Posted: Wed May 19, 2004 7:26 pm Post subject: My First page, Recommendations needed
Hello all,
I'm a novice web builder and i have just published my first ecommerce website. I'm looking for Tips or suggestion from all you net guru's out there. Any advice would be greatly appreciated, for this has been quite the challenge for me. Everything works, but my imagination when it comes to making this site sell and look professional bestows me. Also i was looking for Link trading partners. Any suggestions on advertising on a limited budget would be great aswell. Thanks all for taking the time to lend a hand. Heres my site, be gentle....
www.yourgreatgiftideas.com
Welcome Eric, there are quite a few things you can check on other reviews that were done that will help your site. You may also want to review Jakob Neilson's Useability site as well.
For basic design and being a shop, I would strongly recommend a white background for your content/product/text areas. Much easier on the eyes. The only exception would be if the product needs a colored background to show it off better. I don't think that is the case with your site however, the blue you have chosen makes the crystal pictures look gray, it just doesn't do a thing to show them off.
Stay consistent with your design throughout your site, your Returns and Shipping pages are different from the rest of the site.
Your products page doesn't list any products, but has a link to information on how to care for crystal. That is sure to confuse your visitors.
I would have a section "about crystal" that includes articles, tips, care, handling, storage, etc. with a main navigation link on the left, to a list of articles that your visitors can see at a glance what free info you offer to help them.
Now let's talk graphics and effects that have nothing to do with your product / site focus ... why are they there? What purpose do they serve? Do they build trust, credibility, show the beauty of your products? If not, ditch em, they won't do your site any favors and are very likely to irritate your viewers.
With a contact form, I would not include a clickable link, or even straight text with your email. The Spambots will just eat your site alive if you do. Just include an image of your email addy (no link) and let them use the form to contact you. It's easy, and not prone to spam.
Get creative, your home page intro is boring and been done a million times. Describe your products, the benefits, how they will make your customers feel ... make them drool and get some great pictures of your products to show them off!
Hope this helps,
Debs _________________ Learn how to turn keyphrases into quality, well-targeted articles your visitors and SE's will love with Gary Antosh's new ebook "Web Content Made Easy!"
Wow, huge difference! The home page text gave me visions of the products, even without those great pictures!
On your "About Us" page, you have a typo at the end of the third line.
I would suggest you emphasis how PayPal takes the major credit cards, or they can pay via a debit from their checking account.
I would make the background graphic a tad wider and move the navigation off the left border for a more professional, finished look too.
Consider making About Crystal ... Crystal History or something similar, move it higher in the navigation order as well. The About Us, Contact, Links are less important to initial shoppers, maybe move them down. Try to make it very easy for your visitors to find what they want fast, and in the order they are likely to want it.
I would also suggest more info on each item, if you can. If you can't, then maybe smaller pics on the Product Category pages, with a short paragraph under each category picture. You need content for the SE's to index and your product pages don't have much, so be sure and get more online to support your site in the SE's.
I think you need larger pictures of your actual product items as well. BTW, when I hover over a product item, I see the "hand" that says it's a link, but nothing happens, this is likely to confuse your visitors. Usually a link on a product indicates a separate page, and much larger picture, of that product, and sometimes a very detailed description too.
You are on the right track, love the new look!
Debs _________________ Learn how to turn keyphrases into quality, well-targeted articles your visitors and SE's will love with Gary Antosh's new ebook "Web Content Made Easy!"
Alright Debs, i made some adjustments and added more text. Let me know what you think. About the products page, should i leave it like it is, or should i line them straight in a row? Thanks again, Eric
www.yourgreatgiftideas.com
I like what you did with the category page, very nice!
I agree, the url is to another place on the same page (on shopping pages) so there is nothing to show.
I would put text category links, with an unlinked sentence or two, on your home page at the end. This will help the SE's index your site.
Use the categories as the links, link to the related product listing pages, and use the short descriptions from the category pages after ... like so:
*link*Crystal Animals*endlink*
Animal lovers, here it is! An extensive line of animal figurines, from horses to the chubby mouse. Look inside and find your favorites!
Debs _________________ Learn how to turn keyphrases into quality, well-targeted articles your visitors and SE's will love with Gary Antosh's new ebook "Web Content Made Easy!"
Ok, i cant figure out why you guys cant click on those pictures and view a larger version. It works on mine when i do it. Although, i have figured out that when i have IE 6.0's pop up blocker on it doesnt bring anything up. Only thing i can think of is a pop up blocker. Do you guys have one enabled? If so could you disable it and tell me if it works then? Thanks guys.
www.yourgreatgiftideas.com
Popups are enabled on my machine, so if that's the problem you may want to consider an alternative way to feature the pictures or your visitors could be very discouraged.
Popup blockers are very hot now, and likely to get even more popular.
Debs _________________ Learn how to turn keyphrases into quality, well-targeted articles your visitors and SE's will love with Gary Antosh's new ebook "Web Content Made Easy!"
Your problem is not related to popup blocking, I think. When I move over the picture, I get no indication of a link. Even when I CTRL+Click (which bypasses popup blocking) nothing happens. _________________ DatabaseDesigner
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Ok, if you guys dont mind i created a test page. At the very bottom of my home page i put a link called "Test". Could one of you check to see if the picture will open up now? Thanks again guys for all your help
www.yourgreatgiftideas.com
Yes, I did get a new page with two pictures on it when I clicked the "test" link.
Debs _________________ Learn how to turn keyphrases into quality, well-targeted articles your visitors and SE's will love with Gary Antosh's new ebook "Web Content Made Easy!"
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