Lookin bad

[BluePenguin]

Hi. Noob here. One of the websites I'm building isn't looking all that great. It's lacking.... SOMETHING... but I can't figure out what... But I need to make it look a little better without having to re construct it from scratch. I've already been paid for the website so I have to do something with it. Wasn't paid much, but still, I have to make it look at least a little better. Feedback?

http://www.boyce-houser.org

I know the paypal button and the Civic Affairs page need fixed, but I can't update those pages until they get back with me with a schedule of events and a paypal account. Info I need from the client. I've been waiting on them to get me that information but it's been a month now.

But in the meantime, how can I fancy up the page a little more?

[WebJoel]

Personally, I would not fret about 'dollin' this up'. Consider your subject: American Vetrans. The vast majority of which are rather senior members, like my father, etc. You don't want a YouTube plug-in dance-craze whirly-spinner SPFX *ani which is just gonna PO your target audience. Myself, I find this short page quite respectful, sincere and honorable.
If the client requests more, -then yeah what they say. But I'd try to maintain as 'paper copy' a look as possible.

And in case you missed the point, -I like the page. :)

[BluePenguin]

Yes, I did attempt to make the page simple, considering veterans are normally seniors with only a dial up connection. Not everybody has dsl so I didn't want alot of graphics on there to slow down the loading process, but it seems to be lacking something towards the top. I've tried adding borders, nav bar, nothing seems to quite do the trick

I'm glad you like it. :) Thanks for the feedback. Helped to settle my nerves a bit.

[zeldaze]

It's kind of old syled. Heard of CSS?

[WebJoel]

true that it's a little bit 'legacy', -but for comparison, pull up the VIEW - SOURCE of this very forum... 'Nuff said. :D

coffeecup, eh? I started out using that. -does it still start-up with whatshisname singing... "Tom T. Hall" I think? :p

[BluePenguin]

Yeah I've heard of css. I'm just starting to learn that actually. This website is kinda old fashioned and worked up mostly with coffeecup (I'm using dreamweaver now) and have considered redesigning it from scratch, but I duno. Compared to a few other websites I've built lately, this one does seem kinda dull. :rolleyes:

[expat]

different people will have different tastes, so build the site that u like !!

so if u think its dull then it probably is :D

[WebJoel]

Well I think my dad would see & understand this page alot quicker than 99% of any other sites on the web.. :)

[Declan1991]

I think that I would put the navigation on the left and then put the shield centered above the content on the right. I would then have the bullet points in a wider column below that. Then at the very end of the page, I'd put the weather thing, but I'd leave it out if at all possible.

I wouldn't doll it up, just rearrange. The last thing you need is a fancy page with loads of animation and bright colours, just that little rearrangement is all I'd do.

[BluePenguin]

Yeah. I don't want alot of flashy animations and graphics that would take forever to load on dial up, but it could probably be organized a little better. Haven't heard any word from the client either way. wonder why. and they have already paid me for the site. I guess the client has been busy.

[drhowarddrfine]

Why have the weather report? I doubt anyone goes to that page for that purpose. Dump it.

You already have the Legion logo on top so no need to duplicate the larger one. Get rid of the larger one and move the "What you'll find here" text under the blue bar along with the navigation. Right now everything is all disjointed and THAT is why you think it doesn't look quite right.

I would get rid of the "What you'll find here" stuff and make it into a "News" column. Frequent visitors don't need to be told what they'll find there over and over again.

[Mr. E. Cryptic]

'Site Navigation' section is a little lost on page. You might be better to beef it up a little; bigger and / or stronger font or different background-color to rest of site.

[donatello]

Get a template for free and then just change the text to yours. It's about a 1/2 day's worth of work for a rank amateur... max!, but you will gain some good experience.

Here are a whole bunch of free ones: www.OSWD.org (http://www.oswd.org)