www.kristiscovers.com

[dkms128]

Hello all,
I would like to invite you all to look at our site and let me know what you think. I am very interested in more tips. We have been in business for a couple of years and I am just now getting to the more "real" website. So let me know and I will return the favor.
Thanks, Kristi
www.kristiscovers.com[/list]

[Still Waters]

I love the blue stripe background and the blue canopy at the top. Can you make the canopy always be "on top" of all other images? So that, when you scroll, the rest of the page appears to disappear under the canopy? That would be a nice effect.

The most important change you should make, however, is to optimize your graphics. For example, your largest file (peachbag2.jpg) is about 75K. I was able to optimize that, with no significant loss of quality, to about 11K.

Multiply that type of savings by the number of images on the page, and you'll see a huge savings of bandwidth for your visitors, resulting in a dramatically faster download. :D

[Lori]

Omigod -- I wish I had a newborn!!! I love that blue toile diaper bag!!!

You obviously have poured your heart into this. And into your product.

The site is sweet. Depending on the effect you want it to have, you might consider using a stats program and getting rid of your counter. These days they are considered less 'professional'.

On the other hand - when you are dealing with the WAHM community, women are more trusting of eachother's sites. But if you are wanting to deal with the internet - at large - you might want to change that.

How is your traffic? There are a couple of comments I have about that too. First - on the top of your page where you have banners... If you are an affiliate of them, make sure to add a _blank tag so that the visitors browser opens a new window. No reason to send your visitor completely away from your site.

And -- have you thought about having a reciprocal link page somewhere on the site? That would improve your traffic rating dramatically.

Nice site :)

Lori

[dkms128]

I agree about the counter thing I just have not had any more thought to it besides just wanting to change it. you mean like making the counters hidden? Also how would I get reciprical link page up and going. some basic hints and what is the blank tag thing I know the idea but how do you use it and make it work? Thanks for the help I love atleast knowing that someone saw the site. In the last month my hits have gone from almost none in a month to almost 500 in october. I have been emailing and listing and doing search engine stuff like crazy! :P

[Lori]

Regarding the _blank tag -- can you tell me what you are using for software?

Can you see your code view when you design?

Let me know... I'm cleaning like a mad woman today :)

But when I get time later, I'll answer in depth.

Happy Sunday everyone!

Lori

[dkms128]

Its no problem don't be in a rush for me, I am just excited to finally have a better site. I am using front page for now it does good i basically made the first page with drag and drop and the rest i wrote the codes in geocities html. I am capable of writing all the stuff and i understand where and how to put things but i havent done a new window yet. Thanks alot, Kristi
p.s. Just think we are all cleaning together
:D

[dreuby]

Does your host provide stats on visitors, etc?

If not, I've used the free version of SiteMeter http://www.sitemeter.com on three sites for about three years, and it gives all the info I need. You can't hide the icon with the free version, but it doesn't show a visitor count on your page.

I think you could make your contact details (phone and email) a slightly darker colour, so they stand out more.

Those sets and bags are really wonderful - you're very talented!

[Still Waters]

The most important change you should make, however, is to optimize your graphics. For example, your largest file (peachbag2.jpg) is about 75K. I was able to optimize that, with no significant loss of quality, to about 11K.
Repeating this advice, in case you missed it. Your web page is 237K. That's beyond enormous. :shock: An ecommerce web page should be no more than 20-30K, including images.

(1) The average person that shops on the web uses a dialup modem.

(2) The average person waits 10 seconds for a web page to load, before giving up on it.

Put these two facts together, and you can see why page size should be of utmost concern for you. ;)

[Lori]

Hi Kristi :)

I agree about the counter thing I just have not had any more thought to it besides just wanting to change it. you mean like making the counters hidden?

Hiding it is better. What is best is a good stats program. Who hosts your page? Most good hosts have a nice stats program for you. What is nice about them is that you get, not only the amount of visits to your site, but a lot of other helpful information. For example, How many of your visitors are actually unique visitors (not repeat), how long they stay, how many pages they view, what page they leave from, what browser they use... etc. Fun stuff!

Also how would I get reciprical link page up and going. some basic hints

I don't use frontpage - but it should be very easy for you to do this. You would need to add the link to it (something like 'Resources' on the bottom of each page with the rest of your links'. Then open one of your pages, save it as Resources. After you have saved it with a different name it is save to delete the content. Then you have an empty page where you can add links. I'd be happy to do an exchange with you if you get it up and going :)

and what is the blank tag thing I know the idea but how do you use it and make it work?

I don't know how Front Page works, I use Dreamweaver and generally do this in my properties box. But here is an example of what the code looks like for you.

This is an affiliate banner link code for Babies Online WITHOUT a _blank:
<a href="http://www.qksrv.net/click-1248313-59122" target="_top" >
http://www.qksrv.net/image-1248313-59122</a>

This is the code WITH the _blank:
<a href="http://www.qksrv.net/click-1248313-59122" target="_blank" >
http://www.qksrv.net/image-1248313-59122</a>

Can you see the difference in that target= area?

In the last month my hits have gone from almost none in a month to almost 500 in october. I have been emailing and listing and doing search engine stuff like crazy! :P

You GO girl! Great work!!! That's a big increase in traffic :D

Keep us updated.

Lori

[Lori]

Hi Kristi --

I'm doing some revamping over the weekend to FreelanceMom's site.

If you decide to do some reciprocal linking, let me know. I'd love to add you to the directory :)

Hope things are going well!