First template rejected!

So I submitted my first template and got rejected.

General run around: -Not unique enough -Not enough features

Link: http://www.themichaelgarcia.com/agencia/

My thoughts: I know it’s not the most original design, but I figure it’s the type of design that sells on themeforest. Also, I added most features that are available from templates of high quality.

So my questions: What do you think I could change? What features can I add? Should I really even bother submitting another version?

And yes it has 7 color schemes. Anywho thanks for helping out!

It’s true that it’s the type of design that sells well here but it’s too much inspired by some top selling templates. That’s just my feeling.

Keliah, thanks for the response and the honesty. I have been brainstorming on what changes I could make. Latest news could use a facelift and the about page can be changed to display more features along with a better layout.

Anybody else know what I can do to try and get this theme accepted? Do you think I need big design changes or just small features?

You are not too far. Fine tune padding, text colors (bottom part is tooooo bright). Change the default color to something more generic. Add skins. Use custom fonts with cufon, etc. Even if you are not using custom font, just using your default font with cufon it’ll look much smoother. Something about the menu is odd. Text align. Text block / article separation. Below the tagline the gradient is too washed out.

Okay, I made tons of small updates however overall design still needs more “uniqueness”. Note: I am using a custom font and I have 7 color schemes.

-About page – Features listed and many added in a more readable layout
-Contact page – Added google map in html instead of as an image
-Home page – Fixed gradient background under the tagline so it is more defined.
-Adjusted padding/margins on footer and other various sections

http://www.themichaelgarcia.com/agencia/

Does anybody have any ideas on popular features I’m missing? Or any ideas on how my template can be made more unique?

Thanks again!

It’s better, but the font ‘Colaborate-RegularRegular’: you are not using it with cufón, so it displays as Arial for everyone! Except those who have it. Correct me if I’m wrong.

Add more padding around the submenu items text, and center the text below the 3 picture containers on the main page.

I’d add mouse hover and optionally active CSS border and bg changes to the input fields on the contact page.

I’m using a font pack from Font Squirrel. Should be displaying properly regardless of who has the font. Just checked it and it works fine on my iphone. Personally, I don’t like the way cufon displays and selects.

http://www.fontsquirrel.com/fontfacedemo/Colaborate

Will add some padding to submenu items and hover effects on the contact page. Thanks for the help!