Review My Website. Criticism Welcomed.

[speedy_s]

Hello,
Having just started importing goods from overseas, the first thing I have embarked upon is building a website (google: cricket haven) since it is virtually free (only £3 for 2 years domain name)!

Also, I have set up my own ebay store selling the same things but having only sold bits and bobs before this is the first time I am launching the store. Anybody got tips how to get most sales through stores + ebay in general (link to store via website)?

So does it look professional enough and have you got any thoughts?
Thanks a lot!

PS: You will need Firefox 2.0 or IE 7.0 to view the site properly.
PPS: You can also view it by clicking on my name and then selecting 'Visit Homepage'.

 

[Shoptistic.com]

Hi Speedy,

You will need to either write the URL with gaps or add it to your forum profile.

 

[speedy_s]

Hi Speedy,

You will need to either write the URL with gaps or add it to your forum profile.

Thanks. Done.

 

[multilingual]

The logo is a bit strange.

www.crickethaven.co.uk

At first I couldn't work out what a bottle of wine had got to do with cricket, then I realised that it was supposed to be a bat!

And what does 'the affordable cricket store' mean?

Is every other store unaffordable?

JB

 

[speedy_s]

Thanks for the link. Hmmn well yeah good point might need to tweak it a bit. I bet u next time u will realise the name in an instant jus by lookin at tht wine bottle/bat lol.

 

[wood1e2]

I agree I think the logo, is either to small to be effective, is that a wine bottle or a cricket bat. Or it is trying to be to clever, maybe go for a more simple effect.

The "larsons" graphics looks like it might be bigger than the area they are in.
The colour of the text above the cricket bats, may want to be deeper blue. As the light blue fades into the background somewhat.

You may want to place a menu across the top once in the shopping area, as most people would not look at the X and think that is the way home. Or out of the shopping area.

I would always err on the side of mentioning your Ebay shop. As I think it gives mix messages, which shop are you selling from?

Light blue is pleasant colour, but can look cold, I would have thought a more fire colour to excite potential colours, might be better.

 

[Gillie]

Loose the blue .. whats that got to do with Cricket?? Also the logo if you are incorporating pictures for words, use proper colour ones of them .. no way would I associate blue wine bottle for a larson cricket bat ... and this is from someone who has just spent over £300 on my two sons at the beginning of the cricket season too ....

 

[blown away]

Perhaps it's just me , but do you think your url could be a tad confusing?
It's occured to me that people may well type in "cricket heaven" rather then haven. I had to look twice to double check. Is there another site called cricket heaven?? or is haven a cricket term that I know nothing about?

 

[speedy_s]

Hi,
Thanks for lots of criticism!!!

Hello wood1e2,

I agree I think the logo, is either to small to be effective, is that a wine bottle or a cricket bat. Or it is trying to be to clever, maybe go for a more simple effect.

Light blue is pleasant colour, but can look cold, I would have thought a more fire colour to excite potential colours, might be better.

Yeah you are right. I have edited the header now it has more colour etc..., see what you think.

The "larsons" graphics looks like it might be bigger than the area they are in.
The colour of the text above the cricket bats, may want to be deeper blue. As the light blue fades into the background somewhat.

You may want to place a menu across the top once in the shopping area, as most people would not look at the X and think that is the way home. Or out of the shopping area.

I cannot quite understand what you are saying there sorry can you please explain a little bit. Thanks.

Hi Gillie,

Loose the blue .. whats that got to do with Cricket??

That right but are there any colours that have anything to do with cricket (eg Puma with orange coloured stickers?!) I used blue before as they are the national colours for England one day team.
I have changed the colour scheme a bit but i am not too sure on it yet. Also, the logo has been edited...what do you think?

I was just wondering since you spent £300 on cricket equipment, would you have bought from my shop (ebay or online)? If not why not?

Hi blown away,

Perhaps it's just me , but do you think your url could be a tad confusing?
It's occured to me that people may well type in "cricket heaven" rather then haven. I had to look twice to double check. Is there another site called cricket heaven?? or is haven a cricket term that I know nothing about?

That's very true. The reason i used 'haven' rather than 'heaven' was for some originality really, haven is a sanctuary. So, cricket haven - means a sanctuary for cricket lovers who want to buy the best equipment at affordable prices. But i hear your concern and i have registered the domain cricketheaven . co . uk which i will redirect to the original website.

Again, thank you to all who have taken some time to review my website.

Speedy

 

[wood1e2]

The "larsons" graphics look jaggied, like an image 10x10 trying to fit in a layout 8x8 I would think the larsons logo is smooth, not jagged.

There is no menu in the shopping cart area. How are visitors going to return to the home page? You have a large X which when clicked will take visitors back to the home page, most people maybe unaware of this. And so be stuck in the shoping area, wanting to get out and look at something else, but not know how to.

Also, with the website only working in IE7 and FF then you have lost 50% of your potential market already, as 50% or there abouts still use IE6 and various other browsers. Although saying that, IE7 users are growing.

 

[speedy_s]

The 'larsons' logo has been scaled down in fireworks - as it was much bigger before. That's why it looks jagged.

The shopping area feature is done using GreyBox - i am not sure if you are aware of it. I will need to put in a help section at the bottom of the window to make sure what you said does not happen.

Its not that it doesn't work with IE 6 etc...but IE 6 does not like my CSS coding so there are display errors. Also, IE 6 does not recognise transparency in PNG format images (using as a white background glow) which i have no idea why not!

 

[wood1e2]

Not familar with GreyBox, but it doesn't matter who runs your E-commerce, or how it is created a clear menu, and intuitive user layout will all help towards creating healthier sales from visits.

Send me a PM and I will have a look at the logo for you. If possible scale it down without the jaggedness (if there is such a word!!!)

Also what part of your css does IE6 not like...saying that there is a lot IE6 doesn't like but maybe I can help you there as well...