Re: Web site evaluation

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From: Jon Spivey (jons_at_mvps.org)
Date: 06/09/04 

Date: Wed, 9 Jun 2004 22:59:21 +0100

Hi Bob,

Id lose the Flash on every page - as Chris says look at doing something
similar with script/css. The 2 issues I'd address with this site are firstly
design - jewellery needs to convey quality. Have a look at this jewellery
site www.tiffany.com for some ideas, especially the use of white space - the
easiest way in the world to convey quality. I know tiffany's are chasing a
different market to you but the principle is the same - to a millionaire
spending 10 grand for a ring is the same as 100 bucks for a regular working
guy - both customers need to believe they're buying quality and luxury. To
my mind your site design is too "fussy" which detracts from the product. Let
your product do the talking. And please lose that music at best it's not
going to do anything to persuade people to buy - at worst it'll send them
away.

Second point is the "feel" of the site - it doesn't convey trust. However
good your product is if a guy doesnt trust you he isn't going to give you
his card number. The language on the site needs work, and things like pop up
windows don't scroll so you can't read all the info. Try going through every
page on the site yourself and imagining yourself as a customer - or better
still have your wife/girlfriend go through the site. Very often this is the
most valuable feedback you can get.

You mention you're using pay per click ads so presumably you're in a money
losing situation at present. I'd stop the ads now put in a couple days work
tidying up the site and then restart the ads - there's no point paying for
traffic if you're not going to convert it. You've got a good basis here but
as things stand you're not going to convert traffic on this site. 

--
Cheers,
Jon
Microsoft MVP - FP
Bob wrote:
> I realy like the flash intro, hate to loose it, but I do have plans
> to remove it. It could make the zero second durration shoppers stay a
> little longer. Thanks for all the help so far, still working hard at
> it. Robert..
>
> "ctw" wrote:
>
>> In addition to previous comments also take the time to
>> check your pages in several resolutions and other browsers.
>> blueline jpg for one needs centering or expanding in larger
>> resolutions.,,, currently left aligned by default.
>>
>> You've done a good job optimizing images for fast loading
>> only to blow load time with a 112K swf file plopped into
>> prime web real estate. That area stays blank for a good
>> amount of time while loadng here on modem. Put that space
>> to better use or redo the swf for faster loading. Removing
>> the sound should help toward that end.
>>
>> But you're still off to a good start IMHO
>>
>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> Thanks every one, keep the comments coming, I need all the
>> advice you can give me.   Robert..
>>>
>>> "auerbach" wrote:
>>>
>>>> Bob,
>>>>
>>>> Looks nice, but I wouldn't buy. First, I won't send
>> money to an online store
>>>> that doesn't clearly disclose its physical location. For
>> a jewelry supplier,
>>>> that's even more important. I'd expect to see that in
>> "About Us," or
>>>> "Contacts," or both.
>>>>
>>>> Your Warranty seems contradictory. On your page you say
>> "Your satisfaction
>>>> at Susan's Jewelry is guaranteed 100% and your money
>> refunded less postage."
>>>> In your Warranty pop-up you say a buyer can return
>> anything if it has a
>>>> defect, yet a few lines later you say jewelry is
>> delicate and if arrives
>>>> broken, you won't accept a return. Which is it? Can I
>> return anything if I
>>>> don't like it, or only if it has a defect, but not if it
>> arrives broken?
>>>> Huh?
>>>>
>>>> Given that I'm buying an expensive item from a
>> low-resolution photo online,
>>>> I'd expect an absolute right to return merchandise if I
>> didn't like it, no
>>>> questions asked. Anything that modifies that right is a
>> red flag to me,
>>>> especially when it comes to a small company I've never
>> heard of before.
>>>>
>>>> The site looks good, but displays small-company or even
>> amateur status. For
>>>> example, in the footer you have " ©2003 Your Company
>> Name  Privacy Policy."
>>>> That clearly came from a template. The "Links" link is
>> broken.  Your
>>>> Warranty shows up with the title "New Page 1".  You have
>> a mis-spelling on
>>>> the Warranty page ("Guarantee's" when you mean
>> "Guarantees"), and you say
>>>> "Its always smart to be a wise shopper on the internet"
>> when you mean "It's
>>>> always smart to be a wise shopper on the Internet," and
>> "You cannot loose or
>>>> go wrong with Susan's Jewelry" when you mean "You cannot
>> lose..."
>>>>
>>>> Little stuff like that makes it clear you're a small
>> outfit. Small is OK,
>>>> but if it looks like you are trying to "pretend" to be
>> something else, the
>>>> shopper gets nervous.
>>>>
>>>> I'm not a big fan of Flash, especially on every page. As
>> a shopper I want to
>>>> spend my time shopping, not being forced to watch
>> "entertainment" I haven't
>>>> asked for.
>>>>
>>>> Sorry to be so negative, but you asked. Good luck!
>>>>
>>>> Alex
>>>>
>>>> "Bob" <Bob@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>>>> news:46EC99A4-9318-4E4C-8252-D0C89EEF8D46@microsoft.com...
>>>>> Hi every one,
>>>>>
>>>>> I have put many hours of hard work into my first
>> e-commerce web site, and
>>>> have had about 2,500 hits on it. I have not been able to
>> sell a single thing
>>>> with it and need help in figuring out what could be
>> wrong. I see my pay per
>>>> click ad's every where and they are working. If any of
>> you guys and gal's
>>>> have the time, will you please give me a evaluation of
>> my site. All comments
>>>> good and bad are welcome. I dont want to run out of
>> business before I make
>>>> my first sale.
>>>>> Thanks...   Robert     http://www.susansjewelry.net
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>> .

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Web site evaluation
    ... | You mention you're using pay per click ads so presumably you're in a money ... I'd stop the ads now put in a couple days ... at Susan's Jewelry is guaranteed 100% and your money ... shopper gets nervous. ...
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  • Re: Web site evaluation
    ... that Tiffany's site makes me want to buy that watch. ... | Id lose the Flash on every page - as Chris says look at doing something ... at Susan's Jewelry is guaranteed 100% and your money ... shopper gets nervous. ...
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