How would you handle this?

[bringerofdreams]

I just completed the build of a new website, however, it is not mine and the company I built it for has no idea this was done. So why did I build it?

Well, I read about this company here on the DIS. They seemed to have a great reputation here so I visited their site. And I was amazed at how horrible it was. It looked like my 6 year old built it, complete with a rainbow of dizzying colors and new windows that spawned every time I clicked a link. Had I not read good things about this company here and had instead came across the site in another way I would have immediately bypassed it and would never have considered doing business with them.

So.... out of sheer boredom I decided to play around and see what I could do with this horribly messy site. One thing led to another and I ended up with an entire site design. It looks kind of nice and I would love to gift it to this company, but how in the heck would I even approach them with something like this? I mean, I can't just email them and say "Your site is really awful so I made you a better one".


Seriously, I really would love to at least offer them the new design no strings attached. But how?

 

[mtblujeans]

Actually, that IS pretty much what I would tell them! I am outspoken to a fault, tho'! I imagine they know how bad the site is but don't have the power or time or ability to do anything about it. At least make the offer....

 

[golfgal]

I would send them an email and say that you heard about their company through another website and while looking at their site you thought their site was confusing and unorganized and since you had some time on your hands you made up a new one for them, Merry Christmas.

 

[mtblujeans]

Excellent advice!

 

[Wishing on a star]

The wording can make all the difference!

I would be very positive about the company/products etc...

But, mention very politely that you, personally, found their site hard to navigate, and a little complex or 'busy'. And, how others who are not computer savvy may have difficulty.

I might consider simply mentioning that you are capable of creating a web-site for them.... That you have a few excellent ideas, such as ______, etc. Tell them that you would love to show them an example. And, then see if you get a positive/curious response.

Would it be a good idea to do that, other than simply saying,
"Here, look at this, doesn't your current web-site suck compared to the one I made." NOT that you would say it that way!!! LOL!!! But, it's all in the perception.

I think it is so nice of you to have considered doing this for this person/company!!!

 

[bringerofdreams]

All rather good advice but I love your approach Wishing on a star. I think I will drop them an email based on your suggestions. Thank you!

 

[WeirdEyes]

I wish someone would do this for the company I work for. I built our site and I have NO experience. The owner thinks it looks good, but I don't! LOL

 

[bringerofdreams]

I wish someone would do this for the company I work for. I built our site and I have NO experience. The owner thinks it looks good, but I don't! LOL

If your boss likes it then that is all that matters. Sometimes we are our own worst critic. You should see some of the ones I did years ago when I was a newbie. Whoooey were they bad! I wanted to learn, so I read some tutorial sites, got some great design software and just played with it. There are better designers out there I am sure, but after a few years I do ok. I am not into all the flash and fancy stuff that lots of people seem to like. I would rather design an attractive site that loads quickly, is easy to navigate and is viewable in all browsers.

 

[mtblujeans]

I have made those "free" sites for my DHs office, a personal fun one, and one for our 4H club....I think they are hard to put together....and I mean they can be so easily "busy" it is a challenge to keep them simple in appearance and easy to nagivate! Anyone who can put together a successful web site is doing a good job, IMHO!

 

[bringerofdreams]

I have made those "free" sites for my DHs office, a personal fun one, and one for our 4H club....I think they are hard to put together....and I mean they can be so easily "busy" it is a challenge to keep them simple in appearance and easy to nagivate! Anyone who can put together a successful web site is doing a good job, IMHO!

Yup, you are so right. There has to be a balance between colors, text and graphics. It's WAY easy to go overboard.

On another note, I did email that site owner and very politely offered to send her a sample of what I did with her site.

She never even bothered to respond.

 

[akhenaten]

Yup, you are so right. There has to be a balance between colors, text and graphics. It's WAY easy to go overboard.

On another note, I did email that site owner and very politely offered to send her a sample of what I did with her site.

She never even bothered to respond.

she probably thinks you are going to want something in return....or maybe her brilliant child designed her site and she loves it!!

 

[bringerofdreams]

she probably thinks you are going to want something in return....or maybe her brilliant child designed her site and she loves it!!

No, I let her know that I was not soliciting a job and not asking for money, that I just liked her company.

Perhaps she does love it, but really, it is horrible. It's not just the bad design, but the million windows you have open by the time you are done navigating the site as well. I honestly don't know how these people do business???

 

[mtblujeans]

Yup, you are so right. There has to be a balance between colors, text and graphics. It's WAY easy to go overboard.

On another note, I did email that site owner and very politely offered to send her a sample of what I did with her site.

She never even bothered to respond.

Give her a little more time....maybe up to 2 weeks. This is a hectic time of year....maybe she wants to be able to set aside time to sit and study it and she is having trouble scheduling that time....give it a little more time. That was very nice of you to do....