Feedback please

[Anara]

Ok, I know I've only been live for 17 days now but I realise that it's best to fix things asap rather than let a potential problem drag on!

Before the site went live, I asked 6 people on a parenting forum to fully test the site mainly for functionality, ease of use but also what they thought of the design. All feedback was extremely positive - easy to use, loved the design and products etc.

Last month we had 781 unique visitors and so far this month 474. A huge majority of those go no further than the home page. We launched on 26 June and have had two orders, both in the first week. One was from a launch posting I put on a parenting forum and the other from a google search.

I'm not expecting to get hundreds of orders a day and obviously realise that the business takes a while to build up, I'm just keen to make any improvements that I can.

Does anyone have any thoughts about why this might be? I'm aware that there are SEO issues which will be fixed soon, but once people are on the site I wonder why they aren't delving further.

I'd welcome any thoughts, ideas, critisicm etc

Thanks

Claire

[REFRESHer]

Hi Claire,

Can be a tough one to ascertain why users arent carrying out clickthrus to your shopping basket. There are a number of generic reasons.

1. The 1255 unique visitors (is that actually unique from IPs or just visits which again is different to hits) are a target audience which are not interested in the product no matter how you entice on your homepage.

2. Your marketing and word of mouth is reaching the wrong target audience although you went to a parenting forum. But are these parents just going to go to Toys R Us or Earl Learning Centre?

3. The design of the site could be off putting in that if a design is poor or not professional looking and aesthetically pleasing this then reflects on the service as a whole. ie if design is poor users will assume the service/product is.

I could go on but I would just like to say I am a new media designer/developer and if you want more information please dont hesitate to contact me. On a quick tip have prices and special offers the word clearance and speical offer do work even if they arent cheaper. Also if you are cheaper than ELC and Toys R Us tell people that do a price match and 30 day money gurantee with more emphasis.

[webprojectuk]

Hi, if you need more advice get in touch with me and I will be happy go through you website and give you some professional advice.

[She Says]

Hello :)
I think it really depends who is going to your site and why. If you posted on some forums then perhaps it is people being nosey. I got alot of nosy visitors posting on one of the forums you posted on as well!

From a customer's point of view I think there could be some more info on the homepage. I looked on your about me page and possibly the first paragraph from there or something similar could be put as an introduction on the homepage.

Just a thought!

hth
Sxx

[TheIntroducer]

It could be a whole manner of things, but one thing that springs to mind is how many of your visitors have "found" and how many have been "directed" to you? By this I mean how many have found your site through SERPS, PPC, or other links and advertising and how many have purely visited your site through forums like this one and the parenting forum you mention?

Because you posted an enquiry on a forum I had a quick look at your website and I then become one of your "unique visitors" who just look at your homepage.

[NuBlue]

I agree with the introducer. Try and think who would want your products and target them.

For example, look for child day care centres, creches, baby clinics, nursery schools etc..

Send them an email, make them aware of the website maybe give them a letter drop with a special offer. See if they are willing to hand a leaflet out to parents on your behalf etc ....

It would be better to get 10 parent visitors a day who are looking to buy toys then 10,000 web monkeys like myself who have no intention of buying anything and are merely being nosey. Although having said that, the Barbie stand on http://www.anara.co.uk/index.php/cPath/69_78 looks very cosy :)


Michael

NuBlue Digital Web Solutions
www.nublue.co.uk
0845 0045 583

[SillyJokes]

I think your oiginal test was flawed. It's no good asking people what they think - they will tell you what they think you want to hear.

you need to be there, watch them use the site, listen to their brain thoughts (you will ask them to verbalise everything). Just asking a few disinterested forum members is not enough. (except here).

Your home page needs an enticing call to action and a few prices I would have thought. try and display your expected best sellers.

Incidentally Adderbury is just down the road from us (SillyJokes - whittlebury, nr Silverstone, we should get together!)

regards

Caroline

[Write My Site]

Hi Claire,

If you decide to write more info for your home (and other) pages, I can help. writemysite dot co dot uk.

Good luck with it all,

Emily