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WordPress sites

Ok so I finally built a site using WordPress.

I have been using a vistaprint site for about 7 years and with all the Google changes it stopped appearing on page 1, so I had to build a new one.

I have been just working on layout not much content at the moment but I would to know what you think.

I have lots of questions about building a WordPress site if any of you know about it AND HAVE THE TIME.

http://landscapegardenerexeter.com/

If the link is not allowed the site is landscape gardener exeter all one word followed by com.

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  • I used to build websites professionally many years ago. From about 1993 to 2008. Lots of things have changed since then. So not everything I say may be valid, but a lot still is. Some are my own opinion. I only looked at the visual and content aspect. I have not looked at the back end of the website, which is also very important to get right for high ratings. I am still fiddling about with mine, but its a slow process as we are all very busy currently.

    1. I would never use any of the free websites, softwares or blog software to build a website to get paying customers. Wordpress is a blogging software. But your attempt looks good. I am not sure though how google will handle your site. 

    2. Have you tested your site with an android like a mobile or ipad etc? Do you have dedicated pages for mobile visitors?

    3. The links at the bottom of the site are white on light green, I am not colourblind, but struggle to see the white links on the very light green background. Do you realise that around 30% of males are colourblind when it comes to green and grey colours? I did not know this until I started designing websites. I am struggling to read the light grey on the white too.

    4. You need more information on your website. Right now clicking on links is taking me to the same looking pages. To be ranking on google your website needs information.

    5. The idea of a video is good. But for me the pictures were somewhat fuzzy, and all a bit too slow. Only watched half of it. Instead of the music talk to the customers, explaining why you did that patio or fence the way you did. Why you used that particular stone or design. Before and after photos are very powerful sales tools. The work you have done on the patios look excellent. I would have no problem hiring you from the work shown.

    6. One big issue I have with companies is omitting the full business address. I don't buy from companies that do not have a brick and mortar address, which I can verify through googling. Now before someone says pot, kettle, black, I do not have my address on the website either, but you can find it on yell, google, etc. I choose not to do it because I am female (safety security issues), but I may add it at my next pending update. I am still muddling over that. But as a bloke you may wish to do that. 

    7. Did you verify your business with yell and google? Massive boost in rankings.

    8. I think you would have been better to get a .co.uk domain for your site.

    9. Your site is easier to read on my Iphone 6 than on my computer. But need to keep tapping the links to get a reaction. Don't know why that is. Could be my phone or your site. form submission went through ok from my phone. Did you get the email?

    10. Are you insured? what training do you have? who works with you? any affiliations? Experiences? how long have you been doing this? A picture of your van and tools?

    11. I like your site. just needs more "meat" so to speak. I am sure you have lots more photos and information to put on your website. Customer testimonials perhaps? 

    • Thank you. This was my first attempt, I followed a YouTube video. Yes no meat yet this only took me two days just playing around with the deign. Pictures are a nightmare I think I need to invest in a new camera.

      • I just use my phone to take pictures.

        Look at these guys here: I have all their software to build websites, edit photos.

        http://www.serif.com/

        They have a special on right now. They call me once every 6 to 12 months and offer the best deal over the phone with the manuals thrown in.

  • PRO

    Hi Daniel

    Good modern responsive site.  Make sure you capitalise your 'i' s. Should be book an appointment. I reckon you could do with an 'up' arrow on your pages.  Scroll down on our blog site www.chickywicky.co.uk to see what I mean in the bottom RH corner.

    Nice photos, could do with descriptions and/or Alt Tags, make sure you use 'in focus' pictures, the one featuring sleepers is a bit fuzzy

    You could also have a copyright in the footer, with your business name, helps remind what site you're looking at.

    When you put contact, put your name as well.

    On this page http://landscapegardenerexeter.com/our-work/

    In your text instead of just using, 'we offer' put 'AD Landscapes offer' it helps remind readers 'to whom' you are referring to.

    that's all for now

    • Thank you. yes spelling and grammar have not been worked on. I wanted the site to be modern looking, somewhat like apples. 

      I will look into the arrow, i like that idea.

      Again pictures, I need a new camera.

      All pages will be changed and content added.

      Thanks again.

      • PRO

        Your doing a good job, doing your own website can be quite daunting.  I know from first hand experience.  Understanding wordpress and all it can offer, is a massive learning curve.

        I suggest you get the wordfence plugin to protect your site, if you haven't already https://www.wordfence.com/. You should be able to do direct install from your control panel.

  • The most amazing thing I have found is my old site with all its back links, age, updating and blogging dropped down to page 51 on Google, this one is 3 days old and according to Traffic Travis is on page 5. Winter time when I get a proper chance to work on it i hope this will be page 1.

  • PRO

    The £40 per year for LJN is worth it for SEO purposes.

  • PRO

    Hi Daniel,

    One of the best plugins for wordpress is Yoast SEO

    to find plugins, go to your site Dashboard, Left Hand column, Locate Plugins tab half way down, click Add New

    A page of featured plugins will display, some are Free some are paid

    Type Yoast into the Plugins search bar, top RH corner

    Review and click install now if you want it, this normally takes seconds, then click activate to make it start.

    You can de-activate plugins at any time or delete them of course

    Once you install Yoast Seo it will help you write pages for good SEO

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