Website for Review
http://www.gamearth.freespaces.com

Additional Comments
I feel as though this site does not have a very common content-base as most sites here, but I figured the best place to get web design advice would be from here. I hand-coded this website as a hobby/project, and of course I like it, but I wanted a professional opinion. Also, I'm having a heck of a time generating traffic from those other than my close friends. I'm grateful for any suggestions, and I'm to open criticism, seeing as I don't really know what I am doing.

Uh-oh... after reading a post about browser and screen display issues, I fear my website and I may be in trouble. I have checked my site's appearance on a couple of my buddies computers', but it just so happens that we all use widescreen laptops. My gut is telling me I'm in for a major overhaul or something of the sort, so I the dispay at different resolutions and different browsers and such is an issue, can some one guide me in the right direction?

Thanks,

Brennen

Hello Brennen,

Hey, I'm gonna have to come back another time because I'm busy having a relaxing weekend, but felt the need to respond quickly to you...put in the recommended Document Type declaration for a start.

Driving or attracting traffic to your site isn't all about SEO...there are other things you need to do as well...exchanging links, writing reports or articles, viral marketing free items even joint venturing with other gaming sites...and I have one question for you...who made the clip on your home page?

HOME PAGE - I wanted to know what the site offers...don't assume we will know. You need to add some content  by explaining WHAT the benefits are that we get by visiting your site as well as some directions for HOW to use the site.

I am aware that video marketing is brilliant for this type of site...my son makes a new one on a regular basis...anyway, I'll need to come back and take a proper look at your content to be able to add more. In the meantime I'm sure you will get some terrific help from the others here.

All the best,

Elizabeth Richardson

Thank you very much, I have somewhat gotten the DTD figured out, except now the iframe on my landing page is not showing any content... still working on that problem.

As for the video clip, I am streaming video from YouTube via Google. I just select a category, or let a crawler select relevant video clips based on my site content. It forms part of Google Adsense through the minature Google ads nestled into the YouTube video player.

I've had a substantial amount of trouble dealing with the iframe on the home page, so at the moment I am reading into alternatives, and if I'm not mistaken its looks as though I can use a table instead, but will I be able to change the background of the table as if it were an iframe?

Thanks,

Brennen

I agree with ER's statements.

You have three DTD's now, need to delete two of them.

Your navigation is out of alignment in FireFox.

Brennen wrote:

I figured the best place to get web design advice would be from here. I hand-coded this website as a hobby/project, and of course I like it

You will find there are a lot of us here willing to help you out. Don't be shy just ask away. Sometimes what you may get may not be what you want to hear so keep an open mind.

to hand-coding. Doing it this way gives you complete control and will increase your knowledge to a better understanding of how website pages work.

I am amazed that this website was hand-coded, since it seems very complex and professional. I'm glad you are good at making websites and developed a good skill. But, there are a few things I didn't like about your website. Take my advice as constructive criticism you can use to help improve your website, not as a nag or complaint.

1. The first thing I saw when your website loaded that REALLY bothered me was the bright font! I had to squint my eyes and I got a headache by just trying to read the words. I suggest you change the font color to something easier to read, like plain white, but keep the design as it is if you want.

2. Try adding the title of the game and a small description. This way, you visitors wont have to guess what a game is about just by reading the name, which could be hard to find since it is in the image filename at the bottom of the page.

Other than that, your website looks great! Just keep on making improvements and begin exchanging links with other gaming websites, as Elizabeth suggested. I wish you the best of luck!

Thank you very much, I'm getting to work on changing those fonts right away! I'm glad you think the site looks good, I have spent so much time aligning things just right. For example, I spent an entire weekend just lining up the two Google advertisements on the table on the Action games page. Its a good thing the other game pages follow the same format so I could just copy bits of the html I had already written.

I have a question for those who are looking at the site. Originally I had a six links stacked on each other vertically inside of the very top blue half circle on the home page. Now I have switched to six links lined up horizontally on top of the top and covering up the top table border. Does this look nice or should I switch back to the first setup?


Thanks everyone, the input is very valuable!

Brennen

Hey, hello again Brennan,

I've just taken another look and those few simple words of instructions you have added make everything so much clearer...well done.

KEYWORDS: You've gone nuts here haven't you?....that's OK, but it might work more in your favor if you choose maybe a dozen or so and optimize for them...man, you must have close to 100 on your home page.

Also, give each page a separate meta description and it's own set of keywords.

I like the color and what you've done...but there are lots of sites that offer free games to play...how are you going to set yourself apart from the others? Maybe competitions between the members or something else that encourages interaction. Many gamers want ways to RELATE to the other players these days. Playing a game in itself won't keep people coming back. You have to think outside the square and maybe test a heap of ideas out to find out what they want...!

You're doing great.

Elizabeth

Thank you for the input... I was just thinking about what else I could add to the site to make it a little more dynamic, and a sort of interaction between "gamers" would be perfect. I have yet to figure out what exactly that interaction is, but you've sparked my interest. Thank you everyone who has given me input, without it I wouldn't have a chance raising an even somewhat succesful website!


Brennen

The links as you have them are good, IMO they fit into the site. The only thing I could add about them is to consider some kind of mouse hover change.  By an action taking place it confirms the link is active and also confirms what link I am on.

Regarding your keywords, like ER mentioned you have way too many.

The best way to do your keywords and the description is to have them different for each page. By listing words that are not in the actual content does nothing for you. The use of content keywords adds benefit to the keywords listed.
Like wise for the description.

For SEO this will let different pages rank for different keywords adding to your pages being found.

If I were you, I'd purchase another domain name.  What you have going is good so far.  I would also re-think the colors and combinations to make it look a little better.d

aww man it seem your site went down, we both have gaming in common i really wanted to see it when it comes bk up,  maybe we could link each other as affiliates.

hope to see soon