Guys,
could you please take a look at my website and suggest any improvements? Right now it's a work in progress and only has one page, but I can have up to five pages. what should they be?

John,
Sorry if this is in the wrong place, feel free to move it.

Http://www.makomania.net

Mike just took a quick look. Maybe adding information as to whether or not tackle is provided etc. Lookin good though. :kewl:

Basic elements of a charter site:

1) About & what to expect
2) Rates
3) Captain
4) Boat
5) Pictures of happy people with fishies...

Here are a few that I have done

http://www.avemariacharters.com
http://www.billandjulsfishing.com (about to get revamped)
http://www.candocharters.com

one I'm working on now: http://www.GotStryper.com (http://www.gotstryper.com/)

They follow similar patterns but get the key elements in. Some change a bit in how dynamic they are and how easily they can be updated...

The BEST thing I can say is that quality quality shrap and colorful images makes a site more than anything else... You also want clear and concise text and verbage in the point you are trying to get across. When I do a site, I don't decide what to write (though I may offer a suggestion) but try to capture the flavor of what the client wants...

Captain and mate? bait and tackle? jigging, trolling, livelinning? more pics of happy customers with fresh fishies.

Similiar to what was said above... It's the sizzle that sells the steak. you need MUCH better qualilty pictures and more content like listed above. It's tough desinginf a site from scratch. The first is always the toughest. After that it's allot of copying an modifying stuff you've done in the past.

Thanks for the suggestions. John, maybe we can chart more on Tuesday night. JF what didn't you like about the pictures? I can make them much sharper but then they will be much bigger. I don't want to use up half the page with one picture.

Mike;
Looking good, and REASONABLE rates! I'm impressed, especially knowing fuel comsumption on a 30ft diesel Blackfin (and have crewed on the 30 blackwatch as well)
Site looks good, I think everyones suggestions are valid, but great first start.
One note; make contact info/pages EASY to find for the less than computer literate.

Thanks for the suggestions. John, maybe we can chart more on Tuesday night. JF what didn't you like about the pictures? I can make them much sharper but then they will be much bigger. I don't want to use up half the page with one picture.


I thought the pictures looked like they were from the 20-30 years ago.

I think your rates are awesome. I believe the other charter boats are getting far more.
Site looks good except for the pics which are muddled.

Initial Web page should be easy and fast to load. Putting hi-end graphics on entry can be tiresome for some visitors. Put your graphics on another internal page marked 'gallery' First page should give 'about us' 'rates' 'general info' 'contact info' then if they want to see the pictures, they can navigate to them after the initial loading. Otherwise, nice start.
Sarge

John,
Can we talk about all of this tomorrow night? I'll buy the first round! :)

First I think you are off to a good start, although, clear, high res pictures are a must. Sell that boat with the pictures. The main pic just doesn't do your boat justice, its beautiful....:)

Rates are awesome. My only suggestion if I may would be to make the pic of the boat a perfect picture almost like it was professionally done. The other pics are fine. My interpretation of the pictures of your clients are that they are spur of the moment back at the dock quickly taken pics that wont be top of the line anyways and should look as they do. Great start Mike.

looks good.
see if raven can fix those pics for you?

I have a much better picture of the boat, that I have to digitize and get it up there. The one that's up there now is just a temporary placeholder. As for the rest of the pictures, most of them have been published by some of the major magazines, so I think what you are seeing is the lack of quality forced by sizing them for the web.

Mike - I'm 90% sure I can make tomorrow night provided I get a permission slip from the bride.

Even with those pictures having previously been in magazines and such, you would do better to reimage/scan the originals so that they are more vibrant and colorful. They don't necessarily need to big, but they need to be eye cadfy. In fact, they look like pictures from a a magzine 10 years ago. Not trying to be critical, they are good pictures, you just need to have them more briliant/colorful

I think that after taking a second look, the Mako photo (yours avatar) is a perfect pic; exciting, bright, colorful and an action shot!

John,
I can do that, most of the pics are from slides and I still have the originals.

John,
I'm going to be on my way to the Dr. in a little while and it doesn't look like I'll be able to make it tonight.

Mike

It's good start Mike. I can't imagine that a site for a charter boat needs more than information and evidence:

1. Prices and availability - check.

2. Evidence (pictures with trophies) - maybe a separate galary with more, as recommended in an earlier reply.

3. Up-to-date conditions, weather, fishing report, etc.

4. I think the light blue background is bad, i'd go with a light gray or even white, so the pictures in your gallery are the main focus.

5. I think that a big picture of your vessel on the home page with some type of mission statement or personal information about your love for fishing, with links to separate pages for prices and information, a photo gallery, and maybe a couple other pages from there.

Good luck with 2006. Perhaps I can get some buds together in the summer for a trip.

I'd ditto all the picture comments. If they're sized properly you won't loose any quality...sharp photos are a must!

I'd focus on a list of value bullets (like the fast boat comment). People want to know why they should charter with you over another boat or go from another port.

Cost alone shouldn't be the deciding factor, your site should give them the confidence they will catch more and bigger...

-spence

Thanks guys! Keep the comments coming. As I said, this is a work in progress and even if I don't make a suggested changes, the suggestions are welcome. First bit of good news, I got my first booking off the website today!

The better picture of the boat is up. You can see it at Http://www.Makomania.net John, you owe me an e-mail?