Posted by Jay Allen on May 01, 2003
Mike Jackson - I got it to work....butMike,
I wonder why Vance could get into the site but not you and Carol?
The link I posted took us there when we clicked on it. (I had even deleted all my cookies) And, obviously, Vance could get in the site as well. Anybody else have trouble - or get in?
The reason I can't post just a page link is because the whole Adoornments site is a Shockwave movie and the link never changes - though the site navigates like each page has its own link. The Sign Co. site has separate pages however.
Also Mike, what was the page that came up when you went to it? It should have been ShawCraft Products (clever name, huh?) large logo with the Adoornments logo at the bootm left and Sign Co. logo on the bottom right (all images on a golden brown mottled background).
I really want to get this figures out as it seems our site visitors have dropped dramatically since we made the change. Not sure if that is hesitation on downloading Shockwave - or indicative of the problems you're having. Lemme' know.
Jay
Dan SawatzkyHi Jay,
I went back to the page, saw the gold/brown page and two links to visit your main site or to Macromedia's site. I tried your page on my new Win2000pro machine and it gave me the same screen.
I went back to my current machine, clicked on Macromedia's site, then had to dig around to find the Shockwave download page. I downloaded it and got to see the full screen and the links as you hope we see.
Personally, I like the animations, but I am not so sure the effects are worth the potential loss of readers if they have to work so hard to get to view your products. The first thing I would do is change the link to Macromedia directly to the page to download the free Shockwave player. I'd probably mention which version of it you need on your redirect page. All of this is of course assuming your clientelle will do this to get to visit your site. Second, even after I downloaded the shockwave player and went to your page, I got my normal warning box that says a script accessing Active-x needs to run to view the page. I HARDLY EVER click okay to that to visit ANY page for fear of planting unwanted cookies, a trojan virus, or other questionable files on my computer. When I said NO to your page, I got the same old screen, but when I trusted you enough to refresh my screen to see the box again, I clicked "okay" this time. It worked as you had planned but I would have never done it otherwise.
I have my machine's security set to warn me of Active-X scripts and other similar files, so I know to be watching for them. Maybe others don't have it set like that. Bottom line for me looking at your site is I think the bang you are hoping for is costing you visits and possibly sales. It looks like I am not the only one not getting in originally, so no telling how many more you got to your front door, only to send them down the road before you even got to greet them. I'd vanilla flavor that front page index.html.
Just comments...hope they help.
Mike JacksonJay...
I couldn't see the link until I downloaded the shockwave.... then it worked fine and looked good too.
Good luck with your new product!
-dan
Hi Dan,
I know you have a beautiful web site, and I know you do some really interesting work. Be sure to grab a photo or two with you when you come to visit! (figuratively speaking) On this BB, you just paste in the full URL address of the photo from your site. I usually find one, right mouse click on it, then go to "properties". In that box, you can see the entire URL. I select it all, click Control-C to copy it to the clipboard, then put my cursor in the Optional Image URL under the Comments box of a post or reply. From there hit Control-V to paste information in. You won't have to worry about typing it in wrong if you use the clipboard!
I am picking on Dan here...inviting him actually! But the same goes to everyone else. Posting a photo isn't hard on this BB using that URL box. If you know HTML code, you can include several photos right in the message.
Dan does a lot of interesting work with steel, mesh wire, plaster, concrete, and similar structural materials...so I know he has a lot to share with all of us. I got to watch his team of employees bang out a project in Banff a few years ago. It was really cool to watch.
Mike Jackson
Dan Sawatzky - Thanks for the invite Mike
Code: Select all
Thanks for the kind comments about our work Mike. And for the invite to post pics here too.
When I designed my site I wanted the pics to overlap... just like my portfolio. And I was fussy about the typeface used too, and its not a standard one.
So we created each page to be a one piece graphic. I don't believe I can separate individual pictures. My son-in-law does the technical stuff once I hand off the design to him, so I'm kinda ignorant about the computer techniques used - but I'm learning slowly.
I still have lots of ideas to share however, and I'll figure out a way to illustrate them here when I need to.
Thanks for making me feel welcome.
-danJay AllenThanks, Dan. We just got a call today requesting more literature for the store we are in - plus, some requests for custom pricing.
It takes some time to get people to understand new things - but maybe our TV spots up in Eau Claire did some good!! Thanks for the comments.
Pleased to hear about the new studio for you as well. Good things come to those who believe the strongest!!
Here's another try at the link:
http://www.shawcraft.com/
Carol
JayJay,
I still can't get it, but I'll update my Shockwave app. and see if that helps.
On my web page I have a Flash entrance, but it's an option so that viewers with older machines or browsers won't be blocked from the site.
What I got to see, looks very cool. Loads fast and is interesting.
cheers,
C.
Watermark Signs
http://www.casco.net/~cjchapel
Ron PercellCarol,
What did the "home" page/first page up look like look like? Was it our old Flash animated spinning logo with sound attached - or was it the first page of the Sign Co. website spewing useless info about ShawCraft Signs?
Jay
CarolIt opens with a redirect page, to either enter the site here or to upgrade at Macromedia.
The page doesn't really match the caliber of your site.
Good Luck
Ron PercellSounds like Ron is seeing what I'm seeing. A re-direct page sending me to Macromedia. Right Ron?
C.
yes Carol, just a redirect page.
Jay Allen
Jay AllenOdd. Very odd. The address is http://www.shawcraft.com I'll paste the URL again but that's what I did before and Sawatzky got it to load right.
Why it wouldn't work for either you or Carol - but does for others is beyond my limited knowledge of the internet. That just doesn't make sense. When I click it it goes from a white square with the background color framed around it. There is a Macromedia Shockwave logo and progress meter that shows the file loading and then the logos/links all pop up.
What gives?
http://www.shawcraft.com/
Ron PercellSo you saw the site and the product, Ron?
Wonder why Mike and Carol can't?
No, I didnt see anything on Adoornments, but I did click thru to your main website.
I have my eyes open for the proper link.
Good Luck Jay
Jay Allen
Mike,
Your advice is exactly what I wanted to hear. I had concerns from the start about Shockwave - but considering I paid absoultely nothing for that website to be designed I couldn't say much. We've been toying with eliminating the animation and breaking each page out separately - but it's Spring and with Spring comes the CRUSH of work!! So we've been flying lately on sign stuff - not Adoornments.
I'd rather have the page be animated by Flash since that seems more seamless and accessible. But, again, for what we paid.....
I'm passing along your comments about what your experience was to my web host and to the guy who helped us with the site. I suspect you'll see changes in the future - just not the near future!!
So what'd you think of the idea and product? We're starting to see sales increase at the lone store we're in - but it does take time to get people to "get it".
Jay
P.S. how do you post pictures in the body of these postings? I want to do that. It must have something to do with the "Optional Image URL" right?
Mike Jackson
TO POST PHOTOS HERE:
(Unsure if this info is correct for new site - Site Man)
Right Click on a photo on your site. Click "Properties". When the box pops up, you will see URL address of the photo. Drag across the entire string to highlight it..looks like this:
http://shawcraft.com/picscompanya.jpg
Click Control-C on your keyboard to COPY the info to the clipboard (this is a standard Windows command)
Then go to a post or reply and click one time in the Optional Image URL box. Once the cursor is in that box, hit Control-V to PASTE the address in the field.
Do the rest of the post as normal and hit submit.
I grabbed your photo and posted it here. This will not work on photos that are embedded inside a flash or shockwave image file.
Good luck,
Mike Jackson
Jay Allen
Mike JacksonThat's our old sign. ICK! The new one is much cooler.
Hey, re: Adoornments - Carol Chapel sent me a screen capture of her redirect page. I noticed that she had Netscape for her browser. Do you use that also, Mike? Maybe that is the problem.
Mike JacksonNo, I have IE Explorer 5.5 on this machine. Apparently the Shockwave version I had loaded was not the most current one causing it not to work. Again, I usually won't let my browser run Active-X scripts to visit a page. I click NO every time, so if a page won't at least load what it needs to show me without the script, I won't go there, or I won't see all of what they are offering.
Good luck,
Mike Jackson
Denver Chapter of the Letterheads