Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

Fellow SUN Members,

I have a group of websites focused on the concept of Group Buying Power.

B2B and B2C and niche sites as well. I am looking for objective feedback.

Any feedback is greatly appreciated ie .. look, user friendliness, ease of use, value etc....

B2B is www.thebuyinggroup.com

B2C is www.usabuyinggroup.com

Niche: www.teenbuyinngroup.com

Thanks

Mark

Hi Mark,

Took a quick look. First off, you have a typo in your teen group link (should be ...buyinggroup.com, not ...buyinNgroup.com.

Like the clean approach to your design, and the blue isn`t a bad choice. However the pages tend to come out a little messy looking with logos and boxes pushing out of their columns. And while I like the blue, it is a little monotonous.

They`re not bad sites. But I also really don`t have a sense that I MUST join them - I guess I`m not getting to see advantages up front (the old WIFM.)

I`d have to do a lot of thinking about what you`re trying to accomplish to come up with really solid suggestions. As I said, they aren`t bad sites, but they don`t cause excitement either.

Neil Speers


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NeilSpeers. com - Acoutstic blues / electric folk - independent music. Speersphoto.com - Commercial, industrial, corporate, & editorial photography based in Calgary, Alberta. Neil Speers 403 230 4042

Neil,

Thank You  for the constructive feedback. I will look at our site a bit differently now .

Take Care and Thanks Again.

Mark

I think you should place sample savings on the home page.  People would be more curious if they had an idea of what some of the tangible benefits may be.

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arp laszlo | www.inkwire.net | web design, development, marketing

I`m fairly consistent in my comments about web sites. Great idea and probably a huge market.

1. Clarity.

I think your site is more or less well done but it needs more clarity. I didn`t necessarily understand your market position and I was left wondering if the web site was about your corporate brand or about your product or service. I guess TheBuyingGroup is your company but it`s not your service. Your service is savings. Focus more on what TheBuyingGroup offers and not what it does. You offer savings. Focus on savings. Did you know there are 120 words in the main text area. That`s far too many. You need only a few words. I sometimes recommend http://www.marketingforsuccess.com. It`s a wonderful site run by a great guy. [I am not affiliated with his business.]

2. Hooks

A good front page has one purpose. To quickly and clearly communicate position, purpose, and product in a manner that gets the attention of your visitor. It`s even better when a front page can induce action. Maybe the user reads a little more. Maybe they make a phone call. Perhaps they bookmark your site. At any rate, you don`t need to use "Experience the benefits of Collective Buying Power". What does that mean to me? I think the word "Savings" is much better. What about using "Save Thousands" in different text sizes about 10 times at random locations in the image? That would certainly send the right message. What about "Want To Save Money On Products You Already Buy?" That would be great as well. Collective buying power might be the mechanism behind the savings, but collective buying power is not savings. Collective buying power is abstract. Savings are real.

3. Copywriting.

You start with "Level The Playing Field". I understand what you mean but it`s definitely a cliche. No one pays attention to cliches. In addition, it`s not what you offer. You offer savings. Then there`s the "We Applaud You" line and the paragraph that follows. What does any of this have to do with savings? It`s not catchy and it`s far too many words. You know what caught my eye most? A little image with yellow text on a red background that said "OnSaleDaily". The second paragraph is all about your company, not about what your company offers. I`d reformulate that entire paragraph to read "Our members have saved hundreds of thousands of dollars." That`s really all you need to say.

4. Information

Most sites try to provide a lot of information on the front page. That`s rarely smart unless you have a hook at the top of your site that goes off like an atom bomb. When you walk into a bookstore you know exactly what they`re selling and you might even have a good idea what you`re buying. How would you feel if you walked into a store that that said "Experience The Benefits Of Collective Buying Power" and had to listen to 120 words from a salesman? How long would pay attention? How would you feel if you walked into a store that said "Save Money" and listened to a salesman say "We`re here to save you thousands of dollars." I bet you`d start paying attention, and fast. Clarity, clarity, clarity. Clarity is the essence of good marketing.