Site Review

[leehack]

Lee, You have obviously looked at our site, - we didn't think it was that bad - can you elaborate on why it is a horror story?!

I think from just the info you have provided it is a horror story, without even looking at the site tbh. Visits down by 66% ish, no clarity at all on 301s, page names changed, a new site with code that could be considerably improved, a menu closing in on 1mb in size and that's just a scratch on the surface. There's not much more that could be wrong, maybe moving onto a fasthosts hosting package.

[judiw]

If the domain set up hasn't changed then that shouldn't be the problem. I only thought to ask because you mention the sudden drop in google referals.

This may, ultimately, be down to the 301s not being set up properly.

There are a few things we've mentioned that may help, so take a look at each if them. Don't change everything at once because you won't know which change made the difference.

Make sure you have a good understanding of where your site is now using analytic tools and double check everything, just incase there is another factor we haven't picked up.

Google are focussing their attention on page load, so the observation on your navigation may be a good place to start.

Try webmaster tools | labs and asses your load times.

Thanks for the feed back - we have been using webmaster tools daily and we are certainly going to look at the load times. I don't think the 301's are a problem anymore - we did have a lot but redirected them and also a lot of broken links which are now fixed so I hope that gradually we are getting there.

[judiw]

One thing I've just noticed that's very inefficient:- You're using a JavaScript based menu ( showSubSections ) to display the sub-sections of your top-level ones. Unfortunately this requires the loading of file "Act_section_tree.js" which is 851Kb at present. That file alone gives your home page a ridiculous weight for first time visitors.

There are menu systems available (I've written several - Accordion Menu for example) that would have a similar look but have minimal effect on page size.

Thanks Norman, are we likely to have inherited this Java based menu from our old version of Actinic? We went straight from V4 to V9 and assumed that everything would be set up in accordance with Actinics latest standards?

[NormanRouxel]

The code that's providing the menu isn't Actinic's. Someone must have added it. Most of it is here:

<script type="text/javascript" src="acatalog/Act_section_tree.js"></script>
<script type="text/javascript">
var currentSectionID =   0 ;
function showSubSections() {
for (var i = 1; i <= section_tree.length; i++) {
var topLevelSectionID = section_tree[i].nSectionId;
var topLevelSectionName = section_tree[i].sName;
if (!document.getElementById("subsections_"+topLevelSectionID)) {
} else if (topLevelSectionID == currentSectionID) {
document.getElementById("subsections_"+topLevelSectionID).style.display = "block";
} else if (section_tree[i].pChild) {
for (var j = 1; j <= section_tree[i].pChild.length; j++) {
var subSectionID = section_tree[i].pChild[j].nSectionId;
var subSectionName = section_tree[i].pChild[j].sName;
if (subSectionID == currentSectionID) {
document.getElementById("subsections_"+topLevelSectionID).style.display = "block";
}
}
}
}
}
</script>

And it's that first line that pulling in the 851Kb. Maybe you'll recognise this and know who put it there.

[judiw]

Thanks Norman - no, I don't know who put it there but I will find out!

[Rich Brady]

Just a side note. Add you URL to your signature, you'll generate plenty of inbound links to your site form this forum.

[judiw]

Just a side note. Add you URL to your signature, you'll generate plenty of inbound links to your site form this forum.

Thanks - have amended my signature with my URL.

[Silvia]

Call for action and SEO

Hi, I really like the look of your site.
The only change I would suggest is to make bigger and better Add to cart button. It can be very good Call for action for your visitors, if looks better.
Very good post on http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2009...est-practices/

You have H1 and H2 mark-up, but you missing the trick to add more key words on options: instead Print Only £62.00
Mounted £84.00
YOU can add extra key words> Black Cocker Spaniel Print Only £62.00
Black Cocker Spaniel Mounted £84.00.
I notice that some developers used this possibility.
I hope this will help