it look different for different people?
======
I definitely second the recommendation to remove personal phone numbers from the web.

Subject: RE: Website... please take a look!
From: Jack Campin
Date: 04 Mar 09 - 01:55 PM

How many people in the UK these days have only one mobile?

It's very convenient. Get another one for personal stuff, take the business one out only when you want to be contacted. You aren't going to get anything weirder on it than you will in email or comments on a blog.

I've had my phone number publicly available on Usenet and mail sigs and on websites for 25 years. It helps.

What you want to be VERY cautious about is your email address. Use multiple levels of obfuscation or expect to lose it to spammers. Never, ever include a working "mailto:" link like the one you've got.

I have both javascript and Flash disabled by default, and flatly refuse to have anything to do with MurdochSpace, so I haven't managed to hear anything of Rebekah's stuff yet. Why not provide a vanilla MP3 sample?

Subject: RE: Website... please take a look!
From: Rifleman (inactive)
Date: 04 Mar 09 - 02:02 PM

to start out, Nice web site Becks!

Not everyone an afford two mobile phones, the best solution is still to remove personal phone numbers from the web, there are too many weirdos out there.

Subject: RE: Website... please take a look!
From: Becks
Date: 04 Mar 09 - 02:07 PM

Yep plan to have a more accesible listening page as soon as album is recorded so people dont have to worry about having flash or not, i personally hate flash and the only reason I have it installed on my computer is because I joined myspace (reluctantly!).
Will see what I can do about putting mp3 's on there in meantime! Thanks for suggestion!
Will look at emails now, thanks!

'The Mudcat does not appear in Arial on my computer. Does it look different for different people?'

Mudcat appears in Times New Roman on my computer, I just dont like it for websites as it looks so dated, fine for forums and such like but not the image I want for my website. Have increased the font size a wee bit, will try it out on a few different computers and browsers and see how it looks now.

Subject: RE: Website... please take a look!
From: Suegorgeous
Date: 04 Mar 09 - 02:15 PM

Great site Becks! keep it simple and easy to use is always best.

Agree about the mobile phone thing. Jack - I think it's different for women re mobiles. In my experience, it's rare for people to have 2 mobiles.

I think I'd have a separate page for all contact details. Personally, I find that email link thing irritating on websites, as it brings up an email program I never use, and I have to then cut and paste to send an email. Better to just give the address. But that's perhaps just unique to me!

Subject: RE: Website... please take a look!
From: olddude
Date: 04 Mar 09 - 02:32 PM

Becks
nice site I like it, please please young lady
no phone numbers ... not safe ok. Humor a guy with three daughters no numbers ok
just use the email and use a hotmail or yahoo or gmail

beautiful music, just wonderful

Thanks

Subject: RE: Website... please take a look!
From: Mavis Enderby
Date: 04 Mar 09 - 02:42 PM

Becks,

looks good to me. I'd second the comments about phone numbers though - personally I'd stick to email for contact from the web. It's also a good idea (as mentioned) to hide your email address from spammers - put it up as an image rather than text or mailto: link.

Best news though is an album on the way!

Cheers,

Pete.

Subject: RE: Website... please take a look!
From: GUEST,Joe G
Date: 04 Mar 09 - 03:27 PM

Looks good Becks and some friendly helpful comment here

Looking forward to seeing you, Wendy & Paul later this month at Raggalds

Subject: RE: Website... please take a look!
From: GUEST,Jonny Sunshine
Date: 04 Mar 09 - 05:14 PM

Nicely designed site, clear and uncluttered. I'd echo what has been said about putting up your phone number, anyone looking at your website who needs to contact you can email. It only takes one socially-challenged "fan" to make your life uncomfortable.

Subject: RE: Website... please take a look!
From: Jack Campin
Date: 04 Mar 09 - 05:30 PM

I suspect most of the people worried about posting a (business) phone number are from the US, where a mobile is much more expensive - you don't pay for incoming calls in the UK.

You don't need more than a basic phone to be contacted. You can get a mobile and a sim card with some credit on it for less than ten pounds if you look around (I've never paid more and I think I've got five phones now). If that's too expensive (and too expensive to throw away) how on earth are you managing to operate a website?

My mobile number is all over my website and on several thousand Usenet postings, but just in case you haven't seen it: 07800 739 557.

Subject: RE: Website... please take a look!
From: Suegorgeous
Date: 04 Mar 09 - 06:51 PM

Jack - you're missing the point - cost really isn't the issue here - safety is. Again - it's different for women! (I'm in the UK, by the way)

Subject: RE: Website... please take a look!
From: Stephen L. Rich
Date: 04 Mar 09 - 09:31 PM

Looks good.

Subject: RE: Website... please take a look!
From: GUEST
Date: 05 Mar 09 - 07:47 AM

Suegorgeous makes a good point regarding the email 'clicky'

Lots of people use web based email programs so actually giving the address would help. It's really annoying to be told to 'click here' when you just want the address and then get Outlook or some such to open. I don't believe that you'd get masses of spam by doing that.

Otherwise it seems good.

Subject: RE: Website... please take a look!
From: GUEST,Ed
Date: 05 Mar 09 - 07:50 AM

One more point,

I think your 'listen' section should have it's own tab rather than being under 'review'

Ed
(who forgot to put his name to previous post)

Subject: RE: Website... please take a look!
From: Jack Campin
Date: 05 Mar 09 - 08:36 AM

Spambots look for "mailto:" links. Put one on your site with a real or easily-demunged address behind it, and you WILL get spammed.

Safety: your choice, but remember that nobody is going book anyone who can't be contacted quickly and reliably - which means handing that business mobile number out to pretty much anyone who asks, and letting them do whatever they want with it. If you don't do that, the main thing you'll be making yourself safe from is income.

Subject: RE: Website... please take a look!
From: GUEST, Sminky
Date: 05 Mar 09 - 09:10 AM

If you don't do that, the main thing you'll be making yourself safe from is income.

Better that than being assaulted because someone was able to track you via your mobile.

Just do me a favour, Jack - take a look at yourself in the mirror.

Now look at Rebekah's photo.

Notice the difference?

Subject: RE: Website... please take a look!
From: Rasener
Date: 05 Mar 09 - 10:23 AM

Jack's much better looking :-) LOL

Subject: RE: Website... please take a look!
From: Becks
Date: 05 Mar 09 - 01:47 PM

With regards to Spam & displaying my email....

I am using Javascript to dynamically replace mailto:info[at]rebekahfindlay.co.uk in the source code and change it to a correctly formatted email address so I will be safe from spam bots.

The code inserted before the tag will replace the [at] with an @ symbol.

Those of you with IE 6 will notice that it displays in the status bar the email address with the [at], those with IE 7 and firefox will notice that the browser parses the java script and displays the correct email address.

With regards to people wanting to see my email rather than a 'clicky' option... if you display your email in any form of free text this is a sure way of having you email address harvested. And I dont like using graphics to replace text where people would naturally try and copy and paste it and it wont work.

I will be adding a contact form and a seperate contact page in the next few days allowing people without any email address to contact me.
A seperate Listen page will get done also when I have my proper album recordings. As there will also be an option to buy online.

I have taken my mobile off like suggested.

Cheers everyone!

Subject: RE: Website... please take a look!
From: Becks
Date: 05 Mar 09 - 08:07 PM

Ok, made a few changes...

There is now a 'Review & Listen' section rather than just 'Review' section. I shall work out how to put mp3's on so people can listen who dont have flash installed.

I have also added a 'Blog' section that can contain my ramblings and bit & bobs that I dont know where to put. I am trying to create a section in the blog for folk club listings too.

Still got a 'contact form' and seperate contact page to do but need a little help with that from the technically minded husband as they never behave for me.

Also having a problem with it displaying differently in Mozilla and Internet Explorer, but nothing new there!

Thanks everyone for comments they have really helped!

Subject: RE: Website... please take a look!
From: Jack Campin
Date: 05 Mar 09 - 09:13 PM

Looks good and cooperates nicely with Firefox on the Mac, but maybe a bit slow? (Minor problem, even if it wasn't just my bad luck - you can always move the whole shebang to a faster host).

The text can be resized, so the size chosen doesn't matter that much.

Subject: RE: Website... please take a look!
From: Jim Lad
Date: 06 Mar 09 - 12:37 AM

"There is now a 'Review & Listen' section rather than just 'Review' section. I shall work out how to put mp3's on so people can listen who don't have flash installed."
Don't put yourself out too much with that stuff, Becks. Join Carbon Logic, that's a good site in the UK. Upload your music there and have your links open in a new at Carbon Logic. That's what they are there for. They will also help you to sell on-line.
I was concerned for your safety until I saw that your no. is a mobile phone. Smart.
Nice page, Great picture.

Subject: RE: Website... please take a look!
From: Becks
Date: 06 Mar 09 - 08:41 AM

Thanks for that 'Jim Lad' I shall have a look at Carbon Logic. I thought I took my mobile off?

It may be a bit slow because of my graphics (my own fault!) I host it on my own servers. I shall try and reduce the graphics a wee bit and see if that helps.

Does anyone know why the myspace player displays differently on Firefox to IE7 or is that just me?

Subject: RE: Website... please take a look!
From: Jim Lad
Date: 06 Mar 09 - 12:24 PM

"I thought I took my mobile off?"
Smarter still.
Legitimate enquirers can get your no. through E-mail.
Lots of freaky people out there.

Carbon Logic is down this morning but do give them a try. They'll help you get your stuff on I-tunes etc..