Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

We are in the final stages of releasing a new website.  Our current website is  http://Pressaprint.com . The new website is http://testdev.pressaprint.com. Our market is people looking to start their own business.  If you are so inclined please let me know what you think.   The purpose is to inform and to incourage visitors to request more information. I would very much like to know if the new site appeals to this audience.


Thanks - Bret

I`d like to see a definition of "press a print" right on the front page. As it is, you`re walking a thin line between that MLM you`re trying to avoid, "make a million tomorrow" ads, and something that might really be interesting.

As of now, you have:

What does that mean, "you put people in business?" Nothing. What is your product, why would I want to get involved, and do I have the experience, background, or interest in pursuing this further?

I also would like to see a better menu system. I clicked on Equipment, it made no sense to me, so I thought I`d go back to Home. I clicked your logo, nothing happened. So I wandered around and eventually found "home" as a very small link down at the bottom of the page.

Your new page is WAY more interesting than your original. But on that original, at least you`re explaining that the product involves the printing business. Many people know that printing is getting to be a tough business. So how will this "new" business be an opportunity?

In other words, what`s the market need that I can expect to fill if I get involved in this....what...it`s not a franchise, so what is it? Y`know?

How is a business requiring huge pieces of equipment considered "home based"? That`s not a site question ... I`m just legitimely confused where I`d fit that stuff in my 3-bedroom ranch house.

I couldn`t figure out how to get back to the home page.

Your button machine page has a broken image.

Your vinyl cutter page feels like it is missing text.

Your heat press page has a broken image.

The "Ask your Business Development Consultant" thing seems to be unfinished on some pages.

Overall, the site is just a mess of nested tables.

The fade-in text doesn`t always work ... and I`m not sure I like it anyway.

Customer service page gets a CFM error. I guess all pages under support and flexibility get file not found errors.

I tried to see the new site, but the link went to an error page.

My first thought, when viewing the site was "Oh, this is like Cafe Press."  So I`m wondering, if I was considering going into this business, how would I convince people that my services were preferable to Cafe Press?  Or similar companies. 

Another thing I don`t see is any compelling reason to choose Press a Print over other home-business opportunities.  The main benefits you list--flexible work time, make money, be your own boss--are benefits that I`ve seen with every other home-business opportunity out there, as well as being inherant to starting any business on your own.  If I was looking to start a home business, I would already have to be sold on the idea of having a printing business to be compelled to buy into your system.

I also don`t remotely believe your graphic that says "The #1 work from home specialty printing business opportunity."  Unless you can reference that as a quote from a review in a major magazine, or have some proof of it, I`m not going to believe anyone claiming that their own business is #1 in something.  It just looks like hype to me.

On the positive side, the colors used on the site were appealing--expressed an uplifting free feeling, I thought, which is good when you`re selling a system that will "free up" your time (presumably.) 

I agree with Nikole that some of the Flash effects didn`t work well, or were poorly used (like fading-in text info on the machines.  I just want to learn about them, not be entertained!)  I think you could tone down the Flash a bit and still get the same dynamic effect.

Also, edit your text for spelling and grammar.  I spotted a couple of errors, and I wasn`t reading that thoroughly.

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

EFFECTIVE WEBSITES
when results matter

www.effective-websites.com

Hi Bret,

I like the site overall. I would lilke to point out a few things
that I noticed as a visitor.

To me the font size can be increase a notch or two. For
the tired or imperfect eyes, the size can be a little straining.

You have your 800 number at the top very visible, great!
What days and times is this number valid? :o)

I noticed one thing off the bet, and that`s the setting you have
this building in. When I decrease my page size, the top menu
runs over the logo. This could be because it`s in JAVA or
Applet. I often keep a mid-size window.

I hope you`ve found some value in what I`ve shared.

Have an EXPLOSIVE Day!

Won`t Be Denied!
C.F. Jackson

Have that BBB logo linked to your page on the BBB