Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

Interesting site.  I like your about page - it`s one of the few that tell a story that is about the business rather than a life story.  I would drop out the layoff reference because it is irrelevant.  Just say that Keith left his job as a welder in 2008 and bought the lathes so that he and Diane could start producing these works of art.

Are each piece a "one of a kind"?  If so, then you should indicate that in your descriptions.

I don`t like long pages.  That may just be me, but if I have to scroll down to see something that should be on the top of the page, then it`s a poor design.  Why is one page of your product line on the landing page anyway?  You should just have a single photo of your product at the top - where you currently have a lot of white space.

Most of your photos are uninspiring and out of focus.  You either need to farm the photography to a professional (ahem) or get a better camera.




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Steve Mann
Internet Videographer
MannMade Digital Video
My Email

I agree .... get some kind of ( high quality ) imagery at the top of the site, show it off and get the viewers attention .... you aren`t selling them text about your product, you`re selling wooden boxes .... get the product image into their head right away.





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M Hall
Website Critique Community
International Society of Curmudgeons

To really compete online, you should consider hiring a professional web designer to make your site stand out from your competition.

Selling your products through PayPal is not the best option.  Many buyers will abandon a purchase once they realize that you are sending them to another url to complete a purchase.  Especially with items that are in the hundreds of dollars, it is best to get a merchant account and have your web designer integrate a cart system into your new website. 

Good luck and let me know if I can help,

"Many buyers will abandon a purchase once they realize that you are sending them to another url to complete a purchase."

Can you qualify that statement or is this just your prejudice?

I`ve used PayPal for more than five years with never a single problem and no customer has ever asked for an alternative payment method.

Diane, if you take checks, you may want to provide a snail address for the customer to mail the order to you.





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Steve Mann
Internet Videographer
MannMade Digital Video
My Email

Videography,
I am a Pay Pal User for almost 5 years and I totally agree with you. I don`t think that a customer is going to leave your web site just because you are using pay pal... I think that most of all, they ditch your web site because you don`t keep your web site with the 3-click rule which are... Click on the Item, Add to Cart, and Click to buy. 
I think host rail is just giving his personal opinion and link to get more visibility but that`s based on his findings and not everyone elses.

Thus, I do agree that getting a professionally developed web design, can really improve your image. Perhaps you should try Zen Cart or Oscommerce as your shopping cart system..



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Edgar Monroy
Web Developer / Owner / Consultant
When starting your own business the need to "know-how" is greater than money!
http://www.nuevolution.net

I "clicked any picture to find out more about the item" and didn`t find out anything more, really. :-)

I keep saying that e-commerce isn`t really all that much different from mail-order catalog sales. Yes, it`s got certain advantages, but in terms of content and layout, all the same principles apply. Where are the strong, compelling descriptions that will get me thinking about how badly I need one of these boxes?

I`m also not a big fan of e-commerce sites that simply land you on a first page of items for sale. There`s no introduction, no theme, no "how d`ya do," nothing. It`s like a passive stall somewhere, with the owner saying "Here`s my stuff! Buy it or leave!"

Even a crowded bazaar is going to have people pulling in visitors. There`s a pitch along the lines of "See what we`ve got! We`re amazing! These products are exactly what you want!" I can`t imagine a market more crowded than today`s Web!

The "About" page is okay, but like the rest of the site, it could really use some copywriting. In other words, there`s more to setting up a store than getting a building, putting stuff inside somewhere, and hanging out a sign that you`re open for business.

There`s nothing at all wrong with the business, ideas, and products. They`re all great :-) It`s only that you`ve got to show people why they`re great, how they`re different, and why someone should stop and pull out a credit card number right now to buy a particular box.