Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

Please visit my website at www.juvenesse.com.  We still need to finish cleaning up some of the images, adding the last few photo`s etc.,

I look forward to all comment and critique.  thanks!

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Randy Kravitz
Managing Director
Juvenesse by Elaine Gayle
www.juvenesse.com

Hi Randy :-)
First of all, I saw the name and immediately thought of skin-care products. So I was really pleased to see that, indeed, the site is about skin-care products. That`s a huge benefit---the link between the name and the product. Way to go! :-)

Now; on the site itself, the center image with the tagline is right there. Totally centered, in my eye, in my mind, and curious-making. EVERYTHING else is peripheral, not interesting, cluttered, and hard to read with the white on blue.

I`d take the time to explore all that clutter....but, why make me do it? Instead, why not have a more clean, *elegant* layout on the front page and use that center image! Make it a link...and take me into the "world of Juveness" so to speak.

As for the banner at the top, it took so long to load I forgot it was loading. Then, much to my serious annoyance, music started playing with no way to turn it off. So I just shut the window down and didn`t read anything else.

We`ve had many discussions on SuN about the viability of audio. Some people love it, others, like myself, hate it. The breakout is just about half and half, from what I`ve seen here, but with one unified agreement!

If you`re going to use audio, be sure to make a very visible OFF button!

:-) I think there`s some real branding strength potential here. But I also think the layout and design are working against that potential, not in concert with it. My opinion, of course.

I generally don`t like sites that start playing music automatically.
The Flash thing makes me wonder if you are selling skin care, new age music, therapy, motivational posters, or what have you.
And it distracts from the thing you are selling, not enhances it.

The bulk of the items on your page are "below the fold" for me - ie I have to scroll down to see.

And I don`t understand "skin that cares".

Using a flash banner/header can be an effective way to communicate a marketing message and set the tone of the website or web page. However, as has been posted there can be some negatives - not allowing some control by the viewer.

In your case, while I may prefer not to have sound... the biggest problem with your flash banner is... it keeps repeating the same message. You should have it play once to a conclusion - that conclusion being your main marketing message.

You could also, use a static header like those on your other pages.. those can be as effective in communicating your message.

Your site does lack some things important for search engine placement. A meta description - important for Google. You should annd alt image text for all images on your site. Also, since your site uses java for the menu, those links may not be indexed see your texted cache: http://72.14.209.104/search?q=cache:http://www.shopjuvenesse .com/&hl=en&rls=GGLD,GGLD:2004-43,GGLD:en&strip= 1

The geotrust seal, while good to show... shsould be moved to the bottom of the page rather than take up space in the header.

~Roland

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Web Design | Best Beef Jerky | ecommerce articles | Follow vwebworld on Twitter

I would suggest ditching the top banner images all together across the entire site. If you really want an Image place it in the body area. Doing this will bring the Nav up to where people expect it to be. It also took me a while to find the special promos section, I`d like to see a sale section on the homepage as well to pull people directly into the cart. Make your logo link to the home page.

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He who gets greedy like a pig, gets slaughtered like a hog!

Thank you for all the valuable feedback.  A some comments:

I echo what is said about the audio and we had quite lengthy discussion about its usefullness.  We decided to go with it largely because it is a one of a kind piece that lends itself to our branding efforts.  That said, we will make it easier to turn off.  Also we agree with the comment about the geotrust seal.

As a quick background point, one of our unique selling propositions is our strong tie to social responsibility and particularly the Peace Journey.  Hence, the tag Skin That Cares.   In a subtle way we are trying to complement our current customer base with other like minded socially responsible people (which since we have started this seems to be pretty effective).   Given that there is a tradeoff between design elements, load times using flash etc., we have consciously chosen to somewhat encumber pure selling tactics in favor of image, branding, style and feel.  In this light, the comment about whether this is skin care, new age or therapy could not have been more perfect since this is the perception in people we are trying to achieve.

None of the site has been prepped for SEO so far.  We are currently in the process of doing all of this work and this will be included within the next 30 days.

I very much appreceiate all of you taking the time to give us feedback and we encourage any other to comment further.  Thank You.

Randy

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Randy Kravitz
Managing Director
Juvenesse by Elaine Gayle
www.juvenesse.com

Like the site, liked the Music. Show some product on the

upper portion of the home screen.

Could not figure if this website was for the brand or some MLM template.  I thought Elaine Gayle at first was a rep.

Place your TM or Registered marks.

High light Elaine Gayle, More photos, Tell me about her. Sell her if this is her brand.

Move the rep employment offer and Rep sign in, to another far away area or to another webiste. as it reminds me of all the get rich quick templates.  JEG Passport page came up to me mostly white.  I could not tell if the site was corporate info, a true e-commerce or an Amwayish ( new word), just wanting recruits in my upline pitch.