Site nearly done - comments please..

[becky]

Please have a look at my website www.newlittleperson.com

Would love comments - please bear in mind that this is a template - I will be putting more money into getting the site properly designed hopefully later in the year as the business evolves (fingers crossed!).

There's only one product you can see at the mo - which is the £25 baby gift bundle.

Problems I have with the template are: link names are different between top and LHS navigation, and the logo doesn't take you back to the home page. Only way back is to click on 'store' in the top navigation which isn't ideal. There are others... but would be grateful if you could let me know any major probs you see so I can see if I can get them tweeked.

Thanks very much in advance - I would really welcome any constructive criticism but please... be gentle.

[fastfences]

Hi Becky,
I'm the gentlest person on the forum :wink:

To me, the vertical words 'menu' seems cluttered. One of them may suffice. On your contact page you're using a 'yahoo' email address. Can't you configure it through your ISP (Internet Service Provider) control panel so that you have, say, info@newlittleperson.com

Site seems good to me (as a layperson) and choice of colour is good. I especially like the way you've 'stolen' Nike's swish and turned it upside down!

Cheers, Nigel

[Tin]

Hi Becky, I'm gentle too.

If you are able to tweak some elements of the site yourself Becky I'd be happy to help you add some search engine optimisation ingredients for free. PM me if you'd like some useful input when you get a sec.

Ray :)

[bitsnstuff]

Hi Becky,

If you find out the answer to the "logo linking back to the homepage" question please can you share with me, as my site is made with Actinic and that has been driving me spare as well?!

Kate :lol:

[bwglaw]

The site looks good to me. Perhaps when you have the budget get a professional in to tweak it to meet W3C guidelines.

Can I ask if you are actually VAT registered? Your Terms and Conditions state:

Taxable items have 17.5% VAT (sales tax) added.

If you are VAT registered and you apply the VAT then you will need to state the VAT Reg No in your Terms and Conditions.

[creospace]

To get the logo to hyper link back to the home page you will need o add a tiny piece of code to the source code, now with an e commerce package it might take a few mins to track down the right file but witha little knowlege it is an easy thing to do.

If you ask someone else nicely i'm sure they will do it for you but you may need to give them access to your ftp details. :)

Gary

[Whistle Ink]

Helloooo!

Can you not add the logo to the main template using something something like Dreamweaver?

All the templates are editable so if you add it in and make the image a link and then save and update/upload your site it should generate all the pages with your logo in there and should work. I think. :?: :?:

:D

[creospace]

Much the same as I said but the point was you may have to hunt around to find the right file especially if it's anything like os commerce.

I'm not familir with dreamweaver but I guess as a wysiwyg editior it wil be easier as an amature to adjust the code without mucking things up.

As I said a kind work in the ear of a web dev on here and i'm sure you can get yourself a risk free freebe ;)

[Whistle Ink]

I'm not sure if you can access the templates if you are using Actinic Express as I tried the demo and couldn't find anywhere it gives you the option to make it linkable. :(

However if you do have access it would be the templates like Act_Primary.html etc that you would need to modify and I think this can be found in your Site1 folder. That's if you have all this!! :D

[Whistle Ink]

Your Actinic Express package includes free support, provided by telephone or email, for as long as you are using the service. If you need any assistance with your online shop, Actinic’s experienced support team will be able to help you.

You can also gain access to a wealth of valuable ecommerce information and advice through Actinic courses and the online knowledge base.

To receive help now, register a support query online, or call 0845 129 4848.

Might be a time to kick this into action and take them up on it!!!!! :D

[becky]

Thanks so much for all of your comments! Really useful.
BTW I was only joking when I said be gentle - any feedback is always useful!! :)

I've now got a few things to go back to Actinic with, which is always better than drip feeding comments back.

Nigel, re using the nike swish the wrong way round - actually I think you'll find it's the ekin swish the the right way round :wink:

Good point re VAT - will add that on.

Re the logo link - yeah this is something I'll have to ask actinic to do as the express template I'm on doesn't really let you do anything... but useful info for when I upgrade later in the year.

[nickster]

Hi Becky,

the site doesn't look too bad! In a strange coincidence, I used to run the Mothercare website for 4 years, so I seem to be in a position to help you out a little :)

My first impressions on your home page are:
1. The header is too big! Many people have low resolution screens and may not have their browser sized too large. Therefore they won't be able to see that much of your site.
2. With an initial glance at your site, I can't quite work out what you're selling. If customers can't work this out, they'll not stay around to work it out. Have you considered a tagline or short sentence or two to describe what you're selling? "Fantastic new baby gifts" isn't too helpful - what sort of gifts? Clothes, toys, nappies?
3. Your left hand navigation doesn't describe what products you have - this would also help point 2. You could consider having a list of product categories, then customers can see easily what you've got and how they can get to it.
4. An "About Us" page would probably be helpful too - building some trust with customers will help them to convert into sales!
5. I like to emotive pictures on the home page - seeing babies on a babies web site is always a good thing! However, I did do a double take on the pregnant picture - I wasn't 100% sure exactly what I was looking at!
6. A featured product on the home page can be a good way to get people to buy stuff as well, especially if it's discounted! Also helps people understand what sort of products you're selling.

I hope this doesn't come across too critical, just trying to help!
If you'd like to do some reading, check out the ecommerce forum on www.webmasterworld.com - it's full of tips and whatnot!

[becky]

Hiya Nickster!!

Thanks for your comments - really useful. I wondered whether I needed to put something a bit more descriptive up front and I'll make what tweaks I can.

Unfortunately the site is an actinic express template - which though quick and easy doesn't allow for much customization (including the pages you can have in the navigation menus.)

However, it is quick and ridiculously easy to get going, and I can think about doing a better site later in the year.

As with all the comments I got - if I can't change it on this version - I'll certainly bear them in mind for the late 2006 upgrade.

Thanks to everyone again!

[autolycus]

On your contact page you're using a 'yahoo' email address. Can't you configure it through your ISP (Internet Service Provider) control panel so that you have, say, info@newlittleperson.com


Becky,

More detail on this (if required) can be found on our site at:
http://www.advice4businesses.co.uk/domain_names_email.shtml

HTH,
Dave.

[clairemackaness]

I like the site Backy, it looks good. Only thing is..............and I know this is petty, but the colour scheme reminds me of the cancer research site?

Also, can I suggest putting lots of smaller items into your £25 bundle as I was expecting a nice gift basket with lots of things in, not just two items.

[becky]

Also, can I suggest putting lots of smaller items into your £25 bundle as I was expecting a nice gift basket with lots of things in, not just two items.

Thanks for your comments claire! But they are 2 really nice things!!! No, I do take your point. I'll definitely look into it. I could have 2 options within this price range.

[Hayles]

Hi

I liked the overall look and feel of the site!

Would agree on two points that have been raised

1. At first glance at the tummy photo I thought I was looking at something quite different....

2. I was very surprised that the £25 bundle only had two gifts. I'm sure they're lovely, but it didn't seem much of a bundle?

I think it looks very nice and mother friendly!

Best of luck
Hayles

[Jayne]

Hi Becky,

I liked your site as it is, don't know the techy stuff, but I found it pleasing to the eye. Just one thing, I didn't like the belly pic either, loved everything else, including the colours :D

Jayne

[becky]

hmmmm sounds like the belly pic will definitely have to go and I'll need to try and find another nice b&w pregnancy picture....
Must admit I wasn't 100% sure about it either, but it was the best I had.

Thanks everyone!

[SillyJokes]

When you said be gentle I decided not to comment but you took back so here I am.

I agree, your bundle at £25 is not so much a bundle as a pair of items. Daisy roots retail at £13.50 when I checked them out so the height chart would have to be pretty special and as height charts are often given away free I don't see the value of it.

Perhaps you wrap them beautifully, in which case you should show what the whole gift will look like.

You need a much bigger add to basket button and put it at the top of the page, not at the bottom whee one has to scroll to find it.

I added two bundles to the basket before I realised the first one had been added to the basket. I clicked the checkout button to go to the basket but when I got there I could not change the quantity or remove anything from the basket.

Looking at it now I realise there is a go to basket button. By clicking the checkout button I jumped this stage and found myself unable to change the basket. To cure this enable to make basket changes in checkout or don't take them to checkout, take them to the basket.

Your images could have useful alt text about what they are showing instead of your image name. This helps people get an odea of what they will see if they click them. The same applies to any links.

I think the images of the baby with the price over the top should be changed for an image of the products you would buy and the price. This is far more helpful in making the right choice of product or simply of click. If you don't do this your customer is forced to make far more clicks to find what they are looking for.

I could not find a home button anywhere. What this means is that I never knew if I was back at the home page. This in turn left me feeling a bit disorientated.

Good luck with your venture. It looks nice.

[becky]

....ah that was still pretty gentle I think. (Please don't take that as a challenge!)

The rrp on daisy roots is £15, and yes the plot a tot is really nice. It's not a cheapo freebie type one. But yes I will look into another bundle within this price range with more bits and bobs in it. Which leads onto your other point - the baby pic with the price over means that within each price point I can have a few options.

It also looks less messy than having lots of pics of the items, but I do take your point about the number of clicks, so i'll bear it in mind for the next version of the site which I'll be able to customise a bit more - later in 2006.

The comments on the basket I can't change unfortunately - as I'm on the actinic express template currently. Same with the home page - you have to click on "store" in the top navigation which is really not right, but I can't do anything about it!!


Thanks for your comments anyway - much appreciated. Will set about changing alt tags asap

[SillyJokes]

....

the baby pic with the price over means that within each price point I can have a few options.

It also looks less messy than having lots of pics of the items, but I do take your point about the number of clicks, so i'll bear it in mind for the next version of the site which I'll be able to customise a bit more - later in 2006.

The comments on the basket I can't change unfortunately - as I'm on the actinic express template currently. Same with the home page - you have to click on "store" in the top navigation which is really not right, but I can't do anything about it!!


I'm sorry you are having problems getting actinic to do what you want and I'm afriad I can't help as I have no experience of it.

You have made a great start and i'm sure you can make a success of it as the site develops.

Regarding the images of the baby and the price you described pictures of products as messy and the baby image as easier for you.

When we developed our site it was a Eureka moment when we realised the importance of developing for the people using the site. Instead of making things easier for us or showing off how clever we were with roll over menus and animations we suddenly began to do every thing for the benefit of the visitor, assuming that all visitors were new to the internet.

You simply cannot go wrong in making sure that everything you do will be useful to your visitor, and by assuming that visitor is potentially a barely literate octogenarian with shaky hands. His money is as good as someone who is adept on computers and he will love you if he finds your site easier to use than your competitors. PLUS the adept person will also find the site easy to use and therefore you will convert more of them.

So if your user will find indicative images of the kinds of bundles you offer under each price bracket then it is worth considering creating them.

Coo, look at us back in the day. circa 2000

http://web.archive.org/web/20000301150409/http://www.sillyjokes.co.uk/index.html

Anyhoo, I'm sure you will do well. If we can make it based on a site that looked like that, you will be millionaires in two years.

[Copyqueen]

Hi Becky,

The site looks cute. Will the top logo be clickable to return to the homepage?

I have no technical knowledge but in terms of search engine optimisation, I can help with text etc. Would you like some free copy for the home page?

PM me if you'd be interested and we can talk...
Anna

[Tin]

Hi Becky, I'd jump at Anna's offer, she's very good at effective and compelling copy. If either of you want some free advice regarding the seo aspect of the copy just let me know. Sorry if that sounded pompous, wasn't meant too :-).

Ray

[mr.steve]

Hello Becky

I think it's a pleasant, uncluttered website... and congratulations on being brave enough to ask for criticism.

The advice that Silly Jokes gave is spot on. Always look at things from your visitors' point of view.

You've taken the most important step, in that you've got your website up and running. I think that means you know that action is the most important thing. I always go for action rather than perfection... as the person who found an error on my website earlier can no doubt testify... :oops:

I corrected it immediately!

So there are some great people on here who will give solid advice.

Now, the people who have given you advice on your colour scheme and suchlike have done a great job. I don't have any thing to add to that.

But here's a bit of very powerful advice... In fact it's one of the most important things you will ever learn.... and it's as relevant to many people on here as you.

It's something you need to know about e-commerce generally. It's something I learned from some of the best internet marketers on the planet, and it's crucial to your success.

I'm sure I'll get howls of protest about this, but here goes...

You see, selling things by the web is exactly the same as selling things by direct mail. (You know, sending catalogues and letters through the post). The most successful internet marketers are either traditional direct mail companies who have transferred their marketing knowledge to the web. Or they are new internet marketers who have learned the traditional direct mail skills and used them on the web.

And here's what all this means for you.

Every successful direct mailer knows that the most lucrative element of the mail order business is what is called the "house list". That is the names and addresses of past customers. Because once someone has bought from you once, they are much more likely to buy from you again. These people are absolute gold for your business.

And it's the same in internet marketing. The most lucrative element is the house list... though in this instance it consists of email addresses. Once you have a good house list of email addresses you can mail your customers again and again with offers.

And this is really important... because the house list is where most of your profits (sometimes 95%) will come from. Not from people visiting your website at random, but by past customers coming back to your website to buy again after being enticed by an email from their favorite baby goods supplier… which is you, of course.

So this is how it relates to your site design...

I may be going blind, but I couldn’t find an email capture form on your site.

And if this is so… you absolutely MUST get an email capture form on your site!

Collect those email addresses for all you’re worth!

In the long term they will bring you a flood of profits. If handled properly, they will become your long term customers and will make your business a roaring success.

So how do you entice people to give you their email address? The simplest way is to offer them a free report which they can download from your site as a PDF file. The report can be something simple like “Ten Top Tips for New Mums”.

Someone on here can probably help you out with doing the email capture form and writing the report.

Then get yourself a dedicated gmail address, because it has a brilliant search facility. To get one, you need to be invited. Send me a PM and I’ll invite you.

Keep the email addresses in there.

Then when you have a few mail addresses (maybe a hundred or so) you can invest in an autoresponder service, and then the game gets really interesting. You can mail your list in bulk – called “working the list” in the business – and offer them new products.

Even better, if you keep track of the age of the children, you can offer relevant products as the child grows up, expanding your range of products to feed a very hungry and captive market. What a wonderful business you’ve got yourself into…

There really is no limit to what you can do.

Once you get to the time of investing in an autoresponder, pm me and I’ll tell you what the best ones are. The market is constantly changing, so it’s no point in me telling you now.

All the best, and congratulations on taking the first steps to success.

Steve
the Free Advice Marketer

PS
Remember… 95% of profits come from the house list… Collect those email addresses!

PPS
Is this the longest post ever? I think I need a rest for a few weeks....

[Draky]

I had a quick look at your site and in my humble opinion it is pleasing to look at and informative. I think when you finish it that you will be happy with the result, which is more than can be said for my attempts!

Please take a look at my website www.tiemma.com and tell me your honest opinion. I think it looks fairly unprofessional compared to yours, which I have to say looks as though it has been detailed by a web designer!

Many thanks!

[Claire B]

Hi Becky, the site looks good and the 'bump' picture is def. an improvement on the old one.

I think your logo is lovely, but it seems to be of a lower resolution compared to the rest of the site, it seems a bit more grainy compared to other images (although it could be my eyesight, so ignore me if so :D )

You also have 'out of stock' displayed on some of your product pages and from a personal point of view, I always find this rather annoying. It gives the impression that you are unorganised or couldn't be bothered to ensure enough stock was available (which I'm sure wasn't the case).

Would it be better to have 'coming soon....' , which would give the impression that you are developing further exciting new products, or at the very least 'apologies, currently out of stock'.
At least this would give the impression that you are working on it...

You could also give people the chance to leave their email address and be notified once the product is in stock (tying in with Mr Steve's epic posting earlier :wink: ) at least that would add to your data base of email addresses.

hope this helps, good luck with everything, you have entered a lucrative market and I'm sure you will do brilliantly.

P.S. Have you thought about adding your web link to Junior Magazines website?, you will get lots of Yummy Mummys finding you on there. :D

[becky]

Thanks so much everyone for all of your comments, help and advice. It's great to find a place where you can get friendly constructive criticism.

I'm in the process of making changes where I can, and when I get chance.

Sue - thanks for your post - I had a look at your site which looks good. I wondered if the font could be standardised because it looks like there is a bit of a mix, and also, when I looked in the categories i was expecting to be linked through when I clicked on the pictures, but you have to click on the link below. Not a big problem but if you could change that I reckon it'd really help.

Someone in the posts above had said that sub categories within categories can be offputting to customers so I'm going to try and sort that out at some point soon on my site, and I noticed you;d done the same which you might want to change.

Have you had any orders yet? (I haven't :( )