New Website from Long Time Lurker

Hello Everyone,
I just wanted to announce our new website here. I think this is probably my first post but I'm reading up on here and lurking all of the time! We decided to break away from the well known bed and breakfast website designers and marketers and go it alone using SquareSpace and little background HTML and CSS knowledge I have picked up over the years. We are very pleased with the results so far and as long as we didn't blow up our SEO and Google placement, it will be a big cost savings for us!
The Inn at Sugar Hollow Farm
I'd like to know what you think! There are some design elements that I don't have complete control of unless I dive deep into the CSS underneath but overall I'm pleased with this result, especially how the blogging and event calendar is working out.

Nice looking place! Website is good but I know some will offer good suggestions.
I did have a problem making my reservation, though, using the box near the bottom of the home page:
Sorry, this URL is invalid. Some parameters required for processing the online reservation are missing.

Hey Virginia neighbor!
Question: Are you hosting elopements as well or only larger weddings, if you are hosting elopements, let me know and I can add you to this blog article I wrote just today!
Glad to see you and get to know you!

Just opening the site comparing rooms chart, why is there such a huge gap in room prices within each room? Midweek to weekend, or off season to peak? I ask, as you will have many guests ask this as well. Not sure you want to explain each one in the chart or not, just wondering.
I look forward to sharing your blog online.

Arks said:

Nice looking place! Website is good but I know some will offer good suggestions.
I did have a problem making my reservation, though, using the box near the bottom of the home page:
Sorry, this URL is invalid. Some parameters required for processing the online reservation are missing..

Click to expand...

I've heard that this box wasn't working before, but I have been unable to replicate the issue. Might have to remove it as to not turn off any customers. hmm....

Joey Bloggs said:

Hey Virginia neighbor!
Question: Are you hosting elopements as well or only larger weddings, if you are hosting elopements, let me know and I can add you to this blog article I wrote just today!
Glad to see you and get to know you!

.

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We host small weddings, but we don't offer anything as a package. We just provide suggestions for who to call for catering, who to call for an officiant... and try to steer clear of getting too involved!

Joey Bloggs said:

Just opening the site comparing rooms chart, why is there such a huge gap in room prices within each room? Midweek to weekend, or off season to peak? I ask, as you will have many guests ask this as well. Not sure you want to explain each one in the chart or not, just wondering.
I look forward to sharing your blog online..

Click to expand...

Exactly, we decided to lower our rates during Dec - Feb this year, and we lower our rates on weekdays so that's the variability. The jury is out regarding that strategy. This "yield management" thing is still a new concept to us even though we are about to start our 20th year in business!

Fussy user here...I would rather not have to click the calendar to see the prices. I have a chart on each room page that shows the range of prices for a given month/season. Then the guest can click thru to the calendar to see the exact rate for the date.
Never mind. I just saw the 'compare' page. Now I'm going to copy that for my site! Great idea!
Maybe you need a couple of rate range columns to show seasonality. If there is a difference.

Ahhh the location of the mysteries of the Hunting community of Mrs. Murphy by Rita Mae. Welcome

Hi neighbor!
LOVE the website. I love large photos like you have since I don't think people read. At all.
Riki

Hi Good Friends!
Haven't see you in ages!!! Miss all our chats.
Only thing I will say right now..is those daffodils no matter how pretty they are..do not go with the page and make it look so OLD SCHOOL web.
Also, the gold text on the burgundy background is a bit hard to read.
All my best!!!
Just so you know...your EX PREZ from long ago

Gorgeous place you have!!

EmptyNest said:

Hi Good Friends!
Haven't see you in ages!!! Miss all our chats.
Only thing I will say right now..is those daffodils no matter how pretty they are..do not go with the page and make it look so OLD SCHOOL web.
Also, the gold text on the burgundy background is a bit hard to read.
All my best!!!
Just so you know...your EX PREZ from long ago .

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Those were my top two comments as well, to a nice looking website! I noticed the prices, and man, those daffodils don't inspire the feeling of a $200 experience for me (suggestion, don't know the area, but a beautiful area nature view...waterfall, etc..might be nice- just one picture...don't repeat over the page). And the contrast between the text and background made it hard for me to scan / read.
I really liked the top navigation bar and drop down options. I liked that you had the contact info there as well.

Great website! And welcome!

My only point would be - your video is good clear and the right speed - however I wouldn't put that sound on, this is because if people are having a crafty look at work it will hold them back, yes they can turn it off but if they don't know to in advance it will be playing before they can stop it. Music is fine but there must be a quick easy way to turn it off or choose to have it on.

[email protected] said:

My only point would be - your video is good clear and the right speed - however I wouldn't put that sound on, this is because if people are having a crafty look at work it will hold them back, yes they can turn it off but if they don't know to in advance it will be playing before they can stop it. Music is fine but there must be a quick easy way to turn it off or choose to have it on..

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I just took a look at the video. You need to set it so that "related" videos don't show up at the end. You want it to stay with yours.
Another question. IS THIS SITE RESPONSIVE? I am pinching and squeezing on my screen and that really shouldn't happen if it is really responsive. Just curious?

EmptyNest said:

[email protected] said:

My only point would be - your video is good clear and the right speed - however I wouldn't put that sound on, this is because if people are having a crafty look at work it will hold them back, yes they can turn it off but if they don't know to in advance it will be playing before they can stop it. Music is fine but there must be a quick easy way to turn it off or choose to have it on..

Click to expand...

I just took a look at the video. You need to set it so that "related" videos don't show up at the end. You want it to stay with yours.
Another question. IS THIS SITE RESPONSIVE? I am pinching and squeezing on my screen and that really shouldn't happen if it is really responsive. Just curious?
.

Click to expand...

EmptyNest said:

IS THIS SITE RESPONSIVE? I am pinching and squeezing on my screen and that really shouldn't happen if it is really responsive. Just curious?

Click to expand...

On my laptop when I grab the window with the mouse and resize it, the website automatically resizes/reformats like a good responsive site. Haven't tried it on a smaller screen but yes, responsive sites generally don't respond to pinching.

Just to emphasize EmptyNest's suggestion about getting rid of the daffodil background, here's what happened yesterday. I had a window open on my computer with your site. My husband sat down and went to your site. He said wow, this place looks great...those daffodils are driving me crazy.
He didn't know anything about the discussion here! So I thought I would let you know what a typical guy on the street (he's not the one that does anything to do with websites here) thought about it.

i agree about the daffodils. i'd get a neutral color on the sides in place of the daffodils. i love the main background color and all your pictures, and the daffodils are distracting. i also love the name.

Hi,
Leaving design preferences aside, my only two suggestions would be

1. Optimize the amount of custom fonts that are loaded, especially if not used.
For example, from what I can spot, here are the fonts that your website loads:
Google Webfonts:
Actor:normal;
Open Sans:300,300italic,400,400italic,600,600italic,700,700italic,800,800italic;
Coustard;
Calluna Sans;
Felt Tip Roman;

I'm pretty sure that you don't need to load all available weights of Open Sans, as each takes some loading time and memory.
2. Avoid the fonts rainbow on your website.

a. The navigation uses Trebuchet MS;
b. The "Stay with us for a romantic..." uses Calluna Sans;
c. The main copy uses Verdana (why not use Open Sans instead?)
d. The blockquote element uses Felt Tip Roman (it makes the text less readable by the way);
The best practice is to use a combination of max 2 fonts on the same page, not 4.
Additionally, using fonts like Trebuchet and Verdana take your website back by at least 10 years.