Need to increase sales!!!

[Pete Williams]

Hi Folks


I seriously need to increase sales but have hit a wall after a year of trading.

Any help or suggestions would be gratefully accepted and probably implemented.

The problem with a year of trading is that we have little in the way of capital!


Cheers

[Doctor-Webby]

What about getting some form of professional endosement from either an equipment manufacturer or a key player?

Do your websites get a lot of traffic?, if they do a manufacturer of pool cues, tables may well be interested in advertising on there

the only other thing is good old sneak out at midnight and put posters and handout out

[Rob Holmes]

Hi Pete,

I was a bit confused while I was on your site, you're the American Pool Network but you're in the UK ?

Maybe if I'm a bit confused others are too?

Rob

[Pete Williams]

Thanks for replying.

Is it possible to get an endorsement for free?

I already have a licensed dealership from a key manufacturer. I have toyed with displying prices in £, $ and Euro to increase potential market.

According to Alexa our reach is 0.5 so I think that is pretty low in terms of hits I would have to check my stats. End of April we were receiving around 2500 page views per day on average. The thing is I do not know what is good or bad!!!

Cheers

[Pete Williams]

American Pool is a generic term for the US cue sports disciplines. It is not advertising the country but the sport.

[Rob Holmes]

American Pool is a generic term for the US cue sports disciplines. It is not advertising the country but the sport.

I understand now - but are you UK focussed or do you want to be in the US too?

I think if you're UK then you need to make that clear on the site because you've got American in the title and people rightly or wrongly assume things that may not be correct.

Rob

[Pete Williams]

We are UK focused, so there could well be some confusion.

[Rob Holmes]

Well for those in the know it's probably ok but I see you're selling an (annual?) membership so really you need to make sure you're not losing people because they are making the wrong assumptions.

Also I would say spell out the benefits of joining up, maybe offer a trial period? Something to get those subscription payments up. Maybe say what the free gift is and show a photo?

Rob

[Pete Williams]

I have even considered making the portal side of the site free, and then reducing the discount for members down to 10%. However, most suppliers would give 10% so we would then not be any different.

From your point of view would you be put off if an item reads as out-of-stock? It is impossible for us to keep everything in stock. Do you think it would be better if the items read as an estimated delivery time?

Thanks for your help so far.

[Rob Holmes]

From your point of view would you be put off if an item reads as out-of-stock?

I'd probably try somewhere else.

It is impossible for us to keep everything in stock. Do you think it would be better if the items read as an estimated delivery time?

Yes so long as they are pretty accurate I think an estimated delivery time is fine and the customer can make a decision for themselves if the waiting time is acceptable or not. Thats what we do anyway. What I would say is that if you go over the estimated time keep your customer well informed.

Rob

[Doctor-Webby]

You could try UK banner exchange it works for some people

Its free and you are getting enough hits a day to get enough exposure

[Rob Holmes]

You could try UK banner exchange it works for some people

Dr Webby, I have to say in the last eight or nine years of making a living online I have never met anyone who has made more than a few quid from banner adverts.

Rob

[Doctor-Webby]

But for a small banner on your website on the off chance that it might be noticed wouldn't you do it?

I would just take advantage of everything there is for free after all Luck is what you have left over after you give 100 percent.

[Pete Williams]

I have tried the UK banner exchange and just felt that although it may have given me some exposure, the banners we had to show were unprofessional so I took them off.

I will only display a banner that I feel shows a professiona image and some of them were just not p to scratch!

[Rob Holmes]

But for a small banner on your website on the off chance that it might be noticed wouldn't you do it?

Personally I don't like the standard sort banners on business websites - forums and portals maybe.

I would just take advantage of everything there is for free after all Luck is what you have left over after you give 100 percent.

I've heard another explanation too...
Luck is the combination of preparation and opportunity :)

Rob

[MinuWeb]

The harder I work the luckier I get :D