Any advice for an e-commerce newbie?

[Ethansmum]

Hi, good morning all !

I have just started working for myself and am determined (like we all are) to make it succeed but I'm not sure on how or where to get started. I am not sure if I am posting in the right place but would love some expert advice.

Gilly

[Mister B]

Morning Gilly

Congrats on making the decision to go it alone, it would help people here if you could let us know what you are planning to do!

With regards to where you post, probably best if you have a lurk around the different sections as each one will contain a mine of information. Prepare to learn lots!

Good luck with your new venture.

Mister B

[Ethansmum]

Hi Mister B,

My site is something that I think or rather "hope" that I have found a hole in the Northern Irish market for. To get an insight into what I do, it's address is www.nirelandmumsonline.co.uk/ (http://www.nirelandmumsonline.co.uk/) (hope that its alright that I post the link here). I just really want it to succeed and am prepared to do anything (around my son's naptimes) to make it work.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Gilly

[bizman99]

GIlly, welcome to the e-commerce world.
ok... I took a look at your site. Would i be right in saying you made this yourself?
I'm going to give you some quick tips, that will really help you. I am father of two boys and I think your idea is good, swapping/selling clothes, but remember you are potentially competing with the likes of eBay, buy and sell etc for selling clothes, so you will really have to make your business message clear and emphasis the benefits of your website. I'd even suggest changing title of your website... e.g. call it something that really gets across what the site is about - e.g. babygearexchange.com or something..

You need to be laser focused on what your site is about to guide people through sales process. It needs to be a lean website. as users are task orientated and you need to make it easy for them to preform the tasks and have no content that doesn't truely benefit your website.

- puzzles, find a home - got to go.. not what they're on your site for, keep people focused on your core business.

- about us needed, and contact address - adds a reliability/confidence factor

- If you have a few hundred pounds to spare, get a professional graphic web designer to give key pages a revamp, and more professional look. It will ulitmately benefit you overall in terms of more advertisers and user who feel confident in using your website.

- You can still keep all those relvant third party links/adverts but there are some industry standard sizes which may help make the banners look better. And if you get other advertisers on board in future, they will most likely be able to provide you banners in size that will fit your pages. Check out iab.com , ad sizes are there.

- You need to make the shopping section more prominent if this is the area that is the core of the website. featured products on homepage, add the main categories as navigation items on homepage, and on left hand side. Keep all image thumbnails the same size - will make the page look tidier and more professional. ensure when you click into a product you have the product image and details on the product to reassure someone that they should buy it.

I hope these few things help... u will then need to work on getting your traffic numbers up.. thats a whole other post!!

[Ethansmum]

Hi,

Many thanks for your feedback on my site. I completely agree with everything you said about it. It is just difficult getting it right. I will take all the help and advice I can get...

We have had a family tragedy today so I will not be able to work much on the site for a few days or so but will try to get some help done.

Thanks again,

Gilly

[yankee candleman]

Hi.

Are you in anyway associated with mumsonline, the UK version?

Angus

[FashionHairShop]

can i ask you what program you created this using?

i find it very hard to pick apart the different parts without looking for a long time.

i expect your bounce rate is very high?

and what is with all the white space at the bottom.

im there is a program better then what your using maybe some of us can help?

i know dreamweaver mx and cs3 both make very good websites with tons of features it is also very easy to learn.

[Ethansmum]

Hi.

Are you in anyway associated with mumsonline, the UK version?

Angus

Hi,

No, I am not associated with the UK version. I've never even heard of it...

Gilly

[Ethansmum]

can i ask you what program you created this using?

i find it very hard to pick apart the different parts without looking for a long time.

i expect your bounce rate is very high?

and what is with all the white space at the bottom.

im there is a program better then what your using maybe some of us can help?

i know dreamweaver mx and cs3 both make very good websites with tons of features it is also very easy to learn.

Hi,

I used a braille programme and using my feet to design my site. What is your site address as I would like to have a look at it as you do not mention it in your profile here.

Gilly

[Sam Kidd]

Gilly do you have any money to spend on getting a designer with e-commerce knowledge to help design the website for you. I know sometimes the cost can be off putting, but if you were to add up the the time you have to spend trying to programme and design the website it makes sense in the end.
It also frees up your time to promote the website and work on the content so it reads well but is also targeted for the right keywords so people searching find your site.

As a few others have said the home page is very confusing as to what you do. You have taken the hardest step which is starting the rest is easy to sort out once the time and the right people are used.

Best of luck with it.

[DesignsOnline]

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