at last.. a website [Archive] - UK Business Forums

kyla33

23rd December 2008, 22:04

After months & months of research, questions, knockbacks, my business is online!

Please can anyone view it for me & let me know their thoughts. Can be as honest as you like as can be changed if needed.
I really love it myself but obviously arnt the one who will be buying from it.

:):):):):):):):)

That Guy

23rd December 2008, 22:24

I like it not sure if the background is a little to much? Maybe soften the colours on the background.

I think the layout is nice clean and simple :)

streetslocal

23rd December 2008, 22:35

I like the site itself with regards to use of graphics etc.
But the background reminds me of them horrendous gift bags you can buy...:eek:

EliteLimitedUK

23rd December 2008, 22:42

Hi,

Background - Looks good but does remind you of those socks girls use to wear

Website its self - Is really good and well placed.

I dont no but has anyone noticed that If your fiance or girl friend pregnant you eaither see more babies or websites to do with babies.

Regards

EliteLimitedUK

matt_15

23rd December 2008, 22:45

I think everyone would agree you are a true entrepreneur! Well done for following it through. Personally I think the website is spot on, and compliments your "funky" theme. Now all you need to do is tell people you exist! Congratulations

FireFleur

23rd December 2008, 22:48

Well done, but that background ohhh, you will be removing it soon, when you have to look at it all the time :)

Interesting, when I remove the background some of the interface is not backgrounded on the element, so it is going to need a little work to get rid of it.

kyla33

23rd December 2008, 22:59

thanks to everyones replies so far.. the designer said wasnt sure bout the background either but I sort of persuaded him! oops.
think its because i only have a small screen on laptop, i dont see much of the stripes.
Prob spend another 11 months now researching SEOs & marketing.:)

sussexrob

24th December 2008, 00:15

lol love the site. Made me laugh when i saw it as its such a happy site

the background through ... yeah... maybe a light blue as in sky blue... the colours there made me feel a bit sick lol and reminded me of the ways Commodore 64 games used to load :)

great look otherwise

Rob

computaguy

24th December 2008, 00:16

I did two things. I looked at the site myself and got my wife to remember all my immediate thoughts while viewing. First thought was that I was looking for links in background areas that were designed to stand out so much.

THEN I asked my ten year old to look at it with a view to finding something for his 2 year old sister. He loved it and said the bright colours made it seem like a game.

I have no idea whether this is helpful, but you said be honest!

thedesigntailor

24th December 2008, 01:59

Great site and I love the Monkey outfit. The blog really shows a warm personal side which fits the brand perfectly - keep it up!

sm1

24th December 2008, 02:19

Looking good :) Agree background is a bit too much! Do like the fullphat portfolio, they have a nice design style :D

sjt

24th December 2008, 02:59

I like it! Good luck, hopefully my site should be ready to launch by the new year, with a bit of luck it'll look as sleek as yours!

AndyP

24th December 2008, 05:07

Well done....nice clean and really quite funky site... and I was expecting to truly dislike the background given the comments above...but actually I quite like it...yes, its a bit in your face and you may ultimately decide to tone it down a bit but it does fit with the funky theme, so why not!!

I think you've done a good job. I hope its a real success story for you!

katie11

24th December 2008, 12:32

Hi Kyla,

I also love the website, maybe you can have just one bright colour as a background (the fuchsia pink on the first line would look great for example).

As a buyer, I'd have the following comments though:

1. whilst the lifestyle pictures show the babygro rom the back so you can see the cherry, flower design etc, when you actually click onto the collection pages, all customers will see at a first glance is the front of the babygro, so they will assume you don't have the other ones and will immediately click out... I know that the names of each product clearly say what the product is and that once you click into each product, you have another photo there, but the reality is that very few customers will actually read the title, and even fewer will click into each product to check just in case that is what they're looking for... you'd be really surprised as to how lazy (and stupid : ) ) some people are... So I think it might be better to put the back view photos on the collection page instead.

2. you only have a mobile number on the site. You can buy an 0845 number really cheap and then just forward all calls to your mobile.

Hope this helps.
Katie

That Guy

24th December 2008, 12:49

2. you only have a mobile number on the site. You can buy an 0845 number really cheap and then just forward all calls to your mobile.

You can get a FREE 0845 number here: just0845numbers.co.uk

Its free to divert to landlines but not sure about mobiles.

roythehandyman

24th December 2008, 12:50

gone for some migrine tabs and a lie down in a dark room. ( my cat just threw an epilectic fit)

streetslocal

24th December 2008, 12:52

Or feel free to take one of our free numbers and switch boards::D

www.ukfreeswitchboard.co.uk

kyla33

24th December 2008, 17:10

All the replies are great! Really chuffed it has received such a positive response. Cant recommend Martin from full phat enough - I dont know anything about computers so he sorted everything out for me.

Will look into tel. no. and changing my pics over.

cjd

24th December 2008, 18:07

I liked the site - even the stripes.

I also liked the products - they look like good presents. I think you need to do more than sell babygrows; but no doubt you're onto that.

Get rid of the 077 contact number as soon as you can though, it just tells everyone that you are a tiny, home based outfit working from a mobile ;-)

(edit: Just noticed that others have recommended using 0845. They are better than 07s but still not really a good idea for your only contact number; most people don't know what they are or what they cost.)

Gillie

24th December 2008, 19:27

And just to be contrary, I like the stripes!

computaguy

24th December 2008, 19:49

Or feel free to take one of our free numbers and switch boards::D

www.ukfreeswitchboard.co.uk (http://www.ukfreeswitchboard.co.uk)

I just did that! Seems like a really good service. didn't even know such a thing was available!

kyla33

30th December 2008, 21:41

thanks Katie11.. have now changed my pictures over. Ta

biomed86

30th December 2008, 21:53

Really like the site kyla - congrats for getting it up and running :) best wishes for your business in the new year!

downsouth

30th December 2008, 22:02

totally luv the site, very fresh and the stripes are brilliant, certainly helps in my opinion to display your products :D :D

Wish you all the best

Gotta agree with CJD on the phone number, give him a bell, he'll sort a decent number out for you too if you want :)

maria102

30th December 2008, 22:59

I love it, and stripes didn't do Paul Smith any harm did they?! :p

flyingfish

31st December 2008, 03:24

cjd

31st December 2008, 09:52

Our general manager asks me almost everyday that why our newly established website has such low traffic, though it is built by the professional person. I feel a heavy load on me that I do not know what to do.

Ask him why he thinks it would get any traffic at all.

You have built a web site which is simply one of billions - why and how would anyone know about it?

You need to market it and that a long term and fairly costly process.

skeeling

31st December 2008, 10:21

The site looks great, it is clear and friendly but the background is way too busy for the user and detracts from the content on the page. Simpler is often better. If you submit to a selection of business web directories with high page rank it may help you with web traffic, I've had more luck with freeindex and ebay classifieds than I have with spending money on monthly link building.
Good luck

seasonsonline

31st December 2008, 13:01

Hi there! Congrats on the site, and welcome to the wonderful world of ecommerce trading! I personally don't think the background is as bad as what people are saying.- If it gets people talking, and the worst they can say is that it is bright and a bit full on,- then you're not going too far wrong.

It could be toned down a bit by taking out some of the coloured bands, but it reminds me of "United colours of Benetton" (think that's right). Like I've experienced, your biggest challenge now is to drive people onto your site. Good luck!!

kyla33

31st December 2008, 13:31

cjd

31st December 2008, 14:02

Thanks to all the replies... gonna keep my background as it is as like many have said it gets people talking.
The only problem I have with the number change is all my postcards, flyers, cards etc have that number on..think I may have to wait until I have given out all the 500 I have had printed!!

You don't need to drop the number straight away, you can add another one and run the two together for 6 months or so, gradually dumping the one you want to lose.

Changes to stationery take time, changes to websites can be instant.

wheel man

1st January 2009, 11:57

I really like it, the colours are nice and vibrant and matches the products you are selling.

All the best with your business.

pcservicenetwork

1st January 2009, 13:16

Love the website, and the background is great, but it made it very difficult for me to read the content, as it was too distracting. Maybe fade it a bit, sort of like a watermark?

Apart from that, really good, well done!

owbe

1st January 2009, 17:27

I actually really like the background.

Bright, colourful and certainly would attract the customers.

TotallySport

1st January 2009, 22:41

Hi

Nice site, picture quality and the content of them is first class, agian I wouldn't buy from you as i would click back as soon as I had seen the background.

Two issues IMO:

1 there are spaces in the URL's and thet is bad, as different browser treat them differently, there should never be spaces in urls or file names when online.

And the other is the checkout

There is an error when I tried to have a quick look, if you go to the cart screen and click the paypal button (not the checkout button), it comes up with an error, I will point out I did go to the other button first (don't know if that makes a difference.

The other thing is you can only pay with palpal and since you seem to be the manufacturer I think you need other services such as protx.

Also since you have a really nice product you might want to put a bit of info about other people stocking your products.

Good Luck.

That Guy

1st January 2009, 23:08

I clicked the paypal button straight away and it still comes up with an error.

Also as said remove the spaces in the URLS and I would tone the background down a little. You can always just keeps the same colours just fade the image by 50% :)

Mikey12345

1st January 2009, 23:42

Quality website - one of the best new online stores I've come accross in a long time.

Well done!

liquid_meth

4th January 2009, 00:52

I like it.

Babies would obviously not be shopping there, but i guess that parents would appreciate the theme. I think you took the right path. Layout demonstrates straight away the payment methods, the key products. Overall very good.

Couple of suggestions:

Background only matches the rainbow, its not a big thing but you've set up a nice theme of green hills, maybe a greenish backround would look better?
How do you intend to market the website, the products?

I can email you some SEO ebooks.

I will be setting up my own mens underwear website with my own brand in about 2-3 months time and i have already given it a fair amount of thought, but learning from your experience and sharing my ideas with you would probably be a step forward.
In any case - keep going, i like it!!

DG
Liquid_meth

AndyP

4th January 2009, 07:10

Theres nothing to stop you having more than one number though...personally I would go for the number change right now and get that on to your site, into your email signature and anywhere else that you promote the number......you can still use the flyers etc that you have until they are gone cos your mobile number will still exist....but the sooner that you get your new number in place the better.

floralpride

4th January 2009, 12:28

I think your website is brilliant, speaking from a customer not proffessional point of view.
I love sites that are different from the same old designs and ones like yours really stick in my mind.
My first properly designed website was on a very definite Scottish theme with the outer background all Pride of Scotland tartan. Customers actually commented how much they missed the old site when it got revamped to a more floristy design.
Good luck

Dmkths

4th January 2009, 15:16

Hi there Kyla,

I to like your site nice, bright and colourful. I hope you have all the success you want from it.
Just one point to make when add an item to cart and then proceed to checkout there is a error.

Good Luck,

Mark