Please feel free to review

Get some feedback on your site or ad from other rental owners and techies. Also a library of online resources so you can make DIY improvements to your web presence.
jonny
Posts: 7
Joined: Thu Jan 31, 2008 9:08 pm
Location: Portugal, Algarve, Burgau
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Please feel free to review

Post by jonny »

Hi all
I have been reading all the useful posts for days while waiting for membership activation. I've already tried to tweak my website with some of your invaluable tips. Hopefully I will be able to post something useful soon. In the meantime I would really appreciate a review.
[/url]http://www.161almaverde.com this is a free website powered by rentalsystems.
http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/20635
http://www.ownersdirect.co.uk/portugal/P4000.htm
http://www.villarenters.com/advert_summ ... eers Jonny
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CSE
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Joined: Mon Nov 06, 2006 3:34 pm
Location: Galicia

Post by CSE »

EH? don't really understand that last paragraph.
What is your web site? Can you link it so we can review it please
Never try to out-stubborn your guests.
jonny
Posts: 7
Joined: Thu Jan 31, 2008 9:08 pm
Location: Portugal, Algarve, Burgau
Contact:

Post by jonny »

Hi Ian & Irene
Sorry if it doesn't read clear made sense at the time. Here's the link http://www.161almaverde.com
Thanks
Jonny
A good time is always ruined by 90 mins of football !
eldrep
Posts: 46
Joined: Wed Aug 08, 2007 12:19 pm
Location: Vilamoura, Algarve
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Post by eldrep »

Hi Jonny

Welcome to a fellow Algarve renter!

Having had just a quick look at your website (which is what any prospective guests will do!), I'll just say:

Less text, more pics!

I believe that when many people are first looking for a place to rent for a beach holiday they are looking for an inviting pool shots - your pool looks fab, but I have to click through to the second page and wait for the pool pic to load up, and even then it is tiny.
Get it on your homepage so it is the first thing people see!
When they have narrowed their choices of rental down to a handful they will start looking in more detail at your facilities, but before they get that far you need to wow them the second they click through. All the properties they will look at will have walls and a front door - very few will have a great secluded pool!
It's our first year renting too and I'm over the moon to say we've had two fortnight bookings for August already. Our apartment is up against 140 similar properties and I'm convinced it's down to the pool shot we have on Owners Direct - the green setting with the trees in the background help it to stand out against the other properties with buildings in the background.

Another thing I noticed was the '20% discount' offer at the top of your homepage. I'm afraid having this as the first thing you see makes you question exactly why you should be giving away discounts so early on....have more confidence!

Good luck and don't panic!

Cheers
Sonia
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Windy
Posts: 3219
Joined: Tue Oct 02, 2007 8:21 am
Location: Windermere UK

Post by Windy »

Lots of good stuff there

A couple of points though

The alignment and spacing of the text isn't great on the first page

I don't like the way it flows out beyond the header picture to the right (in Firefox but not in IE) , and I think you want a blank line before the photo (in both)

Also on the Golf page the word Golf is pushing the first photo out of alignment (in Firefox but not in IE)

Hope this is helpful

Best wishes

John
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Topcat
Posts: 1888
Joined: Fri Sep 08, 2006 6:43 am
Location: Isla Canela, Costa de la Luz
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Post by Topcat »

Hi. I've only time for a quick look, but the first thing that struck me was that I didn't know where it was!! Eventually I discovered it was 1 hour from Faro, but so is my place and it's in Spain.

You may have more details somewhere, but they need to be on the front page! (Unless they're at the very top and FF is cropping them off, of course).

Also, down the left hand side, you have a heading 'properties'. Do you have more than one? It's not clear to me.

Some nice pics, though. I'm sure it's a lovely place - this is just a very quick response.

TC
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CSE
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Joined: Mon Nov 06, 2006 3:34 pm
Location: Galicia

Post by CSE »

jonny wrote:Hi Ian & Irene
Sorry if it doesn't read clear made sense at the time. Here's the link http://www.161almaverde.com
Thanks
Jonny
Just had a quick look but something is not connecting at the moment so we will try later.
Never try to out-stubborn your guests.
jonny
Posts: 7
Joined: Thu Jan 31, 2008 9:08 pm
Location: Portugal, Algarve, Burgau
Contact:

changes made

Post by jonny »

Hi everyone
Thanks so much for your kind feedback. I haven't given up & dissapeared. No, I have taken all your invaluable comments on board & tried to implement them the best I can to my website.
I don't expect anyone to spend all their time reviewing my site but hopefully you'll see the changes for the better.
Thanks again.
jonny
ps Windermere Lodge - I live in lovely in lovely Windy too !
A good time is always ruined by 90 mins of football !
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Windy
Posts: 3219
Joined: Tue Oct 02, 2007 8:21 am
Location: Windermere UK

Re: changes made

Post by Windy »

jonny wrote: ps Windermere Lodge - I live in lovely in lovely Windy too !
I wish I did! We just have a cabin and visit at weekends!

One day :P

John
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luisortiz
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Joined: Thu Jan 17, 2008 10:04 am
Location: Rincon, Puerto Rico
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Post by luisortiz »

Hi,
In Opera and Firefox the banner seems too closely aligned to top.
I don't see pricing info. The pool pictures takes a long time to load. Is this a beach town? What activities are there besides golf? How about pictures of some of the restaurants/cafes in town? What else is there to do in this town? Are there farmer's markets? Who are you striving to market your place to?
*
I found pricing, availability calendar and more photographs in section called properties. Also there are other rentals or rental information there, that is confusing. It's not scan friendly. Text is way too small, and I have to make an effort to understand it. More pictures less text. Check out other websites and steal/borrow ideas.
*
The code for the page is not right. It's not seach engine friendly.
*
good luck,
Luis
http://www.villaorleanspr.com
http:/www.secretgardenartgallerypr.com/
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remote
Posts: 107
Joined: Wed Oct 18, 2006 9:09 pm
Location: Kent/Charente
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Post by remote »

Jonny, welcome. You have a lovely property. I presume that you had one of those fill in the sections type of web page so that there are certain things that you can't change, like, 'properties' and the amount of photos. Also the lack of space between sections. I'd have liked to see a pic of the view from the balcony, I always like to know what I'll be looking at while I sip my drink!
I'm sure you'll get lots of bookings, specially from golf enthusiasts.
A turkey is not just for Christmas
jonny
Posts: 7
Joined: Thu Jan 31, 2008 9:08 pm
Location: Portugal, Algarve, Burgau
Contact:

Post by jonny »

Hi remote
You're exactly right about the design & input of the web page, maybe I should look to a more professional design. I do have a view from the balcony picture, do you think its best on the homepage?
Thanks for your positive comments.
Jonny
A good time is always ruined by 90 mins of football !
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