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Hi all.
Getting close to our site going live so thought I would put up the link again, and ask for you opinions, please be as honest as you can, dont worry we can take negative comments as it will help us to fine tune the site :)
http://bp28.betapark.co.uk/
Thanks,
Can i be honest and say you need to drop Giles at White ****** a line regarding the actual page design and logo. It will make all the difference.
Neil.
As i said we want honest responces. im not completely new to this but making it look all pretty and stuff isnt my strong point.
Hi Adam
The site looks nice and clean, and appropriate for the product range (though maybe a bit staid?). It seems to have all the right stuff - contact details, phone number, address (btw, if you want the address to be a bit tighter together - no extra line between the address lines - then hold down the Shift key before pressing Enter for a new line, and this will then stop adding a double space).
A few points:
- in the checkout basket, you have the entry box for "Are you VAT exempt" but don't say what you expect them to enter. A simple YES/NO or similar in the text would help
- on the VAT Exempt page, I would let the Zero Rate Explained button open a new window. I find if a document or pdf opens in the same window, if often forget I was on the site and close the window down, which is annoying and often I don't bother to go back.
- I would make more of a song and dance about the free delivery, mabe a highlighted box above the fold on your home page. I know it's in the text, but it doesn't immediately stand out.
- I would add a couple more news items to the news ticker, as it is otherwise a bit pointless
Hope that helps.
Regards
Pete
thanks pete, really helpful that :)
due to the vat excemption only being applied if the customer has certain ilnesses / disablilties we have a forrm they have to fill in which then sends them the code to type in there. we have to have written proof that the customer is eligible for the excemption by law..
news ticker is a deffinate "need more" but we need to think of more first :)
due to the vat excemption only being applied if the customer has certain ilnesses / disablilties we have a forrm they have to fill in which then sends them the code to type in there. we have to have written proof that the customer is eligible for the excemption by law..
Ah, that explains it. Maybe then it should say "please enter your exemption code (see application form below)" or something like that?
see ive been staring at this for so long I am starting to miss these little things.
I agree with Pete, you could do with a tidy up on the design, I noticed that the roll over state on the menu is a couple of pixels out at the top (which might be intentional but I think it could do with lining up!).
As you have a high value product you need to make sure that your customers have trust in your brand and website - one way to do this is to have a well designed and presented website, it doesn't have to be fancy, just robust enough to give that feeling that the products are going to arrive and if I have a problem there will be someone there to deal with my request.
I agree with Pete, you could do with a tidy up on the design, I noticed that the roll over state on the menu is a couple of pixels out at the top (which might be intentional but I think it could do with lining up!).
As you have a high value product you need to make sure that your customers have trust in your brand and website - one way to do this is to have a well designed and presented website, it doesn't have to be fancy, just robust enough to give that feeling that the products are going to arrive and if I have a problem there will be someone there to deal with my request.
buttons, err umm... thats intentional honest......
and as for the site would you now say that you dont trust it? would you buy from it? or do you think that it would be one that wouldnt be trusted? we do have a big company behind us as the main way we sell things but we dont want them linked. so we have the staff to deal with all the possible outcomes with a sale and service side of things.
WhiteRabbit
28-08-2009, 10:34
Hi Adam,
Thanks for the recommendation Neil :)
It's difficult to recommend things specifically regarding the overall design, as design is a combination of lots of things rather than just a couple of pointers. When I'm designing a site it typically starts from the logo - personally I think it's really important to have a professional looking logo...just sets the tone.
A couple of things though...please don't centre text - it's just a nightmare to read and seeing as most of your customers are going to be older, that really won't help them in the slightest :) Left aligned text is the easiest to read.
This is going to sound contrary to the point above, but people DON'T read text (except for text regarding the specific item they are interested in)...so the bumph on the adjustable beds bit is probably going to get glossed over.
SO...make sure the navigation is completely clear and intuitive.
Personally I found the navigation a bit confusing - hit beds and then hit with the choice of Warwickshire or Hampshire ranges. But I want a 2'6 bed with memory foam mattress. What do I do?
Ok, you can argue that they should just click through and find out what choice they have but most people will know what size bed or what mattress type or whether they want massage or not. They don't care what the range or bed is called.
I'd create sub categories based on bed size, mattress type and massage. That way if they want a 2'6 bed they'll be shown 2'6 beds. Most people if given too much choice, will choose nothing at all - they get all confused and leave it for another day.
The images with the remote control kind of look like it's a weird leg on the bed! I had to look at the product just to see what it was. You're probably better off creating a little badge that says "Remote Control" and put that in the top right corner.
The checkboxes on the product page are multi selectable...might be better off using radio buttons if they can only select one option.
Definitely make more of the free delivery on every page.
I'd also stick with the general navigation elements (home, contact, delivery etc) in the top nav and put the product elements in the side. At the moment it's duplicated, so there's twice as much text as there needs to be. It will help de-clutter the site.
Watch the capital letters too...words in the middle of sentance shouldn't have capitals unless they're names etc.
Overall, I think the key to the success of this site is to make it really, really simple and then add in bits as the site proves itself. I think the VAT exemption thing could flummox a few people and the 'add to your order' bit in the basket page could also fool a few...can just hear them now "but I thought I'd added it to my order...oh, that's not what I want...oh dear...oh I don't know, I'll go and make a nice cup of tea". < said with tongue fimly planted in cheek >
Hope this helps a bit!
Giles
Good advice from Giles, as always. I think the logo one is key - a professionally designed logo makes a huge difference to the feel of the site, and you will find it naturally leads you in the subsequent design.
have created a new header with "Free delivery" as part of the image but it wont refresh and show....
its in the template as the image to be used but wont show... ideas?
Adam
I have sent you a pm with a betapark site to look at.
Neil
thanks neil have been looking :)
needundies
28-08-2009, 18:26
Good advice from Neil regarding Giles at ***********, let him makeover your site and take any recommendations he has on board, then sit back and watch your conversion rates rise!
well just logged on and checked the site and its working... no change nothing, oh the joy.....
Have taken in all comments from you guys, and have now changed the site alot. see what you think :)
http://bp28.betapark.co.uk/
one question I have, is the product block on the left column has a nice hover over and the block below doesnt, can someone point me in the direction of sorting this so it does. :)
Thanks,
In the left column the block with the nice hover over is set up as a list (using the <UL> and <li> attributes) which is styled to give you the nice effect.
I usually code this by hand so it isn't that easy to explain but if you copy what is in the first block and paste it in to the second, then change the text and links it should work!
thanks Nic, was wondering how to do this ....
only problem is when i enter the code it creates, what looks like, double spacing between each link...
this is all ive added to the code "<div id="catalogue">" at present.
p.s. this isnt actually adam, he's currently on a plane to sri lanka the little so and so.
thanks in advance
James
I think you need to get rid of all of the font and span tags you have so that the class can take over, this is the only difference I can see in the code
thanks nic, will have a look.
James
Just like to say thanks for all your input, it has invaluable to the setup and launch of our site.
we went live at five on monday and everyone is over the moon.
hopefully this is the start ofsomething big for us!!!!
James and Adam.
Just like to say thanks for all your input, it has invaluable to the setup and launch of our site.
we went live at five on monday and everyone is over the moon.
hopefully this is the start ofsomething big for us!!!!
James and Adam.
Hi Guys,
Good luck and hope everything goes well.
The hard work is not over yet as you will be constantly monitoring your sites performance and tweaking things to try and achieve better rankings and improve your site.
Even though it's live like many people it will still be work in progress!
Good luck with it all, hope it goes well
As Dave says, the hard work starts now!
Adam here,
Back from Sri lanka and back to work, yay... the site looks the same as it did when I left which is always a good thing, was worried james may change the whole thing.... just to wind me up.
As James said in the previous post, thank you to all for the help and guidence you have given both of us in the last few months, and im sure we will be on here constantly badgering you all for more things... never know one day we may be the ones answering the questions not asking them!!! may try to walk before running though....
Cheers
Adam
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