Website Haven need suggestions

[Baby Jai]

Let me know what you guys think, especially about the portfolio section, what could i add to it, more colors? More design? I want it to be nicer and have a better look to it

http://www.websitehaven.com/portfolio.php

[KDLA]

It looks like a forum that you've adapted to a "portfolio." It doesn't have a professional presentation in the least.

[JimFear]

You should search "web design inspiration" in google. Look at those sites and see what kind of ideas other people are using. Elaborate on those ideas.. Don't copy. Also, if you don't want to change the whole design at least make the portfolio easier to navigate.

[Baby Jai]

It looks like a forum that you've adapted to a "portfolio." It doesn't have a professional presentation in the least.no not a forum? a forum like megatopics.com doesnt look like that. What would i do to improve it, and do you think babyjai.com looks like a forum too?

[Terrorke]

I think if you want to attract customer via the internet, there is a lot of work to be done.

Have a look at some template sites to get some ideas and inspiration.

[Mr. E. Cryptic]

I think if you want to attract customer via the internet, there is a lot of work to be done.

I'd have to agree. If you think you'd find actual reasons helpful then here goes (if you don't actually want an honest opinion don't read on - that's as simply as I can put that).

do you think babyjai.com looks like a forum too?

I like the bayjai website, the mostly duotone look with sparsely used colour is always a safe route. I would have a few issues with it though that I’d also have with websitehaven - the portfolio for example:

you've presented it as a very simple list with no styling. And for a web design portfolio, you've omitted one hugely important element: VISUALS! don't whisper the name of a site you've done into a potential customer's ear, shout it! it's the internet, you've loads of space; use it. Use some screenshots, logos, something. for instance here's (http://www.visualscope.com/portfolio.html) a pretty decently presented portfolio (ignore the actual site design, just pay attention to the portfolio) - the company’s created impact, you could easily do so too.

Again with the list of sites, the 'default' link styles aren't really working for it. Use some styling.

the 'Time Consumption:' thing; it's a really good idea, but the actual words 'Time Consumption' are shadowed by the stars, and are quite easily missed - the stars could be very easily mistaken for a ratings system at a quick glance, not good when a lot of them are 1 to 3 stars. I also couldn't find an explanation of the rating system, is each star 1 hour, 1 week?

'Graphic Work'
If you haven't got anything to put there yet, don't include the title. People are more likely to notice the header with no content than they are to notice the omission of a section.

Some of the colour choices need some attention as well. A black drop shadow (your header) behind dark blue (dark any colour) text is always a bad idea, but especially when set over an equally dark blue background.

On a personal preference note, I don't think the light blue background colour does the site any justice, it's the kind of colour you'd paint a kids nursery. It's overpowering and distracting.

The font choice for the tag line (putting all the other designers behind) is way too complicated for a web site- too hard to read - less is more.

/////Welcome to Website Haven (herein referred to as WH).
Bad idea. You have a REALLY good domain name, it's your brand - drill it into people's heads and don't be afraid to use it EVERYWHERE (but don't start every sentence with it). Minor typo on same page also (portolfio) - also, (vaild) on the 'web design' page - some spaces missing between words in the odd place as well (there's an 'alot' somewhere).

You may also want to re-read some of your write-ups and make sure they're what you intended;
/////Depending on what your looking for, is what will be the deciding factor on the hourly rate that you will be charged.
Doesn't make sense.

You've got the major building blocks of what you need, you just need to work to tie them together a little better. And, add a lot more graphics to 'jazz things up' a little. I found a back-up, with some of the first sites I set up, a while back, and god knows some of them looked a lot worse than this.

You should search "web design inspiration" in google. Look at those sites and see what kind of ideas other people are using. Elaborate on those ideas.. Don't copy.

who was it that said:
A good man borrows, a great man steals?

the trick is to be subtle, and not make it look like you've stolen it.

[expat]

i think the color scheme might need workl not enough contrast between the main title, the text and the background

i have no problems with people adapting a "forum" to input and then output the results; i do it and it the best in many ways. the problem i have is the information on this site is all squished !!

Mightlike to enlarge the fonts or give a bit more space between section/s articles