first critique

[bgrizzlybear]

I'm kind of a beginner and just started my own independent business. Please let me know if there's anything I can do to improve my website, especially the design, or if I should just leave it alone. Be as honest as you have to be, I'm not afraid to take criticism. Thanks.
[a href=\"http://www.branchingoutdesigns.com\" target=\"_blank\"]www.branchingoutdesigns.com[/a]

[redbullmarky]

[!--quoteo(post=360745:date=Apr 2 2006, 12:22 AM:name=bgrizzlybear)--][div class=\'quotetop\']QUOTE(bgrizzlybear @ Apr 2 2006, 12:22 AM) [snapback]360745[/snapback][/div][div class=\'quotemain\'][!--quotec--]
I'm kind of a beginner and just started my own independent business. Please let me know if there's anything I can do to improve my website, especially the design, or if I should just leave it alone. Be as honest as you have to be, I'm not afraid to take criticism. Thanks.
[a href=\"http://www.branchingoutdesigns.com\" target=\"_blank\"]www.branchingoutdesigns.com[/a]
[/quote]

looking at the template throughout the site, it looks like you've spend loads of time designing the layout yet about 3 minutes adding all the content.

i actually like the template, even as far as the colour scheme. but:

1, you've used a standard font
2, whilst the template stays consistent, there is no consistency in the content.
3, i think that if it's possible to knock up a form instead of using 'mailto' links, then present the user with a contact form instead.
4, the portfolio page looks like just loads of images put on a page, rather than a smart showcase for your work. background info on the portfolio items would be good.

[steviewdr]

Ya, Mark is on the ball.
Your content needs dressing up.

For the portfolio - I barely seen the headings: T-Shirts, Logos etc.

You need to provide proper headers for them headings - perhaps with background colours.
For example put them into tables with alternating background colours - however dont use tables - use css divs for the pictures and headings etc.

Also - style up your email address on every page - the plain blue looks poor in your otherwise styled layout.

Your pricing page needs to be styled up also.

Overall - its ok. Needs better styling of content as Mark said.
Looking forward to see good development.

Rgds,
Steve

[emehrkay]

looking good. you should try your hand at a div css based layout and try to validate your code
[a href=\"http://validator.w3.org/check?verbose=1&uri=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.branchingoutdesigns.com%2F\" target=\"_blank\"]http://validator.w3.org/check?verbose=1&ur...tdesigns.com%2F[/a]
with css, you wont need all of that javascript to do rollover image effects thta you're doing, you can use straight up text. your site is kind of slim now, imagine it with less images to load

[wildteen88]

Your layout is clear and consitent however the there areas which let your layout down which is the use of standard fonts, which is not good as they dont match in with your site! I would recommend you to use the font you use in your horizontal menu, which I think is Century Gothic.

With these little changes it'll make your site a lot more better!

I would recommend you to get ride of the Javascript menu and replace it with a CSS one, as you can do that same menu in CSS with far less code! And it should cross browser compatible in all CSS enabled browsers.

Have a look at [a href=\"http://css.maxdesign.com.au/listamatic/\" target=\"_blank\"]here[/a] and [a href=\"http://css.maxdesign.com.au/listamatic2/\" target=\"_blank\"]here[/a] for all the various CSS menus you can do with CSS. ALso you can learn how to create a CSS menu [a href=\"http://css.maxdesign.com.au/listutorial/\" target=\"_blank\"]here[/a].

[b]EDIT:[/b] If you have a look [a href=\"http://homepage.ntlworld.com/cshepwood/BranchingOutDesigns/\" target=\"_blank\"]here[/a] you'll see your design with a 100% CSS Layout as well as the CSS menu I was on about. Also have a look at the source code of the redesign you'll noice there is hardly any coding just bare HTML! This is how great CSS is! You can see the CSS used [a href=\"http://homepage.ntlworld.com/cshepwood/BranchingOutDesigns/style.css\" target=\"_blank\"]here[/a].