Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

Hi Mike -

Your product seems like a pretty neat idea.

My wife and I bought a house last year and I set up my office in the converted garage/family room. I also set up a bar in this room. I wanted to create a mirror with the name of the bar (yes, I named a room in my house) and a picture from our honeymoon on it... kind of like a mirror you might see in a bar with the name of a beer company on it. Anyway, etching was too expensive to have done so I found someone on the internet who takes photos and creates large decals for glass. Problem solved.

No real point to that story other than I had a need for something vaguely similar.

To your website - I suggest taking a look at what is seen "above the fold". For a product like this I agree with Craig that the site should be clean, clear, and have a big impact quickly.

• I like your header.
• I like the idea of an example right smack in the middle of the page.
• And I like the zoom effect with a few short key features highlighted (consider including a zoom of part of the collage in this box too/instead).

• I don`t think any of the menus on the left side need to be "above the fold". Instead consider a "Get Started" button.
  
• I think the main image needs to be huge, or easily enlarged.
• I think the text above the main picture should be succinct and clearly describe exactly what your product is, what the main benefits are, and examples of how I could use it.

As for an ideal product example for your site - create your own. Create your own Wider Image collage that will look great on your website.

Full discosure - I`m new to the forum and by no means a site design expert. The recommendation of NHGNikole and CraigL seems accurate to me from what I`ve read. And I`ve also seen CookieMonster`s copywriting article recommended a number of times.

Post Deleted by User

I see no reason why you can`t make at least a 1000x800 px (wide x high) image. You could have something more like 500px wide on the actual page, with a "click to enlarge" that would go to a "target=_blank" full-size view. The browser will put in scrollbars for left-right, and top-bottom if necessary. Insert it at full size for the second view, and resize it for the main page version.

I went back and looked at the site again. Here`s my main gripe ;-) I don`t like to click the mouse more than necessary. So I get bored easily on sites where I have to click through step, then step, then step, when all I really wanted was the final step.

For example, I clicked "Get started." Then I saw a list of different products. I looked to the right to see prices, and saw numbers. There were 10 (of something?) versions of the 2`x6`. So I clicked that. Then I still didn`t see anything useful, but another listing of two products. Then I clicked that.

By the time I finally got to the actual whatever-it-is, I`d lost interest.

I was right back to the examples page. Lots of extra clicking, not so much useful information. So here`s another thought.

Sit down at the dining room table with a bunch of index cards, a pencil, and some small Post-Its. Create what you think would be a logical menu or navigation bar on an index card, put it on the far left of your table. Write each "page" you want on that index card.

Then, using other cards and Post-Its, lay out your whole site on paper. If you believe it`s a great organization, gather all the cards into a single stack. You should be able to flip through that stack and have a general idea of how interesting each page will be to your viewers. It`s not perfect, but it`s a way for you to think outside of your own existing preconceptions, y`know? :-)

What I wanted - Some kind of build-your-product application when I clicked on "Get Started". What I got - some unexpected drill-down standard shopping cart. It was odd, to me.

Now your colors? What did it have before? Your pics and your text is odd as well.

Drop the "Welcome to WiderImage.com" part. I don`t like the "something", as in "create something". Maybe "Use your digital photos to create a special panoramic collage! Finish your gift with a message and framing." Or whatever it is that I`m getting.

On a totally side note, "WiderImages" doesn`t make sense to me. It`s fine if it`s a name, but why are these things a wider image?

The whole site is built in tables, and I don`t think the standard shopping cart works here. The colors and the logo are nice though.

Really, if I`m the end user, think like me. Does this make sense? Can a 6th grader easily figure it out in a few seconds?

Post Deleted by user

I still think there is a communication problem. What you offer is just not clear. Part of the problem is that the image of your product is a collage that looks like it could be clip art. Without better copywriting, I have no idea if this is a picture of the product or just an image. Below the fold, your product is clearer but the prospect cannot see those images without scrolling unless they have a high resolution display.

You should be able to clean up this site without additional technology.

Though it has not been discussed here for a long time, I am a minimalist. There is really no reason that your landing page should have so much information. The landing page should quickly and clearly communicate the product, position, and purpose, and then lead the visitor to take a specific action such as registering, looking at other pages, and so forth.

(I suspect it`s a losing battle, regarding minimalism.) :-)

Hello Everyone,

I could really use some feedback about the effectiveness of my website. We have been working on it for a year!

Will the readers of this forum please give an honest review of what you like and don`t like about it? Any opinions and suggestions would be of such tremendous help. :)

strategicmarketsegmentation.com
strategicmarketsegmentation.com/blog

Thanks in advance everyone.

Hi SexyChica! Thanks for taking the time to try can see it :o).

Hmm, you should just be able to click on the link.

But this should work.

http://www.strategicmarketsegmentation.com/blog

http://www.strategicmarketsegmentation.com

Thanks again for your feedback.

All the best,

Linda