thoughts on branding a website?

[sdiener]

Hey all,

Thank you for your help on this.

I am starting a consultancy that will be targeting entry and mid-level sales people at all major corporations as training these new staff seems to be a big challenge.

I kind of fell into this as I was building a website that talked about business, social and sales skills based on my time in a sales training program at one of the best companies for that topic.

My website has a major following but I need to change it a tiny bit to convert visitors to possible clients. It already does get a few clients, but not enough.

I am thinking one of my major changes needs to be the header image (the site is Stuff For Success | Business Social Sales Skills. I want to portray new sales people somehow not knowing the skills they need to succeed and be funny and witty at the same time.... as that would go along with my writing style. However, I can't come up with a good thought for the image or any other changes I might make.

I know I need a consulting page, and that is coming too.

Any thoughts?

[ikjosh]

Try putting up a contest at 99designs.com - You'll get lots of different ideas and entries

[orson.octavius]

Before you start doing an advertising campaign on this website, spend a little money and get your OWN website with your OWN domain name. People aren't going to take you seriously if you don't.

[beeezo]

I would consider leaving your site as it is an maybe creating a new portal site for you consultancy focus. Your site seems established so why mess with it. add an area that points to the consultancy.

[chanson]

I would also considering doing a seperate site that is professional in its appearance and promote it through your blog. I would change the blogs header as well, include a photo of yourself. Vaiz Enterprises is my company site we can help get you situated properly if you need it just get in touch with me! chris (at) vaiz.org

[Digduggg]

cool website, I linked to it from mine.

[HENARRY JAYA]

Being a fellow small business in your area, I felt compelled to comment on your site.

First thing, the page is very image heavy and takes a while to load. I don't personally see this as detrimental to your site, but anyone visiting your site from their phone, blackberry or non-broadband connection will have a few seconds to wait for the page to load. The header (the body builder wearing the red shirt) is huge, it fills the screen on every page and forces your customers to scroll down the page while navigating your site. Decreasing the header size may make the site more user friendly and easier to navigate.
One of the best methods to get it out is word of mouth one person will read it and then tell another one about it. I have had to learn the hard way, and I have made so many mistakes with my blog. I have made friends and so called friends with it and lost some people because of it too. So just be careful and you should get some people, do you trust the people to read and comment on what you are writing is the next thing and then remember that anyone can really be anyone on this net. It is a hard thing to get into, but word of mouth is best I think? And keeping up with it can be difficult too.

[Tzarkov]

I am a senior web consultant. I will trow some quick points, I will be harsh, but being clear is most important:

The tagline of the site is a branding fail. You need to change it to convey the heart of your satisfactor. It is not easy, but being a sales expert, you shouldn´t find it too difficult to do it yourself.

The header needs to be redesigned: it needs to be de-stock-photo-ized, for you to convey an image of professionalism. You may now you high result services, but your visitors will think you do not know how to hide you are using a stock-photo right out of google images search, instead of paying for a professional web design.

[Tzarkov]

Again, fo your homework before posting misguided recommendations to fellow entrepreneurs HENARRY.

"Decreasing the header size may make the site more user friendly and easier to navigate." ??

I personally discussed scrolling and header height with Aza Raskin head of UX at Mozilla, and we both agree in that header height is not a problem for UX, by the contrary, high headers provide a simple welcoming image to the site and conveys the site´s identity, the first thing visitors look for.

Please, if you are misinformed on this subject, do some research or hand the word over to a specialist.

Being a fellow small business in your area, I felt compelled to comment on your site.

First thing, the page is very image heavy and takes a while to load. I don't personally see this as detrimental to your site, but anyone visiting your site from their phone, blackberry or non-broadband connection will have a few seconds to wait for the page to load. The header (the body builder wearing the red shirt) is huge, it fills the screen on every page and forces your customers to scroll down the page while navigating your site. Decreasing the header size may make the site more user friendly and easier to navigate.
One of the best methods to get it out is word of mouth one person will read it and then tell another one about it. I have had to learn the hard way, and I have made so many mistakes with my blog. I have made friends and so called friends with it and lost some people because of it too. So just be careful and you should get some people, do you trust the people to read and comment on what you are writing is the next thing and then remember that anyone can really be anyone on this net. It is a hard thing to get into, but word of mouth is best I think? And keeping up with it can be difficult too.