Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

Hello All

I put up my website just becouse poeple look at you like you are `dark ages` if you do not have one. 

I would like it to look friendly, but professional

I do not with to sell items online (unless someone wants to get together to do that).  I have two retail locations, and no time to drop ship/promote the site/check orders.  But I need it for informational purposes. 

Can you guys tell me  manouvorable, colors, informative, aesthetic, professional??????

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"Celebrate, & Make Life an Occasion!" "Fall Down 7 Times, Stand Up 8"

OK dont know why the link did not come up

CelebrationsToday.com

www.celebrationstoday.com

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"Celebrate, & Make Life an Occasion!" "Fall Down 7 Times, Stand Up 8"

:-) Hey there...welcome to Startup Nation.

RE: http://www.celebrationstoday.com/

I looked at your site and it`s WAY too busy for an "informational" site. If you`re not going to use it to sell something, then make it faster to load, streamline it, and don`t put your entire catalog on the front page.

I`m on Firefox and DSL, and it took about 15-20 seconds to stop loading, mostly because of that annoying dynamic picutre of the couples. Then, again because of the dynamic change, it was cumbersome and hard to stay focused on.

As I scrolled downward, the vast ocean of catalog images finally turned me off.

I really like your top right value statement--mission statement....whatever we`re going to call it. I got the idea right away, understood the company and products, and was prepared to peruse the site further. Then got pushed away.

I disagree with your premise of an informational site. Instead, I believe that when people ask you if you have a site and you don`t, that`s one issue. But if you DO have a site, and they can`t use it to buy your merchandise, order items, or check your inventory, then they`ll definitely think you`re clueless.

It isn`t about having a Web site. It`s about whether customers can buy your items without having to go out in the rain and snow. As such, my argument would be that if you DO want only an informational site, then make it one. Don`t waste time with catalog pictures and lots and lots of other sales-pitch items.

Just put your company statement, and no more than 5 pictures of examples of your merchandise. The rest (only 1 or 2 pages total) should be your address, phone number, email address, FAX number, and directions of how to get there. Use a Mapquest (or other) link so people can get directions. That`s it.

Otherwise, you`re trying to be all things to all people, and not making it for anyone. Y`know?

Oh...the colors are fine, in my eyes. The tabs along the top are too small to read, but the colors there are okay too. :-)

Thanks Craig

I was thinking of trimming it up.  Can`t avoid the people pix on the front page, but can trim the fat on product.

Let me know if you have any other ideas, and thanks for taking the time to look for me.

S

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"Celebrate, & Make Life an Occasion!" "Fall Down 7 Times, Stand Up 8"

Definitely information overload. Coming into the site cold I`d immediately turn around and go the other way - there`s just no clear distinction between items, and it`s overwhelming.

The top navigation could have a more professional look as well, kind of a simple text that I almost completely missed.


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chuck fuller

Chuck

So change menu to side view? Or juct change Fonts?

I`m not really worried about "cold hits" because we don`t sell online right now. 

The site is for people who have been introduced to us already.

I took out 2 pages, think I should combine the rest? 

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"Celebrate, & Make Life an Occasion!" "Fall Down 7 Times, Stand Up 8"

I like the top navigation, but it looks like an afterthought, it doesn`t stand out in any way - combination of how small the font is, and that it`s a very simple font - no design to it (to my untrained eye).

Even if they`re not cold hits, you still want people to have a positive experience navigating the site, so I`d keep it as a top nav, just give it a more prominent and graceful treatment.


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chuck fuller

celebnow... I went to the site just after you posted this post. I went again this morning. It takes so long to load on my wireless system. I do a lot of my browsing on the road. Therefore wireless is my primary access to the net. My DSL at home is my secondary method.

You made a comment about not caring about "cold hits." You also stated, people coming to your site have already been introduced to you. That is the BIGGEST reason your site should work quickly and provide the visual attraction to keep them there once you are not.

Just because they have been introduced and come to you a second time through the web, doesn`t mean you don`t have to be concerned with keeping them there.

If it loads fast, looks pleasing to the eye (good design), and provides the information/product I am looking for, then I would return. If I met you and see a site that doesn`t fulfill these simple expectations, I would stop going there. Even if I still continue my relationship with you, there is no point in having a website if half the people are turned off by it and never return.

I also agree about the navigation at the top of the page. I didn`t see it at all until I read Chuck`s post.

Recently I was a participant in a study to find whether or not a companies website was effectively designed. They paid me $75 for an hour of my time. They sat with me, in front of two TV quality cameras and using electronic devices that shows where my eyes gravitate on the site. They also asked me to go through specific steps and share my experience. I was one of probably a hundred people involved (if not more).

My point. The company probably wouldn`t like it if I said, "wow, I didn`t see the navigation bar at the top." The reason they are going through so much effort to ensure their site is effective is because they are spending lots of time and money (pay the designers) and plan to use it (the site) to push a new product, service or informational resource. Again, if 100 people arrive and 50 leave because it wasn`t interesting, I think the objective would be, how to keep more visitors visiting... or at least staying for a while.


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Vincent Wilcox (a.k.a. KRAKR)
Drummer
My band: Letters Make Words

Thanks Guys, I will bold, if not change the nav. 

I do want to get to the point for sure.  Any helpful tips are appreciated.  I don`t know how else to make it more focused.

 

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"Celebrate, & Make Life an Occasion!" "Fall Down 7 Times, Stand Up 8"

I think Chuck makes the point as well, about having a Web site. In his post, he carried forward the idea that although you "have a Web site," you can just as easily turn people off with it. Then, even if they`ve been introduced to your company, and may even have shopped your physical store, they could perceive it as so unprofessional it introduces an overall doubt as to their relationship with your company.

Personally, I tend to follow the old adage that "anything worth doing, is worth doing right." To that end, I get the impression that you`re putting up "some old Web site just so`s people will know I live in the 21st century."

That`s a mistake, again, in my opinion. It implies either that you`re old-fashioned in a bad way, or that you just don`t really care all that much about potential customers. Y`know? I`d really like to see you figure out a way to make the site more practical and professional, even if it means outsourcing the entire thing. That way, you wouldn`t have to worry about the time it takes for you to drop-ship, or whatever is your objection. :-)