Welcome to the Treehouse Community
Want to collaborate on code errors? Have bugs you need feedback on? Looking for an extra set of eyes on your latest project? Get support with fellow developers, designers, and programmers of all backgrounds and skill levels here with the Treehouse Community! While you're at it, check out some resources Treehouse students have shared here.
Looking to learn something new?
Treehouse offers a seven day free trial for new students. Get access to thousands of hours of content and join thousands of Treehouse students and alumni in the community today.
Start your free trial
Daniel Hernandez
13,437 PointsFeedback on my 1st website built
Here is the first website I have built, I wanted it to mimic a professional electrician company's website. I know it is not quite there yet so I was looking for some feedback to make it look more professional. I did it all using mostly bootstrap and have already utilized help on this forum. It has been difficult but also very rewarding.
https://dannyhz92.github.io/Example-Website-1/
Thanks!
5 Answers
Steven Parker
231,007 PointsThat looks familiar, I think I helped with some bootstrap classes.
You're off to a good start. Bootstrap is great for creating a clean and familiar look and feel for a responsive website.
I'm not sure why you say "it is not quite there yet" — you seem to have the basics covered pretty well. You can always add some razzle-dazzle but that all depends what you have in mind.
Daniel Hernandez
13,437 PointsSounds great Steven! Thanks again for the advice, you are most awesome. I'll make those changes and come back
Daniel Hernandez
13,437 PointsSo I ended up talking to the electrician and showed him what I had on the website as it was. Luckily He liked the website. He gave me another website to use as a template to get started on what he needed for his business. He said he wanted to be able to edit the website so he can add projects he is currently working on, so I suggested WordPress since I already knew that WordPress allows for an easy interface to add posts. I was just wondering if WordPress would be capable of making a website look like this http://www.cei.com
And did I make the best choice by suggesting WordPress? And would WordPress be capable of building a website like the one I linked? I really don't know much about WordPress. I am currently watching the videos treehouse has on it and am waiting til the part that discusses how to adjust the layout so I can get building.
Steven Parker
231,007 PointsThe look of a Wordpress site is mostly due to the theme; and there are very many available, both free and for purchase. That sample site does look a bit Wordpress-y, but it may take some research to find a good theme to start with. Perhaps someone else may chime in with a suggestion.
Daniel Hernandez
13,437 PointsIf I can't find an identical theme, do you think it would be better to simply make the website using the more standard approach and just update the project section myself on an ongoing basis? The main reason I thought of using WordPress was because it allows for simple updating. I didn't quite expect WordPress to be limited visually to selecting pre-made themes.
EDIT: I just saw the course on creating custom themes. Perhaps I can just make a theme then
Steven Parker
231,007 PointsYou can customize Wordpress yourself, and the advanced courses here teach how. I just haven't taken them yet myself.
Usually if the client wants the ability to update the site themselves they're not likely to switch to having you update it instead. In fact, the few times I've used Wordpress it was specifically to meet such a client requirement.
Daniel Hernandez
13,437 PointsI see. I went to another forum and one of the people said that they would just create the standard website and then turn it into a WordPress theme. Which is what I will do so my client retains the ability to update the website. The fellow said it could take a month or two to learn how to do that though, hopefully I can learn that sooner. I don't even know PHP yet though
Daniel Hernandez
13,437 PointsDaniel Hernandez
13,437 Pointsha yeah I couldn't have gotten this far in the project without you Steven. Thanks, I have definitely put a good amount of effort into this project. The moment I saw what bootstrap was capable of I knew I had to make a website with it.
I suppose it is because I showed it to a friend and he said it looked better than what his web development class could do for their final but it "wasn't the best looking website". Maybe because it doesn't have too much razzle-dazzle elements. Do you have any immediate suggestions to add strength to the website Steven? I was going to show it to an electrician with the hopes of landing of a freelance front-end project with it
Steven Parker
231,007 PointsSteven Parker
231,007 PointsThere's all sorts of ways to get fancy, perhaps a logical first enhancement might be to replace the large static image with a carousel. Then perhaps a textured background or faded background image. Just don't over-do it, a website that's too "busy" can be worse than one that's very plain.