Thread: My new website:)

I just got my new website up:)

Please check it out and let me know what you think..g.: If there are any problems, please let me know those too so I can fix them.

AmiraStar bellydance

I like how simple it is, meaning how clean and straightforward it is. Navigation is a breeze.

The one thing I thought was a bit unusual is that you don't have a pictures page, only a video gallery.

I can definitely add a gallery:) Thanks Bea!

I like the front cover picture. It is unusual.

You don't seem to have any way of giving the search engines an idea of where you are. I would expand your Title tag: from AmiraStar bellydance to : AmiraStar bellydance in Chicago Illinois or something similar. Your meta description tag says "Amira Star is a professional bellydancer who performs and teaches middle eastern dance in the midwest." Suggest you think of describing yourself in the way folks will search for you. Are folks more likely to type in 'bellydance Chicago' when looking for a performer, or 'bellydance midwest' ? And midwest what? USA, I assume ... but if midwest is really what you want then at least add the country. I accidentally removed our city and state location from our front page one time and our Google rankings sank like a concrete block in a deep deep lake.

About: I find your picture very interesting and your ABOUT page generic and uninteresting.

Pictures vs videos: We don't have a dedicated picture gallery and it doesn't seem to hurt us any. Depends on your target audience, I suspect. We ARE expected to have videos up and we do.

Ha, look what I found in my inbox just after I typed the previous. Some marketing advice about "About" pages:

On your "About" page, in conference materials, in media kits or elsewhere, a business bio should not be a cold, dry list of qualifications, with every fact in its appropriate slot.

Nor should it be a chronology of your career.

Instead, in your bio, provide an overview of your achievements and distinctive work approach. Through what you say or how you say it, also impart a sense of you as a person.

To warm up your bio with sparks of life, include one or more of these:

* A quote from you or your personal motto

* A phrase clients or an authority figure use about you (clients call him "the uncoach" because his advice is so laid back and subtle)

* Fanciful or unexpected language (paints the scenes that beckon to her)

* Concrete details (trained his first dog, a Schnauzer, at age 10)

* Vivid extremes or contrasts (has taught everyone from CEOs to imprisoned drug dealers)

* Tantalizing numbers (the third most quoted Canadian chartered accountant)

* A fact that humbles you (Alan Weiss once appeared on Jeopardy, where he lost to a dancing waiter)

Thanks Ruric-Amari:) I will work on some of those suggestions today. I had my other website right at the top of Google so I need to get them to switch places now:)

Originally Posted by AmiraStar

Thanks Ruric-Amari:) I will work on some of those suggestions today. I had my other website right at the top of Google so I need to get them to switch places now:)

I'm Ruric-Amari's web person and one of her two business partners and her mom. You are welcome :)

Just a suggestion but I would change the first picture in your gallery to something else. The pic with you and the drum is cute, but I would go with something more glitzy and "bellydancery"

Originally Posted by maurazebra

I'm Ruric-Amari's web person and one of her two business partners and her mom. You are welcome :)

oops sorry about that. Thank you ..g.:

Originally Posted by _Tanya_

Just a suggestion but I would change the first picture in your gallery to something else. The pic with you and the drum is cute, but I would go with something more glitzy and "bellydancery"

hm it was a different one originally, I probably switched up the order. Fixing that now:) lol Thanks..g.:

It's very hard to scroll through your photos.

Originally Posted by smuse33

It's very hard to scroll through your photos.

I just noticed that too ..c:: Maybe if I put them up in a different type of gallery...*stomps back to the website generator program to wrangle the photo gallery again* hehe

Originally Posted by AmiraStar

I just noticed that too ..c:: Maybe if I put them up in a different type of gallery...*stomps back to the website generator program to wrangle the photo gallery again* hehe

I use wix and I found that the photogallery format I use seems to be the most user friendly.

Your website is very nice. The photo of you on the main page is beautiful. The mood and the colors of the photo work well with your color scheme.
Its very easy to navigate through. I like the fact that your website is clear, simple and straightforward. You get to the point in all your pages and you leave the "fluff" out. Yes, wix is good and you utilized it well. Once I post my web site, I hope that you will get a chance to look at it and give me your opinion especially because I may use wix as well. Right now, I just have a blog. Based on your events, you are a busy woman! And you are doing all this with a child-I think that is what your bhuz profile said? Yes, I know how that is. I have a 2.5 year old and a 9 month.

Sincerely,
Christina

Christina Rizkallah Bellydance

Originally Posted by ChristinaRizkallah

Your website is very nice. The photo of you on the main page is beautiful. The mood and the colors of the photo work well with your color scheme.
Its very easy to navigate through. I like the fact that your website is clear, simple and straightforward. You get to the point in all your pages and you leave the "fluff" out. Yes, wix is good and you utilized it well. Once I post my web site, I hope that you will get a chance to look at it and give me your opinion especially because I may use wix as well. Right now, I just have a blog. Based on your events, you are a busy woman! And you are doing all this with a child-I think that is what your bhuz profile said? Yes, I know how that is. I have a 2.5 year old and a 9 month.

Sincerely,
Christina

Christina Rizkallah Bellydance

I will definitely check it out when you get your website up. I have 3 kids actually, 12, 9, and 7. They are a handful with their crazy activities and adventures but I wouldn't trade them for all the Bella's in the world..g.:
Thanks so much for your input

Originally Posted by AmiraStar

I will definitely check it out when you get your website up. I have 3 kids actually, 12, 9, and 7. They are a handful with their crazy activities and adventures but I wouldn't trade them for all the Bella's in the world..g.:
Thanks so much for your input

Yes, I agree with you: kids are a handful, but I wouldn't trade them for all the Sahars and Hallah Moustafas in the world!!

I also like how your photo button and video button are in the about section. This way when someone comes to your home page, there are less buttons for them to choose them.

Sincerely,
Christina

www.christinarizkallah.tumblr.com