my site

[signify]

I am new to this forum, I needed some advice on my site, punched it into google and landed on this site.

Some Background: Basically We started an eBay business and we have done quite well in sales since December last year, but to try and cut eBay costs I decided to make a website and try and tempt eBay traffic onto the site.

Site idea: I had an idea of customers being able to make offers for our products. but it became apparent that if we allowed offers on all our products we would get stupid offers and end up losing money, so we decided to add one offer a week in the 'offer us a price' section of the site where customers bid or make an offer in an auction style way to buy the item cheaper than our asking prices aswell as a web store where most of our items can be bought at our regular price (same price as on our eBay)

Conclusions: After having a little bad feedback from a few people I am strarting to wonder if I should just scrap the whole idea! I have had people saying to me that they just find the whole concept confusing! and that with the name of the site they would expect to go on the site and be able to make an offer for anything. I have tried to explain on the website that there is just one section for this which will grow into more products eventually when the site picks up more regular visitors. I havn't even had any return customers from eBay as yet and I send a leaflet out to every eBay customer that orders with me with a discount coupon

So I was just hoping some one could have a look and see if they find the idea confusing, would any of you guys understand the idea if you just stumbled across the site on Google?

I would appreciate any comments on the site.



Thanks
Taz

[SnowGiraffe]

Hi, the site is a good idea, and the deals look good. However...

I think your site URL is a problem as it does suggest that your site is something it isn't. I would suggest getting another name and using that as standard - it doesn't stop you using the offerusaprice URL for particular marketing, you can point thi domain name at the same site. So in anwer to your question - yes it is a little confusing. Visitors like to know what they're getting when they click on something, and if it goes to something they don't expect, the tend to click away and don't come back in a hurry.

The other issue I'm afraid, is the look of your site. The 'above the fold' section is just words, there's nothing there to engage the visitor straight away. The header banner is horrible (sorry!, not trying to pull you apart, just give suggestions) - it's very dark and has the look of one of those awful get-rich-quick or lifestyle type sites. I guess you did the site yourself, and on the whole it works and is easy to get around, but it might be worth investing a little to get yourself a good look - even if you only employ someone to make you a nice masthead.
The goods are neatly displayed with lots of information about them which is good too. You have good contact information - an address really adds consumer confidence so you really aren't doing too much wrong. I think if you get better look and and new URL you will find things pick up for you.

Good luck.

Niki

[signify]

Hi Niki
Your review is very informative thank you.

I have been toying with the idea of changing the name for a week and looks like it's best way forward, I may change it something to do with Signify as this is the name of the eBay account

In regard to the the look of the site I didn't think it was that bad, I have had someone say that the dark blue is too dark, so in your opinion should I keep the layout and just change the colours or do I need a completely different zen cart template?

The main header needs changing, if I am changing the name I may look at a propper logo so I will have a look at what comes to mind with a new name in place to sort a new header for the site.

Thanks for your time

Taz

[SnowGiraffe]

The basic site layout is ok - if you want to spend some money, you could get a really slick new look, maybe with nice tabbed headers like Amazon has, but I don't think that is your issue. My only real problem with it is your masthead as I think it makes you look unprofessional so if you're going with a new name, a new masthead would be a great idea. I don't think a logo is necessary, just a brightening up of the masthead itself - on your eBay shop you have a banner which, if the quality was good enough would be far better than what you have now.

I'd like to see something more interesting somewhere in sight when you open the site, so if you can do this by maybe incorporating some of your products into the masthead, this might kill 2 birds with one stone. I know you have quite a selection of different things, but they seem to centre around entertainment and communication. Other than that, maybe a range of featured products above the fold. Without your complicated explanations of what the site is and what it does, this might well help draw people in.

Is it possible to have landing pages for people coming from eBay? This way they would arrive on the relevant page for the product they were looking for. You might already do this, but I must say that after a trawl around your eBay shop, I can't find where people are clicking through to you!! (But then I can't find my way round Facebook!) Anyhoo, a matching of company name from eBay through to your own site, can only be a good thing.

[signify]

Hi Niki,

Ive changed the colour now to something a little brighter and I have also changed the background from an old fashion floral to more of a grungy background i figured my customers will be mostly younger people teens and 20's so Im just thinking of grungy scenes they may be into. I also took your advice onboard about the header and added a couple products in there and some of the things we sell.

Would you say this is an improvment from before?

Thanks
Taz

[SnowGiraffe]

Wow!! Well I never thought I'd say it about a background like that, but yes it's actually loads better!

It certainly isn't a colour or texture to my personal taste, but for the market you're aiming at it is a massive improvement and I think you might reap some benefit here. The total flavour of your site has changed - with a name change too I think you're heading down the right track.

Hope it pays dividends for you.

Niki

[signify]

Hi Niki,

Thank you for your comments
I was thinking about what you was saying in regards to the content 'above the fold' with it being just wording nothing that grabs attention. Well I had an idea and was working on something, and I have now implemented it into my site! Just wondering on your thoughts on this? is it a real attention grabber, also if I get any new offers or discounts these are easily changed in a matter of minutes.

What do you think?


Regards
Taz

[Indizine]

Hi Signify, you dont have enough posts to post a link or URL, so you will need to add the website URL to your profile via your settings (my A1BF tab) and people can view it from there.

[wood1e]

obviously a couple of people have seen the site...but I can't find a URL mentioned...can anyone post this?

[Indizine]

no, we cant add the link, the OP has been instructed above what to do. If we post their link it negates the objective of the rule being set in the first place.