Websites

[sparklyscotty]

Hi all. Am I the only one who expects a company's website to reflect their product? I visit so many sites that seem to sell interesting products, but the site turns out to be un-creative and bland. I find it a real turn off.
I know that an e-commerce site needs to sell, but surely a part of that is creating an atmosphere that will entice visitors to stay and then buy? Or are 'online catalogue' style sites the best way to sell?
This question is very important to me, because I am currently redesigning my site and need to know what kind of site to go for. What do you think?
-ANgel-

 

[bitsnstuff]

Hello,

I liked both sites, as they create very different atmospheres.

The first is nice, clear and does the job, but wouldn't keep me there for long. As although, the products are clearly displayed, it is not a very interesting site and unless she keeps changing her products it would be worth a regular visit.

The second has far more content and is more complex in its set-up, so that it keeps enticing me into different sections, by have various links to other items, little images, etc. Also there is far more content to be updated regularly, therefore making it worth a regular repeat visit, which is what you are trying to achieve.

So, on the basis that I would spend more time looking around the second and therefore would probably find something I wanted to buy during that visit, and also that I would bookmark and come back, I go for No. 2.

Kate.

 

[bitsnstuff]

Whoops, meant to say the first would not be worth a regular visit unless she keeps changing her products!!

Need more coffee, sorry

 

[Paul_J_Cooper]

I'm a creative web designer so I'd always say a website should reflect the business. Check out this snowboard e-commerce site design I'm currently working on: www.opusonlineltd.com/snowboard

We are trying to create a brand when we design a creative website, a brand that people can relate to and therefore have an affintiy towards it.

Creative sites will always stick in people's memory and you'll therefore have a better chance of customer retention and of customer referrals.

A lot of research goes into creating a creative website, you should take a careful look at your target market in terms of age groups, sex, occupation, location, the computer they use, internet connection speed and income. Also look at the type of music your customers might be interested in, their hobbies and the films they like, all this information is helpful to determine the type of imagery and design that people will respond to.

:idea:

 

[sparklyscotty]

Paul - THAT'S what I am talking about! I am really not happy with my webdesigner but I have already paid him, so I doubt I would get my money back if I cancelled. Take a look at my wee homemade site...
www.chimerique.co.uk
Techinically you needn't comment! But artistically, I think anybody visitng can see what I am trying to achieve. Except apparently for my web designers. Here are their ideas for my new site...
http://www.texaswebdevelopers.com/mockups/chimerique/index.asp

Now, I am not trying to slam them. What they are offering is great, but maybe just not right for me.

Here is my latest idea...
www.chimerique.co.uk/webpage.html

Paul - I might give you a call this week to talk about rates etc. If I can recoup some of my dough, I might consider switching. Just looking for something that will reflect me AND drive sales. Hey - I run my own business so that I CAN have my cake and eat it!
-Angel-

 

[epiphany]

If you want a new site purely for visual reasons rather than functional ones then you may want to consider having your current site revamped. You could make it look like a brand new site without all the expense of recoding your cart, this would be my advise as your site isn't bad and in fact IMO looks better than any of those Texas templates If you want a quote for any work you know where I am.

 

[Doctor-Webby]

I prefer the second site, its is bolder and more eye catching i believe that if a If your website isn't smart then people will leave, appearance is the eye catcher, there is a very fine line between someone visiting and staying constant change and updates that are visible will keep the hungry consumer coming back for more - after all everyone is slightly nosey and they do not want to miss anything

 

[Whistle Ink]

I liked both but the second one was much better. Those example from texas though. How appalling! Pass me the bucket.

I think ppl spend alot of monet get their websites done by crap designers and when they realise its crap, they dont have any money left to get it redone.

Maybe if web designers offered to take desposits and then monthly payments things may become more 'affordable'???????????

I would be willing to spend a little more on my website if i could sprted the payments. : )

 

[Paul_J_Cooper]

I don't charge my clients a penny til they're happy with the design. I just make my hourly rates clear at the start and give them an estimated time for the design work based on their ideas, the number of pages, type of site, etc

Then before I start to build the site proper, and when the client is happy with the design I ask for a 50% payment, with the remaining 50% due on completion.

The design remains my property until payment is made in full. That way if my design does get ripped off, I can make a claim against theft of intellectual property.

That way everyone is happy, and I know clients will like my designs as I've not had one say they didn't yet. And if they do, I'd work damned hard to make sure they get a design they like.

Visit my site at www.wickedwebdesign.co. uk to see some examples of my web designs. You're more than welcome to contact any of my clients for references.

 

[sparklyscotty]

Found another fab site that I love...
www.buddhagardens.com
If only I could think of excatly what I wanted and ask for it... but isn't that the web developers job???
I want something that is easy to navigate, elegant, feminine, classy and uses my trademark blues. A bit of interaction, with rollovers and a slideshow would make me happy. And they gave me those mock-ups???
I am tempted to post a challenge on here and say right, this is my budget, this is what I want, I will pay whoever does the best job!
-Angel-

 

[Doctor-Webby]

Do It - it will be fun!

i will try my best to win!

 

[Whistle Ink]

do it sparkly scotty - theres nothing worse than taking a web designer on and the realising they are doing some crap work for you.

some ppl on here have done 'some concepts designs' showing whats possible or at least what they are thinking with regards to my site. i think this is the way forward.

just as big companies pitch for business it would be great to see this happen for web designers. if this happens then us sme know what we would be getting and how committed the designer was to giving us the best solution.

this would also give us (those that dont know much about web design) to see the quality we would be paying for.

I am blunt and to the point critic about everything but I can imagine it being difficult for some people to tell a web designer whose working on the website that its a pile of crap, and if he keeps on producing crap to deal with it.

 

[sparklyscotty]

Will see if I can get my money back from TWD. If I can I am willing to stake it in the challenge. It will keep all you webbies out there busy. Also give you a change to show others on the forum your work.
-Angel-

 

[Whistle Ink]

To add! I have chatted to some 'web designers' off line - not from off here - just for fun. The websites were appalling, god knows how they manage to have something called a portfolio filled with real businesses with a horrendous web presence (worse than mine).

when asked 'what if i dont like the designs?' they say we will work on it until we are happy, but you know that they just wont come up with anything better.

I forgot why I posted this one so ill leave it there.