Tech: Just made a website, any suggestion?

Subject: RE: Tech: Just made a website, any suggestion?
From: hesperis
Date: 18 Dec 04 - 02:55 PM

There's a deal of $10 a year for professional hosting including domain name. You'd have to pm me for it though.

I love black backgrounds, and find them easier on the eyes when paired with white text than black text on white. It is a personal preference, really, although I've noticed that people who are nearsighted tend to prefer black backgrounds.

The calendar page could possibly be split into two pages - former gigs and the next month's gigs (or next three months, depending on how often you gig). You really have to update calendar pages in a timely manner though, because there's nothing worse than a calendar with last year's information on it.

I'd make the blue just a little bit paler. Don't worry too much about websafe colours - even websafe colours look different on different browsers and monitors, and most browsers are capable of much more than websafe colours now.

Design for the site to look good at 800x600. There are a few people still on 640x480 but the majority are now at 1024x768, with a good percentage at 800x600 and a small percentage (though larger than the people at 640x480) at even higher resolutions such as 1200x900 or above. Something that looks good at both 800x600 and 1024x768 will look not tooooo horrible on other resolutions.

I hope that helps.

Subject: RE: Tech: Just made a website, any suggestion?
From: Pauline L
Date: 18 Dec 04 - 12:25 PM

I'd like to add a question about something I'd like to use on my website. Guest Reggie Miles and others may find it useful, too. I suspect that my skill level is like his. I'm self taught and I struggle with HTML. How do you make a mouseover? I'd appreciate any help you can give me.

Pauline L

Subject: RE: Tech: Just made a website, any suggestion?
From: GUEST,reggie miles
Date: 18 Dec 04 - 12:07 PM

Sharon G,

I didn't know that when you viewed the pages it was showing that all the photos are alligned to the left! My view shows them most all are alligned to the center, which is how I wanted them to display.

The choices offered by the progran are fairly limited and mostly not anything I'd choose to use so I opted for the simplicity of black. It reminds me of an old photo album. I'll look around for alternatives and see what I can "borrow" to slip in there.

My calendar has not been overly populated this past year so I turned that page into something more like a log of the events and my comments about them. I do see your point and perhaps could add what you are suggesting for those simply need a brief glance calendar.

PoppaGator,

It's been too long since the last time I had a chance to hang in the big Easy. I'll let you know if something appears in my schedule.

I'll work on finding something I can use to alter that background darkness. The safe cyber colors don't seen to appeal to my sense of esthetics. Perhaps something more creative.


Hmmm, GUEST,

20 bucks a year where is that deal? I have not run across that yet but if you point me in ther right direction...
Actually I have made many of changes including linking to a second sight at Verizon to host mp3s, since the Geocities free sight didn't seem to be able to handle the addition without crashing. I've also fixed numerous typos as well. Yep, those little annoying popups are a bit distracting. It's not anything too demanding for me to minimize them or delete them but your point is well taken. I guess the changes for my part were subtle except for the mp3s. That part was a little tricky for me but I am only just beginning this whole adventure in website making. I have no great knowledge about anything related to the cyber world or purse strings to afford to indulge my musings nor do I have an unlimited amount of time to dedicate myself to the process of learning, as I scrape pretty long and hard for what little that seems to come my way. Hence, my need to ask for the assistance of those who may be willing to help with suggestions. We all have to start somewhere.

Thanks for your posts. I'll keep at it and try to seek out the answers I need.

Subject: RE: Tech: Just made a website, any suggestion?
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Dec 04 - 10:28 PM

NO - experienced browser clicks into geo cities popups- if it ain't worth 20 bucks a year for you to host - it arn't worth browsing.

It is the same s--- virtually, unrevised - why repost? (What do you do on your weekends? Look at porn sites?)

Subject: RE: Tech: Just made a website, any suggestion?
From: PoppaGator
Date: 17 Dec 04 - 05:45 PM

I was bit surprised to read of your many appearances here in my town, New Orleans -- I've missed every one so far! I'll be sure to catch your act next time, now that I know who to watch for.

I was anxious to see more about your homemade resonator guitar. I noticed one picture where you're playing a very standard-looking wood-body dobro with screened round sound holes -- is that it? Your oversized slide looks more exotic in that picture than the guitar does.

I vote against the black background, too, although I also am unsure whether it's just a personal reaction that others might not share.

I found it easy enough, though bothersome, to *close* (not minimize) the persistent Geocities windows.

Subject: RE: Tech: Just made a website, any suggestion?
From: GUEST,Sharon G
Date: 17 Dec 04 - 01:43 PM

I did my band's website for a while, then we handed it over to a pro, so I know how much work is involved!

I skimmed through, and here are a few thoughts. I think overall it is well organized and uses a lot of standard things that people expect to see- photos, contact, calendar etc. I liked the story page, though I didn't have time to listen for long.

The black background bothers me for some reason... I don't know if its actually hard on my eyes or just a personal preference.

All the photos are aligned on the left margin- it might be more convenient or easy to lay out, but is less effective artistically, and doesn't use a lot of the space on the page.

The calendar is hard to follow. I prefer a simple listing of dates with info on the venue address, contact info, admission etc.   

Hope this is helpful....

Sharon

Subject: RE: Tech: Just made a website, any suggestion?
From: open mike
Date: 17 Dec 04 - 12:02 PM

too bad the geocities window takes up the right hand third of the screen
it is obscured in the corner, but there is a "minimize" button on it.
good to aded the YEAR to any dates on the page .
glad to see your page again! keep up the good work...
let us know about future events coming up--folklife, Oregon country fair, etc. i cannot get on paltalk now...and i miss connecting with all my musical friends there....got to fix that!

Subject: RE: Tech: Just made a website, any suggestion?
From: GUEST,reggie miles
Date: 16 Dec 04 - 09:53 PM

I thought I'd refresh this post as it's been a while. I'd still appreciate any and all constructive suggestions, hints, pointers, secrets that yall might be willing to share reegarding my progress thus far.

Subject: RE: Tech: Just made a website, any suggestion?
From: JudyB
Date: 29 Mar 04 - 10:02 AM

Actually, there may be a problem linking to your site from China. I know that when we got back from Australia we happily posted our trip photos on my Verizon site (http://mysite.verizon.net/ipbar/), and no one from Australia could see them, though people from North America, Europe and Guam could. Never did figure out why, and I got busy and didn't do the follow-up I'd planned.

My guess (and it's only a guess) is that it has to do with Verizon not meeting some security requirement that Australian ISPs require - and Geocities, being another large provider like Verizon, might have the same problem. I remember learning that the internet is divided into several large regions (don't remember how many, but I know that Asia/Australia is a different one than North America), and there may be more barriers to viewing web sites from different regions than there are within a region.

We got around the problem by posting the pictures on Charlie's web site, which is owned by a little local provider and works just fine. We'd only put them on mine to save room on his for more music. So if Shanghaiceltic is still having trouble viewing your site, it's probably not anything you're doing or anything you can fix - though complaining to your provider is probably useful. If enough people let them know there is a problem, maybe they'll fix whatever it is that's doing this.

Subject: RE: Tech: Just made a website, any suggestion?
From: reggie miles
Date: 29 Mar 04 - 05:01 AM

Shanghaiceltic, I've just been working all evening, and then some, on the site. So, it was probably just unavailable while I made some changes. I've been altering html code for the pages, and reloading that first image. (The one that took everyone too long to load.) I should mention that I have a fairly fast machine so while I had no problem with the site I certainly understand that not everyone out there has the same equipment. Sawry, in my haste, or excitement, or just dimwittedness, I posted the wrong file. Instead of my 39kb file for that picture, I had a 300kb picture file on that first page, which made it too difficult to load. My sincere apologies but I'm only just learning the ropes, codes, and ins and outs of all of this new frontier.

Again, any pointers that you may have are very much appreciated. I'm going to try to tackle some fo the sound files tomorrow and add some other pictures to, as Toby suggested, break up the text. I'll also be looking at perhaps some kind of wallpaper to get away from the constant black background. I do like the black for displaying pictures as on the Photos and Recordings pages.

I looked at the html code from one page to try and "borrow" an idea from it, and it was more than I could easily fathom. What that page had was a picture that had various different parts that could be clicked on which were linked to small sound files. I thought it might be fun to post a picture of my washboard and when folks clicked on the various items mounted on the washboard they would hear the sound that each item could make.

Subject: RE: Tech: Just made a website, any suggestion?
From: Shanghaiceltic
Date: 29 Mar 04 - 03:22 AM

Tried to visit but your site comes up with an 'unable to display this page' message.

Seems that geocities is blocked from China as this happens with Doneul's blue clickies as well. What are you chaps doing to upset the Chinese? ;-)

Subject: RE: Tech: Just made a website, any suggestion?
From: GUEST,reggie miles
Date: 29 Mar 04 - 03:16 AM

Thanks for all of the feedback!:) I have gone back through everything, and reworked the site in a lower monitor resolution. I lightened the text color from deep blue #0000FF, to medium blue #0099FF. I didn't know that playing with the width numbers in html would alter the picture so drastically on my page. I'll reload it to the proper size. I increased the text size, and removed the bold function. I also rearranged the order of the linked pages.

Keep those comments coming.

Further alterations will be forthcoming. I'm tuckered out for tonight.

Subject: RE: Tech: Just made a website, any suggestion?
From: Joybell
Date: 28 Mar 04 - 06:12 PM

It looks great, although I agree about the blue being difficult to read for the main text. For me the size of the text wasn't a problem. I could see the whole page easily. I'll keep watching developments. Congratulations, reggie, a fine job - speaking as an ordinary viewer and not an expert. It's a great idea to run this by fellow Mudcatters. Joy

Subject: RE: Tech: Just made a website, any suggestion?
From: GUEST,Toby
Date: 28 Mar 04 - 04:34 PM

Hi, dont usualy post, but i had to have a message on this. Im a budding web developer (www.llandesigns.co.uk) but being in uni i dont do much work on that much more :(

Firstly i'd have to agree with "JohnInKansas" about the filesize of the image. If i was you id get an evaluation or PaintShopPro and use it to resize the image to the size you want on the page, 30Kb for an image like the one on your index page is sufficient, dont go over 50kb and you'll be fine.

Try using a less vivid background. Black is good, but you need to break the text up a bit. Maybe get some simple image banners from a site like This.

Tables are a handy way of adding layout to a page. place an image on the left with its text on the right and vica versa to add some quick intrest to the page. :)

Let me know if you want any more feedback or assistance, im always avaliable: Email

Toby

Subject: RE: Tech: Just made a website, any suggestion?
From: open mike
Date: 28 Mar 04 - 03:11 PM

well i have gotten to the site, and like others have found...it takes
a bit of scrolling to see the whole page,,,it is 1 & 1/2 times wider
than my monitor so cannot be seen all at once...and the photo is very
slow to load--that is probably a factor of my dial up connex.
so which cut on tom lewis' 360 has the washboard? i heard the saw!
no links yet? how about a link to pal talk when you get a round tuit.
and mudcat!

Subject: RE: Tech: Just made a website, any suggestion?
From: open mike
Date: 28 Mar 04 - 01:09 PM

did you use FTP file transfer protocol?
ihave done web pages with it...
not sure if it is still around but
Two Cows site may hav eth eprogram
advice--submit to sea4rch engines using any combination'of
terms so that it will come up on various searches...
have not checkd the site yet...
good luck
and if you put just samples of songs,
then in order to get the whole song they need to buy your c.d.
if you give it all awya....well, you have just given it all away!

Subject: RE: Tech: Just made a website, any suggestion?
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 28 Mar 04 - 01:07 PM

I'd have to second comments on the blue on black. Dramatic, but hard to read.

The "first impression" was that with my very slow POTS connection, the picture on the front page took a rather long time to load. It's been resized to 150 dpi (unless you've got a pretty good camera - most offload at 72) but it's still a 10x12 inch or so - which may be a little larger than needed. For web viewing only, the 300 KB could be cut to as low as about 25 - 45K without losing much, although if your friends might want to hang you on the wall, the 300KB isn't really too bad. It would print nicely at 10" x 12" and passably at 24" x. Other pics I looked at were more typical, and nicely sized at about 40KB.

I will congratulate you on the fact that the only "typos" or misspellings that showed up were in the popups (they should be ashamed) - on pages I took a quick look at. Good job there, and shows an unusual lot of care.

John

Subject: RE: Tech: Just made a website, any suggestion?
From: JudyB
Date: 28 Mar 04 - 12:04 PM

It looks great, and I can see you put a lot of thought and work into it. I just have a couple of suggestions.

First, I could see about 1/4 of the picture when I opened your page. I do keep my screen resolution at 800x600 (which makes it easier for my older eyes to read things), and did notice that it looked perfect at 1024x768 (though I couldn't read my menues without glasses at that resolution). Anyway, I'd consider making the table on the front page based on percentage of screen rather than on a fixed width. While trying other people's monitors (and other browsers - I was using Internet Explorer) is a good check, you can get a preliminary idea of how it will look by changing the screen resolution on your monitor. It used to be that web pages were "supposed" to look OK with a screen resolution of 640x480 - now that monitors are larger, I doubt if many people still use that setting - but if it fits there, you'll know it will fit elsewhere.

The second thing is that while the blue on black looks interesting and dramatic on the front page and works for headlines and such, I found it hard to read when I tried to read the story - the story sounded interesting, and I'm sure the reason I just read a little was that I felt like my eyes were straining.

As far as the music goes, I like the approach my husband took on his web site Songs of Charley Noble. He has the lyrics posted and uses an mp3 of the first verse and chorus. That gives people an idea of what the song sounds like while requiring them to buy the CD (or whatever your deal is) to get the whole song. It takes up less room on the server, the MP3 downloads faster because it's shorter, and we can e-mail the complete MP3 to someone if they ask and we think the request is reasonable.

Good luck with this - producing and maintaining a complicated web site is no easy task, and I think you've made a great start!

JudyB

Subject: RE: Tech: Just made a website, any suggestion?
From: Alaska Mike
Date: 28 Mar 04 - 11:48 AM

Hey Reggie, the site looks good. Some of the pages are showing error messages, but overall the appearance and graphics are fine. Keep us posted as to your progress. My only advice would be to check out other websites and steal anything you'd like to have on yours. Good job.

Mike
My own website

Subject: RE: Tech: Just made a website, any suggestion?
From: Áine
Date: 28 Mar 04 - 11:40 AM

Tried to have a look-see, reggie; but, I got a 'this website has exceeded its data transfer limit' message. I hope this is temporary, cuz I'd like to see what you've done.

All the best, Áine

Subject: RE: Tech: Just made a website, any suggestion?
From: Backstage Manager(inactive)
Date: 28 Mar 04 - 11:38 AM

You should definitely rethink the color scheme. Darkish lettering on a dark background (or lightish lettering on light background) make for difficult website reading.

Generally, dark lettering on a light background works best.

Subject: RE: Tech: Just made a website, any suggestion?
From: Maryrrf
Date: 28 Mar 04 - 11:29 AM

I think it looks nice - well done. However, I think the screen shows up differently on different monitors (or maybe it depends on the browser) and when I pulled up your website I only saw text and was thinking there should be a picture of some kind. There was - only I had to do a lot of scrolling over to the side to find it - it wasn't visible when I just pulled up the page. You might want to play around with the position of the picture and then ask different people where it appears on their screen.

Subject: RE: Review: Just made a website, any suggestion?
From: GUEST,reggie miles
Date: 28 Mar 04 - 11:18 AM

Thanks Carol. I did happen to notice that, via friend's monitor, the color blue I used for the text color seemed darker than on my monitor. I'll adjust that to lighter shade and use a larger font size.

Subject: RE: Review: Just made a website, any suggestion?
From: CarolC
Date: 28 Mar 04 - 11:13 AM

It's a little hard for me to read, reggie. Maybe the letters could be a lighter color or a little bigger? But it looks very nice.

Subject: Review: Just made a website, any suggestion?
From: GUEST,reggie miles
Date: 28 Mar 04 - 11:09 AM

Yes, I finally managed to get a website up and running to give my musical pursuits and small footprint on the ol' inflamation stupid highway. I've been trying to decipher html, and learning it's not as easy as simply cutting and pasting. You've got to discover where to paste some of these bits of code to make them do their thing properly. So, my question is, have you found any juicy bits that you can share that might, when altered to suit my context, add some flair to my pages? Is my color scheme too dark, (black background)? Is it easy to read and navigate? Other than my links page, which I haven't had a chance to design yet, I've got a little something on each page so far. I still need to create some music files. Should I use whole songs or just pieces? I've only got about 14 MB left to play with. Is this enough room? Any suggestions are welcome.

Thanks one and all
You can click here to view my new website.