Okay, I've finally developed some kahones

[ArizonaJay]

I've procrastinated and hesitated for too long already. I'd appreciate an honest site review, keeping in mind that it's my first attempt at building a site or doing a blog.

Thanks to all of you - particularly those that have helped along the way.

Anything Goes Gourmet

[Linda Buquet]

Hi ArizonaJay,

I didn't realize you were just on your 1st site/blog.

Wow I'm impressed, very nice job!
Love the header and the colors!

[Ron Bechdolt]

I agree. I kept trying to find something I could make a suggestion on, but it all looks great!

[minstrel]

That IS very nice looking.

A couple of points:

• I would suggest limiting the number of blog posts per page to 1-3 so you don't dilute the keywords/content from one post to the next.
• There's an image not loading at the top center of the cherry colored box titled "Sign up for special sales and coupns!" attached to the form Email Newsletter AWeber Form. You won't see this in Firefox but you'll see the red X placeholder in IE.
• Your "search this site" box is well down the page, after things like Twitter. I would put it right up at the upper right of the page, i.e., top of the sidebar or close to it. Don't make visitors hunt for the search box just so they can hunt for a product ior post.
• You have a post titled Soggy Stir Fry is NOT Gourmet Food - I'm not sure about this - have you double-checked the evidence?

[ArizonaJay]

Originally Posted by minstrel

That IS very nice looking.

[[*]You have a post titled Soggy Stir Fry is NOT Gourmet Food - I'm not sure about this - have you double-checked the evidence?

Have you eaten my cooking???? I may know about food, but trust me, when I'm the chef I'm making it up as I go along.

Thank you all for the nice comments, and I will have a look at those things mentioned. (I hadn't noticed that X in the opt in box. I've asked the fellow who did the header and button graphics for me to have a look. Thanks for noticing.)

[minstrel]

I was thinking more of my own leftover stir fry, actually.

[ArizonaJay]

Originally Posted by minstrel

I was thinking more of my own leftover stir fry, actually.

Electric cooktops suck.

[minstrel]

I don't mind it as leftovers, actually. I usually make extra intentionally. Hence, my challenge to your conclusion.

But we digress... apologies for the threadjacking.

[vereecjw]

Hey, I thought I would just throw a suggestion out to you.

If your traffic is growing pretty solidly, I would suggest starting the "posting on others" stuff. You can start with sites that do restaurant reviews. (I would throw 50 or so into an RSS reader and post on them when they cover a restaurant that serves the same cuisine as you are covering -- thinking asian for the Soggy Stir Fry etc)

Another thing you can do, is throw up a page in wordpress, and have a "current deals" section and throw your appliance ads, restaurant coupons, and other "coupons/deal" links in there.

I like your design btw. Pretty nice.

[ArizonaJay]

Originally Posted by vereecjw

Hey, I thought I would just throw a suggestion out to you.

If your traffic is growing pretty solidly, I would suggest starting the "posting on others" stuff. You can start with sites that do restaurant reviews. (I would throw 50 or so into an RSS reader and post on them when they cover a restaurant that serves the same cuisine as you are covering -- thinking asian for the Soggy Stir Fry etc)

Another thing you can do, is throw up a page in wordpress, and have a "current deals" section and throw your appliance ads, restaurant coupons, and other "coupons/deal" links in there.

I like your design btw. Pretty nice.

Thanks for the excellent suggestions! I already had intended to do #2, but I'm working on other projects right now - you're suggestions means I will have to move it up the list.

I'm don't completely understand your first suggestion. I personally get RSS feeds from blogs that I am interested in reading. But are you saying that my blog can feed through an RSS feeder to other blogs? Clarification and education, please?

And thank you again for the kind words and suggestions.