Need some feedback please

[MAMESTAR]

Hi
I have just currently setup my website www.mamestar.com and need some feedback on it?

I sell arcade cabinets for home use and find it really hard to target my audience.

As website is up and running i would first like to know if people know instantly what i am selling and find it easy to navigate through the site.

If my pricing is clear and if it looks like a good idea.

How to target my audience?

get listed in search engines?

I am sorry for all the questions but i would like some help and cannot afford proffesional advice.

I have thrown everything into this idea and need to turn it around with the very little money i have left.

My product is ready for sale but know one can find it.

I had success on ebay but do not want to go down the auction route.

I am thinking of investment and i am also open to offers.

Thanks in advance

[clairemackaness]

Gamings not my thing so I cant see past the techy nerd bit but your first word remember is spelt incorrectly and as you are a UK comapny targeting UK people I'd change the sentance mentioning pumping quarters in to the slot to 10p or something.

Good luck though

Claire

[William Wilson]

You have too much white space on some of your pages. I would suggest using an image of a machine to keep visitors focused on your product, my take.

[Arlo]

Hi,

Criticism using the written word often sounds unduly harsh. Please don't read this post that way. The following comments are genuinely meant to be constructive!

The basic design is fine (i.e. the box in which the information sits, and menu). Clean, clear. No problem. That's the good news, because anything else is relatively easy to sort out.

Claire has already pointed out the spelling mistake in the first sentence. I'm afraid I have to be blunt here and say that the the copy needs re-writing from start to finish. There are many other spelling mistakes in there. But that's only a part of the problem. The copy just doesn't read well. Some sentences are too long, others are not well constructed. It simply doesn't engage the reader.

From a design perspective, some of the content within the box needs reformatting. The main text shouldn't be in bold, and the font should be consistent throughout. The red text above the slot machines on the home page is too much. I'd probably change this to blue. William has already commented on the fact that some of the pages have too much white space. That's true. There are also parts where there isn't enough. It all looks a bit too bunched close to the menu ... esp. on the DIY cabinets page. In short, it needs to look 'balanced' on the page.

Coming to your specific questions:

Yes, it is clear what the site is all about (despite the text). Yes, the navigation is clear.

Pricing is clear, although it would be nice to have the separate items contained within individual boxes, or delineated with a fine vertical line.

I wouldn't comment on whether I think it's a good idea (don't take that as a negative, it's just a personal rule of mine).

As regards targetting your audience - that is something that requires more detail. Have you identified and defined your target audience?

Finally - getting listed in search engines. That's a big question! First of all, we have a number of guides on this subject on our website which you might find helpful. But in short, the most important factors in achieving a high listing are: site optimisation for key words, quantity and quality of content (the more pages on your site, the better), quantity and quality of inbound links (the more sites that link to yours, the more important yours is judged to be).

Hope that is helpful.

[Mark Pocock]

Hi

Here are my thoughts:

1. No headline on any of your pages. You've got limited time to drag your prospects into your web page. So always use a headline.
Make it a powerful benefit orientated headline to your target buyers.

Perhaps the 'If' and 'Then' formula here. Though I'm not sating this is the one.

say something like" If you love the thrill of playing arcade games then....

Give me 3 benefits under the headline.

2. Re write each page in a conversational tone.

3. Use testimonials throughout your PAGES. Prove tyour credibility. Show me you are THE person to do business with.

4. Your guarantee is far too weak. And some items are unbelievably not covered by your guarantee. You need to bend over backwards with your potential customers. Make it risk free. Put a 60 day guarantee.

5. Where's my special offer?
Make me an offer I can't refuse. So I got be brain dead NOT to buy from you.
What bonuses can you throw in? That have a high percieved value to me the customer.


6. Get into the mind of your prospects. What do people who play these things do? Are they addictive types?

7. Choose a person you know who plays these things. Go and sit down and write a 2 page sales letter to them. But don't post it. It'll help you understand their mentality. Their wants, beliefs and desires.

8. If you want a search engine optimisation genius email rob@dotmagic.co.uk
over 1700 web desiners and developers consult him.

9. look for joint ventures. You've got the product. You need a database. What companies can you team up with have a database of names who are interested in this? Offer them a deal. A % of sales arising from your JV.

10 what businesses can you target with a sales letter? Put your thinking cap on here. Activity centres, largeer self catering establisments which have a games room, etc, etc


hope this helps mark

[mumper]

I have to agree with Arlo on all the points made about the quality of the copy.

[Belladonna]

Just to add to Arlo's comments - the first thing I would do is perform some research on exactly what keyword phrases your target audience is using to look for your goods.

Without targetting the correct phrases - you are shooting in dark!

[Martyn Salmon]

Hi Mamestar,

I don't think the site looks to bad, but is there any payment methods that you can offer, for instance Mastercard, Visa, etc etc, anything like this adds respectability IMO to a site, as the general public feel more trusting I have found if these well known brands are displayed.

I know a certain forum that deals with gaming guys, and people who may be interested in this sort of thing, send me a PM and I will give you the link as I don't want to upset anyone on this forum if they don't want other forums advertised?

[MAMESTAR]

Hi
Thankyou for the very very good advice you have all given me.

I have taken loads on board and have done alot of changes.

i hope website is looking better and i again invite any suggestions.

Thanks again for the help, past and in the future.

PS i still have to check all the spelling

Website can be viewed at

www.mamestar.com
www.mamestar.co.uk
www.mamestar.moonfruit.com