Find us elsewhere
Join Now Member Login

Looks for website critique for Strategybeach.com

 
New Topic
Post Reply
Follow Topic
Page of 2 Next »
  • Author
  • Message
 
strategybeach

posts: 8

Aug 13, 2009 1:43 PM ET    Quote  Report Abuse
Points: 0   Vote
Hello,
We just did a beta launch of our site http://www.StrategyBeach.com

We are most interested in finding out following :
1. If it looks professional?
2. We are a software reseller and consulting company, does it conveys the message clearly?
3. Ease of navigation
4. Suggestions for additional features
5. Which aspects will be attractive to customers?
6. Which aspects of the site will customer find annoying?
7. Based on current content will you be interested in doing business with the company?

and above all , any and all other suggestions are welcome.

Pl feel free to review it and provide valuable feedback

Thanks a lot.

strategybeach8/13/2009 1:48 PM
CraigL

posts: 9051

Aug 13, 2009 5:15 PM ET    Quote  Report Abuse
Points: 0   Vote
http://www.StrategyBeach.com

I have some weird feedback, but here it is: When I saw your company name, I thought it was going to involve oceans, beaches, and so forth. Perhaps beachwear, sunglasses, whatever.

Then I got to the site and saw it`s about software.

The major problem is that I didn`t immediately understand why I was looking at a software company.

There`s no problem at all having the company name. :-) That`s not the issue. The problem is to immediately (within 4 seconds) explain to me why I want to look at this site to find some kind of software.

You`re saying you provide the right software for my business. I`m thinking perhaps a better tag-line would solve the problem? Something that brings out the concept of "strategic advantages" and a "beach head" of some sort?

So my question would be a) what exactly are you offering to me as a business owner that I haven`t already got, and b) how does it relate to the name of the company?

XConsultant

posts: 1

Aug 13, 2009 7:59 PM ET    Quote  Report Abuse
Points: 0   Vote
Overall, I like the site, but I think there could be some time refining it as the above poster suggested.  The following are purely my suggestions, please take them as such. 
 
1. If it looks professional?  It looks very professional, but I have a few ideas about the layout; see the next questions/comments.

2. We are a software reseller and consulting company, does it conveys the message clearly?  Not quickly. 

3. Ease of navigation
   - Very organized, but way too much information for a home page.  Maybe fill the middle with a flash movie that has your company`s logo and mission statement (answering a and b of the above poster`s comments), and maybe a sample of your services.  Remove the "Our Most Popular Categories" and "Our services table and make a drop down style menu off to the left with these items. 
   - Move the Support Community section off the main page.  Maybe under the about us tab and list it as programs your company supports.
    - Maybe change some of the icons for added professionalism.  They look cute, but sometimes cute isn`t professional.
   - Change "Find the right Software for your Business, Get started follow 3 easy steps"  to fix the grammar that`s wrong with it.  Maybe something like "Get started today with the right sofware for your business in 3 easy steps!"

4. Suggestions for additional features
   - I would also add a product comparison once you click on the category.  Some of the vendors sites have this for their own software, but the customer shouldn`t have to go that far to receive advice when they could be getting that for free from your site.
5. Which aspects will be attractive to customers? 
   -I think the blog is a nice to have especially if you throw in free tips about the software you sell.  Makes the customer feel like they`re getting "free" support from you.

6. Which aspects of the site will customer find annoying?
   -  That they can`t figure out exactly what your company does other than a click through company (portal) for other businesses and maybe support for the software they buy.  This needs to be apparent very quickly.

7. Based on current content will you be interested in doing business with the company?
   -  Possibly, though it lacks the above mentioned ideas, it still has some attention grabbing capabilities and with the variety of business software, the company seems knowledgeable assuming it can actually support all it sells.
charlie702

posts: 30

Aug 14, 2009 12:54 PM ET    Quote  Report Abuse
Points: 0   Vote
Great overall concept.  Could use some fine tuning though.  I would find a way to cloak those affiliate links.
-Charlie
BoldPrint

posts: 39

Aug 14, 2009 4:03 PM ET    Quote  Report Abuse
Points: 0   Vote
Overall I like the site. It`s got a very professional/2.0 look and it`s easy to navigate. The logo doesn`t have the same feel as the site and could be updated. It plays into the name of the business, but doesn`t convey at all what you do. It add to the confusion of what the site is all about instead of helping to define. Also, standing alone, the logo says nothing about what you do. Overall, that is a major flaw of the home page, that it doesn`t clearly define what you are offering. Other than that, I don`t agree with other posters that the home page has too much information, I personally like a home page that offers several different avenues into the site. It`s basically a portal into the site, offering entrances to whatever path you want to take.

I like the 3 easy steps, though I would make it bigger and more prominent by adding some graphics because that is the action you want the visitor to take. The services page could be jazzed up a bit with some graphics to help portray the different services. I find the Our Most Popular Categories to be very effective.

gustavo

posts: 8

Aug 14, 2009 4:16 PM ET    Quote  Report Abuse
Points: 0   Vote
Looks fine, but as CraigL says: "The  problem is that I didn`t immediately understand why I was looking at a software company."

strategybeach

posts: 8

Aug 14, 2009 4:29 PM ET    Quote  Report Abuse
Points: 0   Vote
CraigL

I see your point of view. Let me think about eliminating the issues you have mentioned.
Do you think if we change the label image to read something like this:

Find the right software for your business
  • Reduce research time
  • Know all of your software options
  • Get support from our experts
  • Get quotes from pre screened vendors
  • Find software that meets your needs

will it make more sense.

strategybeach

posts: 8

Aug 14, 2009 4:30 PM ET    Quote  Report Abuse
Points: 0   Vote
CraigL

I see your point of view. Let me think about eliminating the issues you have mentioned.
Do you think if we change the label image to read something like this:

Find the right software for your business
  • Reduce research time
  • Know all of your software options
  • Get support from our experts
  • Get quotes from pre screened vendors
  • Find software that meets your needs

will it make more sense.

strategybeach

posts: 8

Aug 14, 2009 4:31 PM ET    Quote  Report Abuse
Points: 0   Vote
Xconsultant-

Very valid and useful information. Thanks a lot for your time and inputs.

strategybeach

posts: 8

Aug 14, 2009 4:34 PM ET    Quote  Report Abuse
Points: 0   Vote
charlie702, Gustavo and Bold print

I appreciate your inputs. I am really thankful to you for taking time to review the site and providing feedback.
Page of 2 Next »
Post Reply
 
.
Advertisement

Keep the Community Clean!

  • StartupNation forums should be used as a platform to learn, educate others, share stories, tips & tricks and to provide constructive feedback.
  • Please do not use the Forums for advertising & blatant self-promotion.
  • Please be respectful to other members and refrain from personal attacks and vulgar language.
  • StartupNation reserves the right to delete any message, reply, and/or member who violates our terms of use.
Read full terms of use
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement