Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

I would be most thankful if anyone would take a look at my site, in particular the business opportunity and let me know how it sounds.  My company gives us the choice to use their templates or to create our own and I can`t decide.  Also, I want to make sure that the business opportunity seems possible and not fly-by-night....the addy is www.fiercebizgirl.myarbonne.com

Thanks a million!

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Stacie Mullins
Creator
Debutante Vintage Boutique

The site is actually quite good.  It`s got all the hallmarks of a professional design - proper navigation, good branding, nice implementation of product catalog and online purchasing, etc...  If anything, for me personally, I might it a little too dense with product info.  I like something in a bigger font with a little more pizzazz.  My experience tells me that people don`t like to read a great deal of text on their pages.

Couple of thoughts --

There`s a person`s name, I assume it`s yours, in the left corner.  But it doesn`t click to anything.  If this is your personal site I`d like to see something about you.  Right now it looks like an exact copy of any other Arbonne site. 

Also, guest books are old fashioned.  I`d ditch that.  Get testimonials from customers all you want after the fact and put those up, but I don`t see any value in the guest book.  Nobody cares who was there before them, especially if they have nothing to say other than "Hi, love your site."

Lastly, is the site focused on selling the product, or on getting the reader to become a consultant?  It`s hard to tell.  Your main nav has "products", "shop online" and "specials", but also "amazing opportunity" right in the middle of the mix.  And all the stuff down the right hand side - Start Now, Sizzle Now - seems to be more about joining the company than selling the product.  I realize that both sides of the equation are important to the business model, but I think you might be better off focusing on one or the other a little more strongly.  Otherwise you`re wasting screen space preaching to an audience that`s not interested in half of what you`re saying.

D



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Personal: http://www.morinfamily.com/blog
Geeky: http://duanesbrain.blogspot.com
Shakespeare: http://suchshakespearestuff.blogspot.com

awesome...thanks...

This is actually Arbonne`s template that changes monthly.  I don`t have the option of removing the guest book (hate it) or sizzle, etc. 

I appreciate your honesty.  My personal goal is to let the products sell themselves.  The company obviously wants people to become consultants to get the discount which makes sense.  I don`t go overboard with hyping the site but  at the same site, I would like to let my clients order directly from my site.

Thanks a bunch..

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Stacie Mullins
Creator
Debutante Vintage Boutique

I would use the template they give you.  If the program ends up working out for you, then maybe get your own site.  Only thing I didn`t see is a way to get people`s email address to follow up with them, but I`d assume this company has put a lot of work into building the site.

I`d focus more on the products and not worry so much about the site at this point.

 

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Bryan C. Fleming

http://www.BryanCFleming.com

Thanks so much! 

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Stacie Mullins
Creator
Debutante Vintage Boutique

It sounds like a pyramid scheme business. Your job is to get other consultants or sponsor someone under you and you get a percent of what they sell right? people are often led into these programs by close friends or family. I just want to be honest with you. You would be better off finding a product line that you like and buying it at wholesale and reselling at retail prices. Many people see these things coming a mile away.

fiercebizgirl,

My two cents.

I will agree with Bardstuff as far as that what he mentioned. 

That what stood out to me was your number right next to your name made me feel your were just a number, just another person trying to market  a preformated program.  It didn`t seem very personable.  The top portion of the page that stayed the same as you clicked on the links was to much, the tabs were to big, the area was just to over comming.

Just my opinion. 

Are you going in the right direction? 

Your doing perfect.  Your learning, your making the effort neccesary for eventual success.  I wouldn`t change a thing at the moment. 

When you start making some money, or if you have money to burn now, then you can have your own created, but remember it is very subjective when it comes to whether a website is good looking or not so make sure if and when you do make the change to your own,  do enough research to make sure it isn`t  just another money pit.

As far as the "It sounds like a pyramid scheme business."  Comment. 

And now  I`m trying to put on my "PC" hat with my input.

I`ll just say that Networking/Multilevel Marketing, IMHO, is by far the best marketing program and opportunity provider there is  in the business community. 

 I have heard AMWAY called a pyramid Scheme before, but never other programs like tupperware and different women make-up lines that promote their products and services  using the Networking concept. 

Why? Good question. Branding and Corporate Image I figure.  But as long as you are offering a product or service, and there is an opportunity for growth for any new distributors that may join, which is the case for all the above, then it is not a pyramid scheme. 

So once again, I wish you Good luck in your future endevours and if there is anything I may be able to help you with, feel free to contact me.

Mike

Ps.  I am not a current distributor for the above product line nor do I know anybody  besides here.

Thanks everyone for the comments!  It is good to have varying thoughts. 

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Stacie Mullins
Creator
Debutante Vintage Boutique

How familiar are you with MLM`s?  From what I can gather this business opportunity has the same format as most MLM businesses.  You build your business by selling products to others, but where the real opportunity to create residual income is by helping others become consultants and build a successful business.  I was in a MLM for 3 years and didn`t make a dime!  What I can tell you though is that the education and experience I received from it was much more valuable than 5 years of a college education!  To me if you are going to get involved in a business you must check the legality. If they are asking for a lot of $$$ to get this business started be very skeptical! There are way to many scams out there not to take this important step.  You also need to take a look at the training and support program involved.  If you are very satisfied with these answers than check out the product line and see if you would be comfortable selling this to your friends, family and complete strangers, which can be a very hard and uncomfortable thing to do.

Hope this helps!

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Just so you know, I am not knocking what you are doing personally or you as a person. I am simply stating what I know about the business model in general. It was ironic that someone brought up the word "Amway", because what your doing in essence is what Amyway is known for and that is multi-level marketing and there are only a few people in each phase of the program who do really profit from the actual program on the bottom side of the program. The people who really profit are many tiers above where most people are and you will likely spend alot of time, money and energy listening to those folks on conference calls are at meeting in hotels in major cities near your area, and will likely pay to attend.