Hi Kerrin,

I was prompted to look at your web site cairnssecondhandonline.com.au after receiving a flier in the mail.

As a local web developer I would like to offer some suggestions.

Australian internet users are pretty savvy people and they look for signs that suggest a web site is genuine before making financial commitments.

The fact that you have a .com.au domain is a good start but you have no normal business details such as full legal name, trading name, trading location, postal location and more importantly your ABN. (Even though all of this information does appear on the site)

I looked up your details (just as anyone else can) and found your domain registration ABN is actually a Queensland Business Number (QLD BN 20718585). This is completely different to your ABN (96 887 961 812). This difference does not help. Also it is required by auda.org.au that your domain registration details be correct. (The domain name details are correct and you can use a QBN or ABN as proof of eligibility to own a domain name. But really, should this matter seeings people are currently using the site and everything is working?)

I have some comments on the actual site but before I continue please let me say that as a web developer I may seem pretty harsh when I am actually trying to offering some constructive criticism based on my experience. (I looked up the business which has been operating since 2007 - Would you call that 'substantial experience?')

In my opinion there are four important and distinct aspects of any website, content, navigation, aesthetics, functionality and interactivity. (He mentions 5!)

To be honest, your main page looks like a poster, great effort has gone into presentation at the expense of clear navigation. (The customers who are using it don't seem to have any problems with it, and isn't that what matters?) The content is fair. (A criticism coming from someone with no copy writing and advertising skills!) Functionally is average and interactivity is poor. (Once again, the people who are using the site have no problems with it at all, and that is the most important thing.) None of the images have 'alt' text. (Typical IT comment. The many users of cairnssecondhandonline.com.au have no problems with the lack of 'alt' text)

There are many good web developers here in FNQ due to the demands of the tourist industry. (There are a few, there are many IT people making web sites between computer repair jobs)

One poorly understood aspect of web development is the vast difference between aesthetics and functionally. People who do well at aesthetics often have very creative minds and are often far less able to understand the logic of functionality. Conversely, people (like myself) have very logical minds and are often far less able to create appeasing aesthetics. (I have never heard an IT person refer to themselves as logical, it is usually the exact opposite!) Your site appears to have been developed by someone with more skill with aesthetics and less skill with functionality and navigation. (If the customers don't have a problem with it then why does it need to be complicated?)

I am considering utilising a system similar to your web site as a part of a national social networking site. I believe the principle is quite good but I see no reason to restrict the targeted client base to one regional area.

I am in Cairns as well so I would be interested to hear from you.

Thank you

Robert lists a phone number on his domain registration but it is disconnected (forgot to pay the bill maybe?). He did not send any contact information over with his correspondence to my client and has no web site of his own that we can find. He does have an email contact though which is common for all IT people to hide behind so they don't have to communicate with the outside world.