Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

I think people above have done a good analysis, and I`d only add that I don`t quite understand why there should be three different concepts for gift consulting, gift concierge, and a gift shopping companion. From what I saw, they`re all pretty much the same.

More importantly, with the logo you have, you really need a tagline to put under it, that instantly explains what you`re offering to the visitor who clicks to your home page! "That Perfect Something" may be a fine business name, but it needs a companion line to drive it home, y`know?
There should be a big, sort of in your face "WE BUY YOUR GIFTS FOR PEOPLE So You Don`t Have To..." but with some class and elegance. The current home page is just too bland, and as those above have said, doesn`t produce any sort of customer activity---the customer journey and call to action.

Although the details may be somewhat new, the idea of having someone else find the perfect gift isn`t new. Pretty much everyone is going to know in 1 sentence what it is you`re suggesting, so don`t spend too much time on that. Instead, you might give "case examples," (or some better title), to show how you`ve gotten details, gone out shopping, provided three options, and the customer chose the one they wanted.

Another option you might try is to offer the gift consulting request form right away. Let people fill it out, and you return them with something that shows them much of what you have in mind, but not enough that they can go buy it without you. I`m not sure I`m explaining it right, but what I mean is a sort of trial system?

I would not use Edgar`s idea of flash ... it would replace a useless landing page with a slower-loading useless landing page.

Your front logo links to nothing ... it`s a link but takes me no where.

You really need some strong (yet short and sweet) copy on that landing page ... make me want to continue and click to read more.

You have a nice frame for the site, but the bottom line is you need to show more, tell less.


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Michael Buckingham | founder, creative director | Holy Cow Creative
holcowcreative.org | holycowablog.com

Your logo doesn`t have to link to anything if it makes sense that way.  In revising that page, you might want to make the marketing message the central element of design with the logo not as front and center.  The point is not to make the logo link just because you can.  It can simply do what a logo does best, brand your site.  It depends upon what you come up with.

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Marcelle R.
Owner
Defilage Skincare and Cosmetics
www.defilage.com

I guess I should note that my site has been functional since 2004 and has been revamped within the last six months. 

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Marcelle R.
Owner
Defilage Skincare and Cosmetics
www.defilage.com

SEO .....
Your site doesn`t validate in W3C.
You have a second title tag and some meta tags outside the head area of the main page.
Your title should have keywords or a brief key-phrase in it.
Add title tags to your links and alt tags to your images.
You could add some keywords or keyword rich phrase at the bottom of the page, as well as repeat the top menu.

Visually....
Personally I don`t care for the bright green with the purple, just my opinion.
The menu is alphabetical, which is user friendly.
The tall side columns could have more content; add information like "Secure Shopping", links to guarantee/warranty/return/shipping policies ( which I don`t see anywhere, by the way ), testimonials.....something to inform your visitors more about you, your business and why you benefit them.


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M Hall
Website Critique Community
International Society of Curmudgeons

Hey!  Thanks!  working on those issues right now.  The return/shipping policies are in the Terms of Service but will make them more pronounced.

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Marcelle R.
Owner
Defilage Skincare and Cosmetics
www.defilage.com