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Website Critique     
 
This question has been closed, and points have been awarded.
Ready For A Re-design!
Posted By: Marisa P on 6/22/2006 4:36 PM (CST) 50 Points
www.doorex.com

Our company actually receives a lot of praise for our website. We have a lot of inbound calls from people "google-ing" us, and they often make a comment that they liked our website. In comparison to what other companies in Vancouver have, we provide a lot more information.

However, I would love to have some ideas in mind for our future re-design. Not only design-wise (because it's pretty obvious that there's room for improvement in that aspect), but suggestions for new features would be welcome as well. For example, on another question I asked on the forum, someone suggested a newsletter subscribe page on our website. More ideas like this to take to our web designer would be great!

Thanks!

Posted by: ShannonD* Accepted Answer
6/22/2006 5:05 PM (CST)
I would suggest building your white pages for your company news. I wouldn't suggest a newsletter, but an update page unless your company creates lots of press and news. Otherwise you'll be spending a lot of time working on something that won't have much ROI.

People love white pages because it lets them see your company growth and good movement. If you are working with other companies, big projects, selling so many doors, a popular door, popular color, growth in a particular region, management changes, or stats for people to look at, it will draw more hits to your page. This will also let people have something to see about your company.

You need white pages also to build yourself as an authority. Give easy steps to a project, or do it yourself ideas. Give them tricks to making things work better for them. People love to read about those types of articles.

I would also get some pictures or colors on your finishings page. That would make it pop like your door pages.

Other than that I think you have a great, well detailed webpage for your purpose. I don't know who you link to though. If you google is hitting well, find out how they find you other than keywords. Are they finding you from other sites? If not, what sites could you link to that would allow more hits per month.

Just a couple of ideas!

Shannon D
 
Posted by: NuCoPro Accepted Answer
6/22/2006 5:16 PM (CST)
I think it would be great if I could upload a picture of my home, "designate" the front door space and then have your web site let me "install" different doors to see what they would look like!

This would be a HUGE selling advantage for you. I already use something similar on Tirerack.com, where you can choose a vehicle and color and then try out different wheels. Because of that feature I bought a set of wheels from them.

Admittedly, this is a little advanced, but I have the capability to make it happen, if you're interested.
 
Posted by: marilia.zanim Accepted Answer
6/23/2006 6:39 AM (CST)
I think the company's contact information is missing. I know it is in the 'Contact Us' menu, but since you don't have e-commerce, ,I would suggest to have the phone and e-mail in EVERY page, big and in a easy place to find.

People who are looking the products and services that you offer, could have some doubt and then would have to leave the page to go to the 'contact us' page.

I work with some websites and one of the most important things is to make the contact between clients/prospects and your company, very easy (by phone, e-mail, chat - that would be nice too. Then people don't have to call you, just write in a chat and receive the answers in real time).

I hope I could help! Good luck!
 
Posted by: nelsonm* Accepted Answer
6/23/2006 8:30 AM (CST)
1. Add pictures. Make people fall in love for your products
2. Move the search capability out of the main menu

3. Use sub menus to get people were they want to go quickly
4. "About us" could be close to the "home" tab. Add pictures. Get people in the mood to buy only from you

5. Close up pictures to appreciate the material and components might be of value to your customers
6. Ask your customers what they would like to see in the web site. You are servicing a very particular group of people/companies.

7. Check the font used. It looks small and boring.
 
Posted by: rbauman* Member Response
6/23/2006 9:10 AM (CST)
I agree with Nelsonm - you need to add more pictures. It currently takes 3 clicks to get to pictures of any doors and that requires selecting a specific model. Don't be afraid to show pictures of representative products before someone has selected a specific style or model.

Under the location section, remove the word "currently" (we are CURRENTLY located at...). It gives somewhat of an uneasy feeling about the permanence or dependability of your business.

Give more of a personalized touch to your site by adding items featuring people - either employees or customers. This will help build a personal feeling and ingrain site visitors with the sense that you are people, not just a business. If featuring an employee, give a picture, a short bio, and one item of interest (hobby, unusual event, how the person went above and beyond to help a customer...). For a customer, give their endorsement of how you helped them with their problem or why they decided to buy from you.
 
Posted by: charkins Accepted Answer
6/25/2006 11:20 AM (CST)
I would second (or third!) most of the suggestions above - including more pictures, put the search box and contact information on every page (preferably in the masthead), and add content in the form of "white pages" as described by Shannon.

I would also recommend keeping up with your specials! When the first special says "UNTIL FEB 28, 2005" it makes me wonder how "fresh" the other special offerings are as well. And then it makes me wonder if the rest of the site is 16 months out-of-date, too.

Also, some of your existing images are a little funky. If you go to Hardware, Locks, and rollover the image for the first product - Emtek Wilshire - the green background disappears (but it doesn't with the other products). Then when you click on the image to get a larger picture, instead you get a smaller picture. So I would recommend re-checking each of your existing images to be sure they do what you want them to do.
 
Posted by: jpoyer Accepted Answer
6/25/2006 8:35 PM (CST)
Hi Marisa,
My comments below.

1. At the risk of over-repeating ... I agree with you needing to add photos of your products, like a more traditional shopping cart. I think instead of having the list of products, numbered, you should skip that page and go directly to the photo/product/description pages. For those categories that have sub categories, like "Hardware" you should consider having a dynamic menu with the sub menu stuff "popping out" from the main menu.

2. Is there a reason that I missed to explain why I cannot order from your site? Do people just call to make their orders? Just curious. As an online consumer, and someone not from your area, if I wanted to buy a door how would I do that? There is a small area on about us that says you do ship across North America and overseas, but you don't really say how to order. I think ordering online through a shopping cart would be a swell addition.

3. I found one link to "knowledge base" ... is this an area where you have helpful tips and processes for putting on, handling, staining, etc. for doors? Like ... what's buluxion molding and why does it matter to me? What are thermal panels and why would I need a door with thermal panels or not? What are the benefits of getting a door with glass, versus a solid oak door?

If you do have a place like that, you should consider highlighting it better, and easy to get to from your front page. If you don't have a good section like that, I would strongly recommend that you include it. I recently purchased blinds online, and I REALLY used the guidelines in the company's "knowledge base" section (was called something else). Not only did I use it to pick which blinds or valances would be best for my home (didn't even know what a valance was before that, not to mention a decorative valance), but also to get instructions about how to measure my windows to assure I give the right measurements when I ordered the blinds, and also step-by-step instructions of how to install the blinds (with great photos/diagrams). It even talked about what reasons there were to choose different colors, and how you could pick a blind to adjust or enhance the "feeling" of the room. That was the reason I bought my blinds from that site versus one of the competitor's sites. Everything was all right there, in a nice little package. EASY for me, and that is good.

4. If you are really planning to add a newsletter, it would be good to tie back to your knowledge base with links, and include excerpts from your knowledge base into your newsletter.


5. Also, consider adding a blast e-mail capability with your newsletter, if you do add one. When people sign up for your newsletter, you can ask if they would be interested in specials, etc, that only newsletter subscribers will qualify for, and in addition to your client base receiving your newsletter, you will also have the opportunity to maintain contact with holiday specials, notifications of changes to your site, appropriate general news within the industry. (be sure to give them the option of getting HTML or plain text e-mails) Depending on the feedback you get, and the subscribe/unsubscribe rate, you can easily adjust the number of blast e-mails you send out. Of course the newsletter gives you the opportunity to collect information such as mailing address and phone numbers for other marketing efforts you may have going on. Be sure to add a privacy statement/disclosure to let subscribers know you are not sharing their information, or who you are sharing it with. ...

6. Along with the blast e-mail, you can have splash pages, or landing pages on your site to match the graphics of the e-mail and be for that specific offer, with links to navigate the visitor to the proper area.

7. I noticed there is a "secure area" link on the bottom, but then it says login for members only. ... members? Members of what? Does it talk about becoming a member somewhere else and maybe I just missed it? How do I become a member? Maybe some information about that area would be good to add. If it is a service you provide to existing customers, then that is a "perk" and should be highlighted on your site. ...

Well, I hope this helps. Please feel free to contact me if I didn't explain something well. I know I tend to get a little long-winded at times with answering these forum questions.

Best Wishes,

Jennifer
XPRT Creative
 
Posted by: Marisa P Author Response
6/27/2006 12:30 PM (CST)
Thanks everyone for your feedback.

Great layout suggestions. I agree on the importance of having our contact info on every page- because although we have many quote requests, almost everyone who calls us has visited the site.

Vevolution, a front door makeover feature would be excellent. I have often done that for customers when they email me a photo, and I've found them the ability to see what you see makes for an easy sell.

Rbauman, I would love to add a staff section. When you come to our office/showroom, there is a family business feeling, I think the website should reflect that too.

Thanks charkins for pointing out the expired specials. That's something I'm able to fix myself.

Jennifer, thank you for all of that input!
Our customers call in to place orders, or inquire via the quote request feature. But we are working towards a shopping cart feature.

The secure area at the moment is only for staff to edit the website, but the goal is to have a VIP customer program giving our members access to extra special specials. And in the closer future: an email newsletter/special sign up capability, so we can "blast".

Re: knowledge base- I find the sales team's depth of knowledge to be very comforting to the customer. So I agree, it would be great if the website solidified that we are the experts in the door business with a knowledge base.

So much work ahead of us here, but these are great suggestions to work with!
 
Posted by: Marisa P Author Response
6/27/2006 12:32 PM (CST)
Did anyone else notice our company mascot in some of the photos? If you have a minute, search the word "Cowboy".
 
Posted by: Brian Bearden Accepted Answer
6/28/2006 10:10 AM (CST)
Your home page is way too plain.

I would have your search box in the upper right hand corner of your page. This way visitors to your site can search for any door they want at any time. Add more photos of great looking doors. The current image looks like a stock photo.

Where are the testimonails from happy clients. Spread them throughout the site. Have one on your home page.

Your navigation is confusing. I clicked on Exterior Doors and what I expected to see what a page of door photos with names under them. Like Oak, Cedar, Metal, etc. that I could click on. Currently you have sale items like your 8 foot door special mixed in with the real navigation of oak, metal, cedar, etc. I would separate this. Have a Exterior Door Special section that people can click on. But keep your navigation as clean and easy to use as possible.

Get rid of the numbers. An example is under Hardware. Just list the Categories that are available to be clicked on.

On your contact information you say "we are currently located at". I don't know if you are in the process of moving but you want people to feel comfortable doing business with you. Get rid of we are currently located at. You can always revamp the page to reflect a new address if you do decide to move.

On your quote request form. Have a place for a phone number. You would not believe the number of people who type in their own email address wrong. If they are truly interested, they will not be bothered with a follow up call.

I don't know how important Cowboy is to your company but I did not know why he was in the photos? He is a cute dog that you could use in more of your advertising if you want.

I wish you continued success with your business.

Brian



 
Posted by: Frank Hurtte Accepted Answer
6/28/2006 1:00 PM (CST)
more before and after pictures...
for some reason it was slow for me today..
 
Posted by: Marisa P Author Response
6/28/2006 4:49 PM (CST)
Brian, thanks for all of the navigation & layout suggestions. The mixed up categories & odd numbering definitely go.

Good idea to put the phone number on the quote request, too. At least as an optional reminder.

Didn't mean to get too off track with the Cowboy comment! He's just so darn cute, and everyone who comes into the shop falls in love with him. I think we'll even give him a staff bio on the site when we get to that...

I completely agree with everyone that we need more and better pictures- of our product, completed jobs, before & after, close ups, etc.
 
Posted by: Marisa P Author Response
6/30/2006 12:53 PM (CST)
Thanks, everyone.
Time to close the question now.

Marisa P
 
Posted by: Roberto Member Response
6/30/2006 5:09 PM (CST)
Your Index page is in need of help. Just one paragraph and that’s it? Not good enough!
1.) Maybe put a special there on the front page, and then they click and go to the specials page? Also more pictures--------But, I would work hard for the first page to be filled with information, colors and offers. Or new to our gallery?
You can combine your print advertising with your online website. New product etc. then you put the print add on the INDEX page, link to your specials (makes the site look up to date.)
The people above me said the rest, but really take off the search button!!! Put that on all the pages at the top. But some one said that.
2.) Your design is a somewhat efficient, but it is an old template and can be updated (redesign). Your redesign should focus on the header but also the advertising/marketing. Lots of pictures, updated monthly. Lots of deals, make people feel and think, this is the place to be if I need a door. The Index page must say a lot of your company, it is your first chance to impress and to make first timers stay and look:)
I hope you continue well, you are on the right track!!!
Roberto Avey
 


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