City Website

[wamboid]

I work for our city and also have a web design company that I run in my spare time. A couple of years ago, our city had a new website developed, www.marshall-mo.com (http://www.marshall-mo.com). They did'nt have me do it because they didn't want anyone to accuse them of a conflict of interest. They ended up paying more than 3 times what I would have charged, and the product is, well, look at the site.

In the last 2 weeks I've had 3 people comment to me about how the site looks that I designed for the city. Since it's making me look bad, I've decided to redesign the site at no charge, if they will let me. I'd like to get some brutally honest and reviews here to help in my presentation to the mayor. I think stuff coming from other professionals, rather than just me, will have a greater impact. Thanks.

[Mania]

I did not understand completely...Why are you getting the blame if someone else did the pages? The pages as it is are pretty typical "I got this product FrontPage and now I can easily do my own super Web-pages" style.

[heliosstudios]

You should probably concentrate on actually building your portfolio with paying clients, rather than trying to defend yourself. Why spend time redesigning something you're not responsible for, unless you're getting paid? Sure, some people might think you designed the site, but who cares. Just tell them it's not yours, and refer them to your portfolio.

[wamboid]

Call it being civic minded if you must. I don't need more money or them as a client. Also, I hope to get the Mayor and my supervisor to let me work on it during spare time during normal business hours, so in a way I would be getting paid. Just looking for reviews to help convince them it's necessary.

As far as me getting the blame, yes, I tell them it wasn't me and I tell them with no problems. But, I wonder how many people think I did it and say anything to me. I can't tell them any different if I don't know who they are. People think I did it because this is a very small town. I don't personally know of any other developers in town. The company that did the site is located about 2 hours away.

So, any actual reviews?

[dmcv.co.uk]

"I got this product FrontPage and now I can easily do my own super Web-pages" style.

HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA .......... BALLS

HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA..... front page LOLOLOLOLOLOL


Can you make a site like mine with front page son??? errr no cuz if your using front page you ent much good are you! LOL

OH YER a review.. Err Dont give up your day job! OOps actualy you might have 2 LOL

[Launchnet]

Don't Waste Your Time.

[dmcv.co.uk]

just give up!

Later guys

[wamboid]

OH YER a review.. Err Dont give up your day job! OOps actualy you might have 2 LOL
I can't believe that web design actually is their day job!

Any actual reviews, or shall I just tell them that laughter was the common theme?

[KDLA]

Well, I don't think it is hideous. There are no animated gifs, black backgrounds, comic sans ms fonts, rainbows or neon colors, multi-colored text, or cursor effects. It's not really that bad. Part of my job is reviewing local gov./organization websites - I've seen much worse. It just looks like typical Front Page work by a small organization that doesn't emphasize online services.

I'm guessing (just from looking at the design) that your city is small to medium-sized, and probably leans towards traditional/conservative (not politics, just tone). Problem is, most organizations with this view tend to produce sites like this; they're just not into technology. However, in an increasingly technological world, citizens are going to expect online governmental services on par with the commercial entities they do business with.

You might tell them that the dated look of the site makes it look like the organization isn't efficient or up-to-date. The added stigma of the website looking "low tech." conveys a feeling to the viewer that the City staff aren't the smartest types out there. You might emphasize, too, that the site needs to be on the competitive edge with the other sites the citizens might use, because when it isn't, they wonder where their tax dollars are going.

KDLA

[dmcv.co.uk]

whay KDLA said.....

[vti]

Dated. Second rate. I'd wouldn't fix it for them for free mate.

[bluecaterpillar]

The site looks like it was done on the cheap by someone with no aptitude for design. Did anybody click on the link to the web designer! It appears that in addition to web development services, they also offer Karaoke and DJ services...

[Siddan]

The first odd thing I noticed were the google ads... Lol who puts up google adds for a city site?? That´s just wrong.

the site is very simple and kinda boring to read. The menu is too wide and ugly as if it was just pasted in there from another site.

I think even you Wamboid could do much much better layout than his.

[wamboid]

I've got a long list of complaints about the site, but didn't want to influence anyone too much with my comments. I'm glad you mentioned the google ads though. Those really ticked me off. They didn't even ask the city for permission! People at the city offices just thought they had to be there as part of the way the internet works. It would be one thing if they were there for the city to make money, but for the design company to just put them there without permission under their account to me was just wrong.

btw, looks like I will be working on it during spare time at work, during regular office hours, so I will be getting paid.

[rhsunderground]

throw down some mad hacks and steal the adsense moneys. :D


as someone who is redesigning a very dated civic website, it looks like someone did it to make it look decent (for the time) and no one has bothered to say "does this still look good?" and to the common viewer, the site may look ok. but to those of us who delve deeper into the suject, it looks very tacky.

i think you should design a site and show them the difference. then compare the two sites to the most popular sites around, and show them how bad the other one really is.

[Scriptmaster10]

Yes I think so too, comparison always makes people realise how good or bad something is.

[beaaast337]

This is horrible. Maybe I'm crazy, but I would design it for free too. I wouldn't want the place I lived represented like that. FRONTPAGE!!!

APPAULING!!!

[tylivia]

I've got a long list of complaints about the site, but didn't want to influence anyone too much with my comments. I'm glad you mentioned the google ads though. Those really ticked me off. They didn't even ask the city for permission! People at the city offices just thought they had to be there as part of the way the internet works. It would be one thing if they were there for the city to make money, but for the design company to just put them there without permission under their account to me was just wrong.

btw, looks like I will be working on it during spare time at work, during regular office hours, so I will be getting paid.

Do you want to see a horrible, terrible, scary, town/city website? Go to:

www.cityofsunbury.info (http://www.cityofsunbury.info)

I have offered the City of Sunbury my free services to redesign it 6 months ago...and no reply.

I'm sorry I had to metion this here...but was was too bad and a great example of how NOT to represent a city.

This should be a spotlight on Web Pages That Suck (http://www.webpagesthatsuck.com)

And BTW...The Mayor....is NOT the Mayor anymore...LOL

[beaaast337]

Do you want to see a horrible, terrible, scary, town/city website? Go to:

www.cityofsunbury.info (http://www.cityofsunbury.info)

I have offered the City of Sunbury my free services to redesign it 6 months ago...and no reply.

I'm sorry I had to metion this here...but was was too bad and a great example of how NOT to represent a city.

This should be a spotlight on Web Pages That Suck (http://www.webpagesthatsuck.com)

And BTW...The Mayor....is NOT the Mayor anymore...LOL

LOL at site created by: Gen-X Graphics

GRAPHICS!!! LMAO...and their website doesn't exist

[tylivia]

Yeah...and boy did they use graphics. I mean...I tested this baby on a 56K...and I could have traveled thru town faster than it takes to download the page.

[wamboid]

What was wrong with that page? It looks like they stole the template I was going to use for my re-write! lol

Actually, my current problem is that they like some of the uglier aspects of the site. I'll be cleaning up the code and putting it out in a more readable manner, but they want the basic content to be the same.

New thing to hate about their design company - They set them up with hosting for $7.95 a month for only 150MB of space. They exceed that often because of email and have to pay extra. It's with a hosting company in the UK (remember, we are in Missouri) that they probably have an affiliateship with. They are paid up till July, when I'll be taking it over.

[tylivia]

What was wrong with that page? It looks like they stole the template I was going to use for my re-write! lol

Actually, my current problem is that they like some of the uglier aspects of the site. I'll be cleaning up the code and putting it out in a more readable manner, but they want the basic content to be the same.

New thing to hate about their design company - They set them up with hosting for $7.95 a month for only 150MB of space. They exceed that often because of email and have to pay extra. It's with a hosting company in the UK (remember, we are in Missouri) that they probably have an affiliateship with. They are paid up till July, when I'll be taking it over.

Is there anyway you can simply educate them on why their site would benefit from your knowledge in layout and design, hosting, etc...?

I have found that by conducting a small meeting or seminar for the "talking heads" and educating them on web standards, usability, hosting/bandwidth issues, layout/design, etc...really helps get your point across and injects trust and enthusiasm in what you can do for them.

[wamboid]

We currently have an older woman for a Mayor, and and even older man for a City Administrator. I'm constantly having to help them with things as simple as email. The City Administrator doesn't even think the City itself needs an IT department, expecially since I work at the utility and they can have me come any time they want.

Also, I've had enough trouble convincing my own department that our own website needs updating (www.mmumo.net (http://www.mmumo.net)). It's full of tables, bad graphics, menu only works with javascript, menu only looks good in 800x600, etc. I'll soon have it re-done. It still won't be that great since they won't let me do things our customers would actually want, like view or pay their bill online.

[KDLA]

Also, I've had enough trouble convincing my own department that our own website needs updating (www.mmumo.net).
Wow - that one's worse than the city site!

[WebJoel]

I don't mind that so much. It looks reasonably okay. I see more things that I personally would like to change, than I do things that I'd not want to change, though.

It looks like just about any other municipal/state/gov. type page that I have seen. I'd like the challenge and the kudos received from doing a 're-do' of the site, even if done for free or nominally-low charge. :) I say, go for it!

[wamboid]

Wow - that one's worse than the city site!
Even that has taken over 2 years to get approval for a re-write, and I'm the one in charge of maintaining it. Problem is that they really like it. It's actually won awards and been featured by state organizations. I would like to integrate it with the city, as well as the park and others from city departments.

[dmcv.co.uk]

So let us see some of your work mate... Portfolio???

[diggz77]

Wow did anyone else click on the old web designers website... they won some award for web design??? how did that happen, Im guessing they made that award up themselves.

[dmcv.co.uk]

or its about 10years old & was S**T hot in the day!! LOL