There are a few things that I would change/add.
- Add a background image and/or a logo to add some colour to your website.
- Remove that big gap in your header separating the title from the top menu bar.
- Try to have more “catching content”. Maybe add some images in your front page content or even add some buttons (Shortcode Ultimate) and/or some columns (Page Builder, or Column Shortcode)
- Maybe replace your search bar or add something beside your search bar in your header to make your website look more inviting.
- Try top add a more personalized look and feel to your website by doing the some things that I listed above along with some other personalized things.
About your SEO…
What plugin are you currently using for SEO? You should make sure that whatever SEO plugin that you are using is reliable (don’t download some SEO plugin that has bad reviews and next to zero downloads). I would suggest using All in one SEO Pack or WordPress SEO. Also remember that it can take a while plus a far amount of views to work your way up to the top of the search engine rankings.
You cache is pretty good along with the responsiveness of your theme. You have built a pretty good base for you website for a first timer.
Matthew,
Thank you so much for the review! I definitely appreciate it.
– Graphics are one of those things I struggle with. I feel like they always end up looking cheesy. How do web designers find the graphics they use on their sites?
– The large gap at the top was there because the site had been approved for adsense but hadn’t started displaying ads yet.
– Great idea about moving the search bar.
– Currently I am using SEO by Yoast. Is All in one SEO better? I’ve seen mixed reviews.
– Thanks for the encouragement. I see that most of my pages have been indexed but they do not show up AT ALL when people search. I pretty much have to search for my domain in quotes for anything to pop up. Hopefully this improves.
I see that most of my pages have been indexed but they do not show up AT ALL when people search. I pretty much have to search for my domain in quotes for anything to pop up. Hopefully this improves.
It will most likely improve as you get more page views. How many page views are you averaging weekly right now? You should also make sure that you have good keywords for every one of your pages and posts.
Currently I am using SEO by Yoast. Is All in one SEO better? I’ve seen mixed reviews.
I personally like All in One SEO Pack but it is mostly just your personal preference.
Graphics are one of those things I struggle with. I feel like they always end up looking cheesy. How do web designers find the graphics they use on their sites?
Most professional sites just hire people to make graphics for there website. If you can’t afford that or just don’t want to, then you can just either Google search in the images section to see if anything appeals. Also, you could get a professional image editor like Photoshop and make images that way.
The large gap at the top was there because the site had been approved for adsense but hadn’t started displaying ads yet.
That makes sense. One thing that I would make sure of is that you don’t make the ads to big or your website may appear as a junky website.
– Well I’m getting about 1000 pageviews a week…but I’ve only been keeping track for two weeks! LOL! And that amount is hardly sustainable because I’ve been pushing it pretty hard this week. None of that is from organic searches and as soon as I stop working it as hard I’m sure the number will drop.
– I may give Yoast a couple more weeks and see if my ranking improves a if it doesn’t switch over to all in one
– It sounds like I just need to bite the bullet and figure out graphics
– Great advice about the ads. Right now I have three placed on the site but I tried to place two of them at the very bottom where they almost blend into one ad. Still to junky?
Great advice about the ads. Right now I have three placed on the site but I tried to place two of them at the very bottom where they almost blend into one ad. Still to junky?
Maybe you should make the two bottom ads smaller and maybe square. The top ad should just be a little smaller.
