Website advice wanted (content)

Hi again Karen. (just responded to your house post too. :) ).

I personally think simple is better...as time goes on one tends to add lots of stuff anyway. I tried the frame route and found that it had too many drawbacks.

One suggestion I would give you though is to maybe put your content into a table and give that table a definition of 85-90% of the screen size so it doesn't seem to go from edge to edge of the screen. That may just be a personal preference but I think it's easier to read.

I like to build my sites in a table that is 720 pixels wide - that's small enough to fit on most screen resolutions these days (though there are some that still veiw at 640) This is usually enough room for a side menu, pictures and text that is not so wide that it's hard to read. Yeah, frames suck. Music sucks. You know all that.

What other kind of advice are you looking for? I'm enjoying my Web Journal very much, and so are at least a few people that I know of. It's got some personal stuff on there - stories about my kid mostley, but that is keeping the aunts and granparents in the loop and my jewelry in view - plus they forward on links to pictures and stories and my site gets out there that way, even if it's just for the personal stuff, people still look around. It's working for me. I think too, that people like to see what's going on in other parts of the country - like when I posted some spring flower pictures I got some people comenting how they still have snow. It starts a conversation and I think conversation/relationship building is good for business, don't you?

Daily or weekly updates also help in the search engines I think. Or some of them. And links to stuff helps you get in the search engines too, as long as you aren't linked to any banned sites.

Definitely mirror your ebay stuff on your site - this way your website will help drive traffic to ebay - and think about offering some stuff for sale on your site that is not on ebay - see

and for an easy inexpensive way to set up an online store. Here is a link I've posted before - lots of good info: And you are going to need a graphics program if you want nice images :) I'm loving Photoshop Elements which is under $100. You may be able to find a free tool at Hope this helps...

I think all those things sound great! I'm personally not overly fond of the color scheme your website is right now, but that's just personal preference. Add a little pink or lavender and I might change my mind. I've always liked the idea of a blog type thing as a way to let people keep up with you and what you're doing. I wish I had the time to write one everyday - because believe me, I have thoughts I'd love to jot down!! Hehehehe Seriously, all the things you're thinking of adding sound cool. Good luck!

You might at least consider moving off your beginner beads to some page other than your gallery.

The ladybug with the uneven eyes, the bicone with the off-kilter stringer, the white not-really-round with the blue dots-- they may have been close to your heart and they may have been important learning experiences, but unless they're as good as you can do, they're not doing your marketing any favors by being in your gallery. You've got some nice beads there, but just as many are clearly steps in your getting to nice beads, and they make the better stuff look less good by association.

-FurnaceChick