Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

Hi,

I`m an up and coming businessman and I designed a site that sells cameras. I really want this to take off so any feedback will be appreciated.

www.acdigicamdirect.com

Thanks!!

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Andrew Caldwell AC Digital Cameras http://www.acdigicamdirect.com

I am not a designer so read what I say with that in mind.

• The color scheme makes it difficult to read, black on blue is not a good combination
  
• The font size is too small
  
• You need to populate the site, but you know that
• Change the order of the menu bar to:
  Home - Catalog - Checkout - About us
• Give some information on the "about us" page, that is beyond minimalistic
• On your Catalog: create a standard and maintain it throughout  the entire line i/e "this camera is for beginners" - "camera for experienced photographers" "camera for experts". Talk about the same things on all the products, then if you want add what makes this model special or different from the rest
• When I click on a product link I should see all the pictures the same size
• I didn`t see a section on policies, do you have them?
• On the main page the top paragraph is center aligned and the second left aligned, that bugs me, choose one (left) and stick with it.
  
• On the checkout I would like to see a clickable logo that tells me you are OK of some sort, BBB, Verisign  pick one.
  
• Create a page template and make sure all the pages are at least that size. The about us page is way too short, it ends about two thirds of the way down on my browser.
  

Hope that helps,

Eli

Thanks ElidS!!, I appreciate the feedback. I will take it into consideration and make the necessary changes.

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Andrew Caldwell AC Digital Cameras http://www.acdigicamdirect.com

The page was slow to load and the camera picture is too small. On the about us section you provide your contact info. Have a seperate contact us area for that and tell people about your business. On the front page give people a reason to stay at your site and want to learn more about your products and services.

Hope this helps

Good Luck


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Thanks onlineeater I will make changes.

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Andrew Caldwell AC Digital Cameras http://www.acdigicamdirect.com

Well, basically your site is not set up as a usable e-commerce site.

I`m an artist and my usual website critique focuses on colors, layout,
imagery and navigation. I can`t even start there because the entire setup
of your site needs reworking first.

If your focus is selling products, then start selling products from the
homepage. Get rid of clicking on a catalog and instead have a list of
product categories. Have featured products. Put them in a grid format,
not a list one has to scroll through. Put cameras before accessories.
Have relevant information in the About Us section. Have a section that
explains some basics of digital photography, i.e. megapixels, storage,
common features, etc. Get a logo of some sort. Loose all the
complicated overlapping graphics that overshadow your products. Make
the product images easy to see. Get rid of that big lens graphic that says
"camcorder" on it. Or can I buy camcorders too? On your product pages,
give lists of features and break the info down into sections. Anything but
one giant paragraph that is hard to read. Most importantly, set up a
system of navigation from any page through the use of templates.

You say you really want this to take off. Great! I encourage you
completely! But if you want to really succeed, I hate to say it but you`re
going to have to be realistic about your site. As it stands, it needs A LOT
MORE WORK. Nothing that can`t be done though. Learn more about e-
commerce sites and how people buy online.

You are entering an extremely competitive market, selling digital cameras
online. Why would anyone buy from you over Amazon, B&H, Circuit City,
Walmart, etc.? This is your competion. Find your edge and capitalize on
it, in business and on your website.

You can do it! Go for it!

For the home page, the paragraphs are too wide, no margins, and really small font.

I would recommend CookieMonster`s little lesson on copywriting ... can someone link for the OP?

My first impression is this ... where do I go now? I actually had to "think" to find the catalog, which isn`t good.

On the catalog, pictures too small. Paragraphs too wide. Way not enough info. Cludgy hierarchy system. No meaningful page titles. Fonts all too small. Your descriptions are for the pricing system, not the product.

What about policies, procedues, camera info, a newsletter, specials, anything?

There`s some little picture on the front page ... I have no idea what it is. The header is huge. The contract between font and background is difficult.

If your focus is selling, your catalog shouldn`t be the tiny button on the right of a tiny navigation bar. Go look at Amazon.com.

I have decided to edit my original post after reading the sticky, "How to receive a great website critique by HDean." Thanks HDean and here goes:

1. My company is about helping business owners grow their business by setting them up to accept all payments easily and cost effectively. It is also about giving my sales agents the ability to have unlimited income potential and decide  how many hours and when they`d like to work. I envision my site getting across all of the different ways we can help businesses, from free credit card and check reading equipment to $2,500-$150,000 Cash Advances, etc... I also envision it being a place where my agents can go and learn about the products and services of our company to help them stay up to date.
2. The goal of my website is to make customers want to sign up for service after viewing the site and to educate them and my agents on our products and services. I hope to achieve more customers from the website and sales agents from our job section. Our strategy is ease of navigation and legibility of our site, along with cutting edge products and services. It fits perfectly. 
3. I designed the site along with a good friend of mine. I basically gave him the pictures and info I wanted on the site and he designed it and put it up.
4. I believe the navigation is great. I don`t know what web copy means. I have no search engine strategy and very weak on-line marketing efforts. The only way one of my customers knows about the site is from our printed marketing materials. 

I need to know what everyone thinks about my website, ways I can improve and change it or if you think it`s fine just the way it is.

All responses and comments are welcome.

www.rqsi.biz

-------------------------

Thanks and have a blessed day!
Sincerely,
Dennis Thomas, Jr.
President
dennis@AlphaCardServices.net
www.AutomaticResidual.com
www.AlphaCardServices.net
Inc. Magazine # 99 Fastest Growing Private Company in America
817.232.8300
Alpha Card Services
4040 Fossil Creek Blvd. Suite 210 Ft. Worth, TX 76137

Dennis,

I do like the simple design and layout. It
makes moving through the site easy and
effortless.

On your Home page, I believe the "This
Months Specials" get lost with the dark
gray background and the font color.

On the Products page, the font color
is hard on the eyes. I belief white will
be more appealing.

The red font color on the dark gray
appears blurry or readable.

Lastly, who are you? The portion on
the home page isn`t quite enough to
know who Alpha Card Services is.
What else?

I also noticed that the word services
gets lost in your logo. I would purchase
the domain alphacardservices.com.

Hope you find value in what I`ve shared.

Continue have an Awesome day!

Won`t Be Denied!
C.F. Jackson

Thanks LifeTranscender keep `em coming!

Anyone else? Your critique of my website is needed and greatly appreciated.

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Thanks and have a blessed day!
Sincerely,
Dennis Thomas, Jr.
President
dennis@AlphaCardServices.net
www.AutomaticResidual.com
www.AlphaCardServices.net
Inc. Magazine # 99 Fastest Growing Private Company in America
817.232.8300
Alpha Card Services
4040 Fossil Creek Blvd. Suite 210 Ft. Worth, TX 76137