Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

I have had a series of family misfortunes that have kept me away.  I am back with a request for a prelim critique of my website.  I know it is not complete, but here is the point of the site.

We are a reprographic firm, that has historically specialized in black and white reproduction of blueprints.  Times are changing and we are investing in supply sales, and color graphic reproduction and fabrication.  Focusing on large format color.  For example, vehicle wraps, banners, etc...

Our old site is www.aerepro.com

The new site I am working on is http://aerepro.morphogine.net

I love the feel of the site, and our catalog will be HUGE with over 200 items that our current account base of 300 local clients hopefully will use. They currently call orders in either because they have leased equipment from us and are asking for supplies for the equipment, or they are asking for supplies to support their day-to-day business like ink, or toner, or paper.

The one thing that jumps out at me right now is the home page at the bottom; the call to action is weak.

Also, I am not a designer, but we can`t afford to hire one right now, so this is the best we can do for now. Any suggestions would be happily received.

Thanks! 

 

Sorry to hear about your troubles. I`ve had my share, I hope things clear up.

The site design seems alright to me but the copywriting needs to be sharpened. It`s not really clear just from visiting the site. Without the explanation in your post, I am not sure I would have been able to figure out what you`re offering.

I don`t know that you need a designer to get started with a new site but you do need crystal clear marketing communications. Start with your offer and work the copywriting around there. You`re already using bullet points, which is great, and thankfully the site is not a book report.

Tweak your copy and test it with your clients.

For example (there shouldn`t be a space between a letter and colon, BTW):

The font is a little small. And yes, work on the copy - I think that`s a great step in the right direction.

Hi everyone thanks for the replies.  I am not up on the terminology you are talking about.  I am sure it is simple, but CookieMonster when you refer to copy write, does that just me the verbiage on the site?  Sorry to be so elementary, just want to be sure.  Thanks again.

Sounds like the site looks appealing enough, but I need to deliver the message of our core competencies in a craftier way.  I will reassess and post again when there is an update.

Hi again, I update the front page with most of Craigs suggestions.  thank you sir.

I hope I am going in the right direction on that page.

At the bottom I introduce our catalog, and hope that will drive people to take a peak. ( I will darken the link up, and also it is just a sample catalog I threw together for now, so no worries on that)

My other delima I am trying to tackle, is our site mainly has been used to go to our FTP page and upload files to us.  Seems like an opportunity to drive them elsewhere on the site.  I presume that is what good copywrite will help do.

Is the trick to get there attention, and them give a direction to go? If they buy they buy, if they don`t they don`t?

Thanks for suggestions.

Copywriting: Read This.

Typo: We make digital solutions easy. (There`s an "s" at the end of solutions.)

Overall, I think this is going in the right direction, to answer your question. It`s in the details where things get a bit hinky. For example, I clicked on the navigation menu for "Products." (1 click).

That took me to a list of types of products, where I clicked on "Cameras" out of a list. (2nd click.) Then that showed yet another list of Canon. I clicked on that. (3rd click.)

FINALLY I got a chance to see a picture of a camera. Only 1, but I`m assuming you have limited product sales.

Why would I want to click all those times just to get a fizzle instead of a pop? The problem isn`t that it looks bad, or the description doesn`t work. That`s okay. It`s that I`m clicking and clicking, going and going, and asking myself, "When do I get to the dinner table?"

We haven`t discussed on these boards, any research as to how many clicks with what results do people expect on a well-designed site. We DO know that you have about 4-10 seconds on your home page to capture someone`s imagination. That`s no different than an author having 1 paragraph to grab the reader.

Is there such research? (I don`t feel like looking for it at the moment.) If so, I`d suspect that people want to see real results from each click. After all, it takes real exercise and muscle to click that mouse button! Right? ;-D

There has to be a better way to lay out your menu so that clicking "Products" gives thumbnails in an organization that quickly moves people to what they`re wanting to see.

Craig thanks!  As mentioned in a earlier post, this catalog will have over 200 products. We don`t eve sell cameras.  This is just to test the functionality.  So THANK YOU for the feedback on the clicks.  I am reassessing how I can make it more streamlined.  I hope you will check it out again when I have it modified.

 

Cookie I have heard good things from you posting of copywrite, I am going to read it at lunch today.  Thank you for your interest.

 

Mike

Cookie, WOW what a great writing.  Is that all you?

I will tell you it made me believe even more in hiring someone to write this stuff for me.  I will attempt to use some of the direction in it.

Specifically The part about scope. We have so many offerings, BUT only certain offerings will be relevant to websurfers.  Not many people surf the web to buy a 30,000 dollar xerographic printer, so why put an emphasis on it?  Anyway I think you get my point.

I am excited and inspired, Unlike the guy arguing you in your post I live by philosophical understanding.