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Thread: Dance websites

  1. #1
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    Dance websites

    Moved from Chit-Chat - David

    I know it has been covered a few times before, but I am just about to redo my website for classes. Having just looked at a load for inspiration, I have not been overly impressed by the general quality of what is about.

    I know my current one is abit iffy but I had to make do with the time I ad in which to knock one up.

    Anyone seen any good dance websites? What should jive websites have on them?

    Ideally I would like to use mine to primarily promote classes but to also offer content for dancers in general.

    I don't know if I can put my web address on this post for forum rules or not.
    Last edited by David Bailey; 7th-October-2008 at 09:20 PM.

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    Re: Dance websites

    Quote Originally Posted by Lee Bartholomew View Post
    Anyone seen any good dance websites? What should jive websites have on them?
    Having looked at your website, showing the venue as a completely empty hall seemed less than encoraging, maybe a picture of the venue with some people dancing in it?

    Some of the good websites I have seen, list the venues and also how many people attend each venue, so people can chose how crowded a venue they would like to attend.

    Hope this helps

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    Commercial Operator StokeBloke's Avatar
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    Cool Re: Dance websites

    The main reason I go to websites is to get directions. Clear, concise directions with a full postcode (and hints like: if you reach the BP garage you've gone too far) seems pretty obvious, but you would be surprised how many sites have just a grainy map or nothing at all. Also, where the venue is and where you need to park can be very different places - this needs to also be made clear. I would add bus routes and train stations too if appropriate.

    Please fill your site with other useful information, but don't clutter it up so we can't find the information that's REALLY important Lee

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    Registered User spindr's Avatar
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    Re: Dance websites

    Spell check?

    Check that *all* your links work.

    Maybe a less black (dull) background -- especially if people want to print it.

    SpinDr

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    Re: Dance websites

    Quote Originally Posted by spindr View Post
    Spell check?

    Check that *all* your links work.

    Maybe a less black (dull) background -- especially if people want to print it.

    SpinDr
    Was thinking about a light background. Brighter colours etc.

    Some links dont work at mo as changing a few pages.

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    Re: Dance websites

    Quote Originally Posted by spindr View Post
    Spell check?

    Check that *all* your links work.

    Maybe a less black (dull) background -- especially if people want to print it.

    SpinDr
    Oh yes a "print page" option that does not use lots of ink, especially for directions (as mentioned by StokeBloke).

    I use GPS, so a full and correct address is always good.

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    Commercial Operator StokeBloke's Avatar
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    Cool Re: Dance websites

    Quote Originally Posted by Lee Bartholomew View Post
    Was thinking about a light background. Brighter colours etc.

    Some links dont work at mo as changing a few pages.
    If you're going to go the CSS route, then you can specify different colours and text for print purposes within the style sheet

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    Formerly known as DavidJames David Bailey's Avatar
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    Re: Dance websites

    Before the list, well done for submitting your work for review.

    OK, here goes:

    Firstly, the colour scheme is rubbish. White on black? To quote MsHedgehog, "Oh yes, I remember 1997" Dark text. Light background. It's not difficult, even I can do it.

    Secondly, the front page is far too text-heavy; there should be much more structure and much less content.

    Thirdly, use the same fonts, it's jarring to read different fonts on the same line.

    Fourthly, zap the forums - and I'm not just saying that - seriously, a forum is only useful if it's active, and that requires a large and involved community.

    Fifthly, make sure your links are consistent and work. For example, all the links under "Music" are both incongrous and wrong.

    I'll have another look when you've fixed those

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    Re: Dance websites

    Quote Originally Posted by Lee Bartholomew View Post
    Some links dont work at mo as changing a few pages.
    STOP!

    No really, stop uploading live changes and do all your page changing off-line.
    If I go to a website that doesn't work, I don't think "I'll try later", I think "I'll find 1 that does and remember not to come back here again".
    Do all your changes off-line, make sure it all works, then upload a working site.

    If you want people to evaluate your changes for you, upload them to a sub-directory that can't be accessed via your main page and send the reviewers a link.


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    Re: Dance websites

    Agree with Martin, its not too useful to include a pic of the empty hall on the front page. You could have it under a "venue" page possibly, but to what purpose? Unless you're appealing specifically to building engineers, happy dancing people are going to be more attractive.

    The links along the top are just text and do not change in any way when either hovered over or selected, not really an aid to navigation is it? But then it gets worse when you click on something, as the text for these links can change or dissappear entirely and there is no way to navigate back to the main page.

    There are spelling and grammar mistakes everywhere

    Also as Gav suggests, there is NOTHING worse than broken links. If it doesnt go anywhere...do not have it at all. "Not got round to it yet" is not an excuse anymore than the local bakers statement of "sorry we've not made any pies" would work for their "3 pies for the price of 2" lunchtime offer.

    On the positive side, i do like the font but for a black background to work i think you need to have a proper logo, more pictures and a more flowing layout. There is nothing to make you want to scroll down the front page, and if you do, you get the FAQ, which already has its own seperate page. If your front page is going to be "news" then make it so - don't put other things there.

    You also lose points for pointless stuff like the empty forum and empty special offers pages.

    a 3 out of 10 i'm afraid

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    Re: Dance websites

    IMO the first thing to get right is the little box at the top of the page, the URL.

    Dance is best sold by doing it. Next best is seeing it being enjoyed, which is why busks work so well. I would want prospective customers to see MJ in action.

    The direct response I would aim for from an ad is to have the reader click on a website to see a video. Those videos would market MJ and sell the classes.

    My (untested) marketing campaign would consist of ads for a video on the web, youtube and the like, and for my website.

    A newspaper column is about 40 characters wide.

    www cerocscotland com

    youtube
    CerocScotland

    whereas a short brand name can be written much bigger than the forum maximum.
    youtube
    MJ

    My idea would be that the video that the unique short brand name hit on a site search would link to other videos. The customer sees the image of MJ that they want to see. No marketing confusion between 'lose weight' and 'enjoy a chocolate fountain at the end'.

    MJ Fit for fun fitness
    MJ meet for a fun way to meet new people
    MJ dance for a fun way to learn to dance
    MJ up_for_it for a fun way to build confidence
    MJ biz for a fun business opportunity
    MJ earn for a fun way to earn extra income
    etc

    I would also be going for multi-level marketing. You can earn money as a dance teacher, you can learn how to run a dance venue.

    IMO dance is mostly about sex. That is the reason many people do dance. The other 'reasons' are mostly excuses. It is up to the marketer to ensure the customers have those reasons/excuses.



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    Re: Dance websites

    Quote Originally Posted by bigdjiver View Post
    IMO dance is mostly about sex. That is the reason many people do dance. The other 'reasons' are mostly excuses.

    I dance to socialise... but having read your post, maybe I should pop a Viagra or 2 and um... well maybe you could tell us your winning formula bigdjiver?

    Should I be thinking about sex?

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    Re: Dance websites

    Quote Originally Posted by Martin View Post
    I dance to socialise... but having read your post, maybe I should pop a Viagra or 2 and um... well maybe you could tell us your winning formula bigdjiver?

    Should I be thinking about sex?
    I tell myself that I mainly go dancing because I enjoy dance and for exercise.

    However I would not go Morris dancing or line dancing. I would not go to the gym. I do not go dancing to collect sexual partners, but there has to be ome sexual connotations in dancing MJ. When I raise a smile or a laugh from my partner something inside me tells me I am doing something right, and I love it.

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    Re: Dance websites

    Quote Originally Posted by bigdjiver View Post
    I tell myself that I mainly go dancing because I enjoy dance and for exercise.

    However I would not go Morris dancing or line dancing. I would not go to the gym. I do not go dancing to collect sexual partners, but there has to be ome sexual connotations in dancing MJ. When I raise a smile or a laugh from my partner something inside me tells me I am doing something right, and I love it.
    As long as you get a rise out of it all good

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    Re: Dance websites

    Quote Originally Posted by StokeBloke View Post
    The main reason I go to websites is to get directions. Clear, concise directions with a full postcode. you would be surprised how many sites have just a grainy map or nothing at all.

    I would add bus routes and train stations too if appropriate.

    I would add more than one train station if there were two, not just the nearest. Plus how many minutes walk from station to venue.

    For instance the directions to Twisted at the Collesium mentioned Watford Central as the nearest station, but it didn't say how long it would take to walk there or whether there was a bus from the station to the venue. The map looked like it was a bad walk over duel carriagways.

    Also there is a tube station called Watford in the other direction to the Railway station which was not mentioned.

    From the map if you panned it out, the venue looked in the middle of the two stations.

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    Re: Dance websites

    Just updated my website. Still an issue with the side menu to iron out in one or two pages.

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    Registered User David Franklin's Avatar
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    Re: Dance websites

    Can you not get someone to spell and grammar check your pages?

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    Formerly known as DavidJames David Bailey's Avatar
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    Re: Dance websites

    Quote Originally Posted by Lee Bartholomew View Post
    Just updated my website. Still an issue with the side menu to iron out in one or two pages.
    Better, definitely.

    • I'd make the main area of the home page a bit less text-y (or at least, put some headings in), and maybe a bit more link-y - maybe move that news section from the top to the body of the page.
    • The menus seem to jump (on IE) between pages.
    • I'd still get rid of even more black in the border. Light Is Good.
    • Also, some spellchecking wouldn't kill you ("insperation"?)


    But it's much much better - probably about average for dance sites now.

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    Re: Dance websites

    I notice that Ceroc franchises are increasingly using a standard style of website.

    For example
    http://www.cerocshrewsbury.com/
    http://www.cerocpassion.com/
    http://www.cerocmidlands.co.uk/
    etc. etc

    I assume it means that a franchisee (especially one without the inclination to design their own website) has access to a standard template that (presumably) covers most of the important things which customers expect of a website.

    Not keen on the square font, but in general it seems a good idea...
    Love dance, will travel

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    Re: Dance websites

    Quote Originally Posted by DavidY View Post
    I notice that Ceroc franchises are increasingly using a standard style of website.

    For example
    Ceroc Shrewsbury
    Ceroc Passion - Home
    Ceroc Midlands
    etc. etc

    I assume it means that a franchisee (especially one without the inclination to design their own website) has access to a standard template that (presumably) covers most of the important things which customers expect of a website.

    Not keen on the square font, but in general it seems a good idea...
    Seems logical

    For most franchise things, the local franchise conforms to the web format.

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