VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

ronphi

I would like some comments and suggestions regarding my web site. This is a free site is hosted by Microsoft Office Live and is very limited as to HTML design.

It is very immature right now. You could consider it a basic shell. There are several components missing (like a real demo).

I just want to dip my toe in the critique pool and see where I stand at this early stage. I am really looking for comments on overall theme, colors, page layout, etc

Ron Phillips VO

P.S. I hope the megaphone doesn't violate DB's microphone rule.
_________________
Ron Phillips

"The wireless music box has no imaginable commercial value. Who would pay for a message sent to nobody in particular?"
David Sarnoff's associates in response to his urging for investment in the radio in the 1920s.

louzucaro · Posted: Fri Mar 14, 2008 12:46 pm Post subject:

It's certainly a clean design, so no real issues from that standpoint.

It comes down to what you want vs. what it will allow you to do, as far as getting your own logo / branding in there, etc.

Is it possible to remove the 'Search the web' field from the top?

Also, do you have the Sitemap in there for a particular reason? Seems overkill on a 4-page site, you know?

Otherwise, just maybe a bit more consistency re: fonts (the Links page font is big / different than on other pages) but you said it's in progress, etc., so I imagine you're still planning tweaking stuff like that.
_________________
Lou Zucaro
http://www.voicehero.com

"Well, yeah, there's my favorite leaf!"

Deirdre · Posted: Fri Mar 14, 2008 12:49 pm Post subject:

heh.

No, a megaphone doesn't equal a microphone.

First, do not pass go, do not collect $200— go straight to your design and remove the words "Under Construction".

You don't want people to come to your site and have it say "I AM NOT READY".

"Image Is The Key"—what does that mean to you?
That may determine the direction of your theme. Right now you have a generic site which looks generic.
_________________
DBCooperVO.com
IMDB

ronphi · Posted: Fri Mar 14, 2008 1:23 pm Post subject:

Lou - Web search removed, Site Map and Home both removed from footer, fonts standardized.

DB - "Under construction" removed as well as the reference to "construction" on the Demo page.
Generic site point is well taken. You put into words what I was feeling but couldn't quite put my finger on.

All - I understand that Office Live is going to be adding some HTML editing to all subscription levels. Perhaps when that is implemented I can make it more interesting.

Thanks for the comments Lou and DB.
_________________
Ron Phillips

"The wireless music box has no imaginable commercial value. Who would pay for a message sent to nobody in particular?"
David Sarnoff's associates in response to his urging for investment in the radio in the 1920s.

Donovan · Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2008 3:37 pm Post subject:

I mirror the comments above, I would like to add that unless the guy holding the megaphone is you... it doesn't work for me. Also, you spelled "message" incorrectly on your home page.

I think you've got a good shell to start with... with a little branding and stuff, you should be headed to the website promise land!
_________________
Donovan

www.DonovanVO.com

Moe Egan · Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2008 5:25 pm Post subject:

I'm not understanding one thing....is there a reason your demos are not on the demos page? I would imagine a potential client would want to hear your sound prior to contact you= even for a custom demo...or is it still under construction?

Nice clean site...but I agree with Donovan...the megaphone strikes me as 'stock business photo" and doesn't tell me anything about Ron Phillips.
_________________
Moe Egan
i want to be the voice in your head.
~~~~~

ronphi · Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2008 6:06 pm Post subject:

Donovan - Thanks for the spelling catch. I am still not able to find the spell-check function in this design tool. I made the change.

Moe - There is no demo up on the site because there is no demo recorded yet. I had intended to have one cut by now but finances have prevented it. Soon, I hope. So in the interim I will be putting various auditions on the site so there will at least be samples of my voice.

Moe and Donovan - The guy with the megaphone is not me but it was the closest image to what we do in their stock image files. As I mentioned earlier the design tools offered have been very limited.

Now for the good news. It appears my Office Live account has finally been upgraded to handle 3rd party design tools. So after I put up a few audition cuts on the demo page I will let it sit as is while I work off line on a better page using Microsoft Expression (Front Page replacement).

I will keep in mind all the suggestions given and try to get an interesting site created. Wish me luck. I've never worked with something like Expression.
_________________
Ron Phillips

"The wireless music box has no imaginable commercial value. Who would pay for a message sent to nobody in particular?"
David Sarnoff's associates in response to his urging for investment in the radio in the 1920s.

mcm · Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2008 8:09 pm Post subject:

Ron, without a demo, I don't see a reason for a website. The absence of a demo says "not ready" as much as does "Under Construction". I can well imagine you're anxious to get started, but the website has got to offer voice seekers a reason to contact you for a custom demo. This website doesn't offer anything, no demos, nothing to show who you are.

Also, the links page is for other voice talent, and they are not the people you're trying to attract, are they?

Jeffrey Kafer · Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2008 8:31 pm Post subject:

Baby steps, Ron. As Mary says, there's no point in having a website until you have demos. And since your demos will probably take months of recording, tweaking and pefecting, you shouldn't be in a rush to build a website. The demos should be your foundation, and the website merely a vehicle to showcase them.
_________________
Jeff
http://JeffreyKafer.com
Voice-overload Web comic: http://voice-overload.com

indymandy · Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2008 8:45 pm Post subject:

I'm no expert, but...

I'd take away more than half that text on the first page and slap your demos (when ready) right there. You could always tell a little more about you on another 'About Me' page.

Maybe this is a bit against the grain, but I'm a little stingy about spreading the news about the VO-BB. When it's appropriate, I'll shout it from the mountain top. Otherwise, I'll send them to other sites and keep the VO-BB on a need-to-know basis.

Keep up the research, and good luck!
Amanda
_________________
Amanda Fellows
www.amandafellowsvo.com
317-503-0907
Owner, VO Store #8914

louzucaro · Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2008 10:36 pm Post subject:

I'd probably agree with a lot of these comments...I thought that you were simply in progress and the demos would be up there soon.

As others have said here, if you don't have demos, the site's probably not a priority, and may actually hurt more than it helps.
_________________
Lou Zucaro
http://www.voicehero.com

"Well, yeah, there's my favorite leaf!"

COURVO · Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2008 10:43 pm Post subject:

Ron,

I'm with Mandy on keeping the verbiage down, and the demo's up front.

Also...just from a copywriter's standpoint:
>>>I have been heard on television and radio stations....

PASSIVE VOICE...not good....

Possible change: "Fans in Houston and Oklahoma City know a good thing when they hear it: the voice of Ron Phillips."

....or some such... probably better to keep the testimonials to another page just for THAT.

CourVO
_________________
Dave Courvoisier - Las Vegas, NV
http://www.CourVO.com
CourVO@CourVO.com
Courvo's "Voice Acting in Vegas" Blog: http://www.CourVO.biz
on your phone at courvo.mobi
702.610.6288
"I'm not a news anchor, but I play one on TV."

Philip Banks · Posted: Sun Mar 16, 2008 4:30 am Post subject:

Apart from the voyeurs (other Voices) you are going to be talking through the medium of your website to people looking for a Voice Over. No one wants your life story or "Wow Wee look at how great I am in Whoopise PA".

Your sound
Why you?
Who you?
Who likes you? - High profile names or none at all.
How you?
Contact you.

ONE PAGE.

SoundsGreat-Elaine Singer · Posted: Sun Mar 16, 2008 10:15 am Post subject:

The visuals are clean and clear.

I went to your demos page - I'd suggest you remove the demos until you get them working properly - they seem to cut out after a word or two.
_________________
Elaine
The Youthful Mature Voice (Emeritus)
Senectitude is not for the faint of heart.

ronphi · Posted: Sun Mar 16, 2008 1:24 pm Post subject:

Thanks everyone for the comments. The suggestions just keep coming and I appreciate it. I know this may be a little premature since there is no real demo yet but part of the exercise is to test out Office Live as a possible host.

The audio that Elaine mentioned is one of the problems I have had. I have two computers here. One with WinXP Pro and one Vista both are using IE7 and Firefox 2.

On the WinXP computer IE opens the demo links in new window and I can hear the entire audio on QuickTime. Using Firefox the new window and QT open but only the first couple of seconds play.

On the Vista box using Firefox the new window opens along with QT but only the first couple of seconds play. Using IE the links open Windows Media Player and I can hear the cuts completely. Yesterday WMP was giving me a message that it couldn't play the clips because I didn't have the proper codec, yet they are .mp3 and I could play them directly from my local copy with no problem.

I'm shooting off a message to MS to see if their support has any suggestions. It seems that there was a post here a while back about audio only playing a few seconds on someone else's site. Has anyone had a similar experience?

Edit: By the way Philip what it PA? Are you in Africa?
_________________
Ron Phillips

"The wireless music box has no imaginable commercial value. Who would pay for a message sent to nobody in particular?"
David Sarnoff's associates in response to his urging for investment in the radio in the 1920s.