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Want my site to turn hits into sales

 
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studiocherie

posts: 68

Dec 05, 2007 12:38 PM ET    Quote  Report Abuse
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I am preparing a press release that I know will generate a lot of hits on my site.  My goal is that anyone who visits my site who has a baby, a grandbaby, a friend who has a baby, etc.  Will buy something.  I am considering adding a category called "gifts" and having sub-categories by price "$10-20," "$20-30," etc.
 
I think I may have a tendency to be a little wordy and Home Page suggestions would be especially welcome.
 
Thanks,  I appreciate your taking the time to help a fellow entrepreneur.
Cherie
connecting parents and babies with style


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

Warm Regards,
Cherie

Quality accessories for you and baby, made in USA
Studio Cherie
CampSteve

posts: 1216

Dec 05, 2007 1:11 PM ET    Quote  Report Abuse
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Upon landing on your homepage, I don`t get the impression that you are in fact selling anything... at all!  It looks more like a product brochure style site, telling about the bags but not selling them.

What is to lead me to think about purchasing unless I were on one of the product pages?  You ought to start SELLING right from your homepage.  List your popular products there.  Put them with big BUY NOW buttons and make a point of any deals you are offering, if any.  Make the categories more prominent.

I suggest looking at some popular e-commerce sites for ideas.  Amazon is a great place to start.  What do you or don`t like about the way they do it?  What can you do that is similar?  Keep in mind that it is big sites like this that have made the online shopping experience easy and comfortable to consumers.

Basically, I think the site is plain.  There is not really any style or common layout to the web experience.  It`s all black text on a white background with no boxed areas and the photos just float there.  The quality of the product photos could be better as well.  Overall, you need to put some DESIGN into the site, especially given that your products are a unique design.  (I think.  I don`t know anything about baby stuff.)  Refine your branding with a logo, a color scheme, a style.  How come that red logo doesn`t look as good as the one on the bag on the homepage?  And your logo should also include the company name in a comprehensive image.

I`m not sure how you made your site but you probably want to use a professional web designer to make you look more professional.  It`s a good start and you`re on your way!  Just keep improving.

studiocherie

posts: 68

Dec 05, 2007 1:41 PM ET    Quote  Report Abuse
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Thank you for your insight!
Cherie


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

Warm Regards,
Cherie

Quality accessories for you and baby, made in USA
Studio Cherie
studiocherie

posts: 68

Dec 05, 2007 7:23 PM ET    Quote  Report Abuse
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I should have mentioned that I am working with a template and I don`t have the funding to hire a web designer right now.
 
I did get onto the site and make several changes based on Steve`s suggestions:
 
  1. I uploaded a better version of my logo that does incorporate the company name. 
  2. Changed the store name to "The Studio Cherie Shop."
  3. Added gift categories with dollar amounts - that says "you buy things here" to me.
  4. Changed my welcome message to ask for sales.
 
One reason I opted for white backgrounds and a somewhat plain look is that it uploads fast.  I do not like visiting sites that are so visually rich that they take time to load a page.  10 seconds seems like an eternity to me on the internet.  I have received positive feedback on my "clean look" in the past.
 
All comments and feedback are welcome and appreciated!
 


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

Warm Regards,
Cherie

Quality accessories for you and baby, made in USA
Studio Cherie
CraigL

posts: 9051

Dec 06, 2007 12:55 AM ET    Quote  Report Abuse
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So if I get this right, you`re selling cloth diapers and also an overall carrying pack?
studiocherie

posts: 68

Dec 06, 2007 2:12 PM ET    Quote  Report Abuse
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Craig,
Wow!  This is where it really pays to get outside opinions.  The baby on the home page is sitting in and playing with one of my diaper bags. One of my customers sent me the photo and I thought it was precious, so I put it on the homepage.  Now I see how confusing it would be to someone like you who might think this looks like the silliest thing ever devised to hold and carry a baby.  (This shows the value of captions.)  I feel like a bona fide idiot for featuring such a confusing photo on my site.  Thank you for your gentle inquiry.
 
Another day, another tweak!
 
The product that I think is going to be the huge hit is my patent pending changing pad.  It is shown on the homepage in pink (featured category) and in zebra (featured product) both on the left side of the page.  Maybe I should replace the baby in the bag photo with the baby on the zebra changing pad photo, making my highest potential product most prominent.  That`s what I will do today.
 
Thank you so much!  Keep the comments coming, this is extremely helpful.
studiocherie12/6/2007 2:18 PM


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

Warm Regards,
Cherie

Quality accessories for you and baby, made in USA
Studio Cherie
studiocherie

posts: 68

Dec 06, 2007 7:04 PM ET    Quote  Report Abuse
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The photos and what is featured has been updated.  I hope it sets people in the right direction and clears up confusion.
 
Any other comments or suggestions are welcome.  So far the two responses have helped me tremendously!  Thank you.
 


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

Warm Regards,
Cherie

Quality accessories for you and baby, made in USA
Studio Cherie
Dec 06, 2007 8:39 PM ET    Quote  Report Abuse
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If you are going the cloth diaper route I think you have a great idea going. More and more people are turning to cloth diapers due to the "green" quality of them; less trash and reusable.

I think you need to add more color to the site, there is way to much white, maybe add a baby themed background or something along those lines. People like graphics, pics, color, etc....that makes people want to stay on your site longer. Right now the only thing that tells me you are selling something is upper left side of your site. 

I think you are off to a great start. Keep it up and Good Luck


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The ConsumerTreehouse.com Team
www.consumertreehouse.com
CraigL

posts: 9051

Dec 06, 2007 10:11 PM ET    Quote  Report Abuse
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Maybe my problem is my experience with babies ended about 30 years ago as my daughter grew up. I`m looking at the featured product changing pad, and it looks like its primary feature is portability---really small?

So I`m probably not a good person to critique the site. :-) I really have no clue what goes where with a changing pad.
studiocherie

posts: 68

Dec 06, 2007 11:10 PM ET    Quote  Report Abuse
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Craig,
   Your comments have been really helpful.  Many of my customers are grandparents to the babies, giving gifts to their sons or daughters who are the new parents - which may happen to you someday!
   The changing pad is really small when folded, and bigger than most when unfolded.  It also functions as an omni-accessible "bag" for the wipes case and can accommodate a diaper or two into the folds.  It really is the ideal thing to have with you everywhere.  It can be carried by the strap, stowed on or in the stroller, or tucked into your Prada bag. 
   Anyone who has babies who are walking and talking but not potty trained doesn`t want to carry a diaper bag, but they need this. 
   Probably more info than you needed...but I am proud of my invention.
 
      Thanks again, I am sure I will see you around!


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

Warm Regards,
Cherie

Quality accessories for you and baby, made in USA
Studio Cherie
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