pure html site with bbclone php

[shawnplr]

trying to get this site to pay for itself
[url=http://www.carptool.com/]http://www.carptool.com/[/url]

[448191]

Then I hope you have cheap host.

Besides the fact that it hurts the eyes, you've picked a niche topic. A million things to improve, I don't even know where to start..

Maybe you should start with letting google know you exist.

http://www.google.nl/search?hl=nl&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Anl%3Aofficial&hs=gZf&q=carptool&btnG=Zoeken&meta=

http://www.google.com/addurl/?continue=/addurl

[shawnplr]

Thank You 448191,
I let Google know earlier today. Started the site two days ago. Was worried about the colors thanks for confirming. I will try to fix the eye problem. Yes it is a cheap host.

[shawnplr]

PS.
yes it is only one page today my day job slows me down.

[448191]

[quote author=shawnplr link=topic=118266.msg483206#msg483206 date=1165914766]
I will try to fix the eye problem.
[/quote]

LMAO... You could do with a little more constructive critique to accomplish that IMO... I meant like in hurting the eyes when you look at something just too ugly..

I know, not very constructive, maybe even rude.

But I honestly don't know where to start to critique this site. It is too much. Maybe someone else would like to kick it off, but I know myself, if I start this there would be no end to it.

[shawnplr]

I understood precisely what you meant. Far be it from me to be offended from a person who is merely text on a web page. That is why my response was positive. But it has improved for everyones eyes and will continue to. It is intended to be viewable by older browsers i.e. "pure html". It would probably end with you being frustrated at my kind response to obnoxious posts. Thank you for your post.

[448191]

Maybe you should try using some content.

There are many better looking spam sites out there. Point being, you won't attract any visitors whatsoever, especially in such a niche branche.

Visually, aside from changing the layout to put less stress on the advertising, start with sans-serif fonts. Next, lose the table look. Next, don't use cartoons when on a serious subject. Next, use a stylesheet. Next, use padding for text. Next, use an appropiate and balanced colour scheme. Next, balance the items in the layout. Next, put more stress on your navigation. And that's just SOME of the basic stuff. There's a whole lot more, and obviously these are general pointers, but I don't intend to make this a "How to design a proper website" tutorial.

I you have a SPECIFIC question, I'd be more than happy to answer it for you in more detail, but I'm not willing to do so for EVERYTHING
that is in need of improvement, which is, to be honest, simply everything.

I'm sorry for laughing at you about the "fix the eye problem" comment, but I thought it was funny. It wasn't meant to take a piss. Never mind that, I have a strange sense of humor.

My advice: get your concept straight. Why should people visit your site and click your ads. Try to go for simplicity and look at some professional competitors for inspiration.

[SharkBait]

The text is too close together and hard to tell where one paragraph starts and the next ends.

To me, everything looks like text ads.

The animated gif is cute, but isn't much of a logo.  The site says its for Carpentry Finishing Tools, but the logo only says Finishing Tools.

Google's AdSense Search Bar is in the wrong place, I would move it to the bottom of the site or one of the side columns

Source Code:
- Its one gigantic table, CSS is your friend learn it, love it, take it to dinner once in a while ;)
- Oh it's even nested tables.  Tables should be used for Tabular data, not layouts.

Side Note:
  - Why is Amazon selling tools? Why can't they just stick to books?? :P

[shawnplr]

Thank you for the continued effort even though my writing style is inherently harsh. Just a Van Gogh sort of guy I suppose. The "fix the eye problem" was meant to be funny. As I said I understood it. I took petty offense to the reply because I thought you was not taking me serious ( so we laughed together at separate times,) It was hideous, lol. Thank you SharkBait for taking the time to point that out. Again just like the first post it was something I knew just was not ready to deal with now I have too. If you would have seen the the original site you may not have taken the time to reply. This site really is not meant to generate money just pay $35.00 a year for domain , My friends and fellow carpenters ooh and ahh at my resources i.e. tools. So, I thought maybe I could share for free. You are right it looks like an ad site. So I will continue my efforts and close this post within 24 hours. When I feel I am a little more ready for the excellent advise here I might repost. Thank you both very much!
Until then I do have some knowledge other than pounding nails believe or not, lol. So I will stay in touch with this forum.

"Source Code:
- Its one gigantic table, CSS is your friend learn it, love it, take it to dinner once in a while Wink" Thank you for the tubular info.

Yes I use Dynamic html editor 1.9 it is my friend. The men who I have learned carpentry from i.e. the old timers have old computers. CSS is not their friend, Old fashion html is. I would like to give back a little.

"Side Note:
  - Why is Amazon selling tools? Why can't they just stick to books?? Tongue"
Finish carpentry is a highly specialized field much like script fixing. I can always find the tool I am looking for there. In essence I don't know why but, it works well. 

[SharkBait]

How old are their computers? 486s? :)

I do understand that old timers have old carpentry equipment. There are some chisels i would never give up same goes for wood planes. :)

If you're set on not using CSS then just add some more padding around the cells to space them out a bit.  Add a bit o colour wouldnt hurt either.

How I miss my woodworking days.

[shawnplr]

Thanks SharkBait. Starting to look like a complete do over from what I am hearing here.