Know-How Exchange : Website Critique

I believe you need to provide more information about the artist. I know nothing about ladies bags and other accessories, but you need to support your value proposition.

The about us section includes almost no information. Because these bags are hand painted and individually designed you need to reinforce the role of the artist providing the magic touch.

What is the basic difference between a black velvet painting sold at a flea market and a painting done by one of the masters? Typically, it's what we know about the artist.

Also - what's your return policy?
Since you have analytics installed, where are people bouncing out? Are the keywords you've purchased appropriate for the items you're selling? Do clicking on the PPC ads take you to the exact item that the ad describes?

Wow, you have been open a few weeks, and you're not an ecommerce millionaire yet? Look, it takes time to build traffic to a website, let alone milk sales from site visitors.

First off, this is a niche product. Not everyone wants a hand painted purse. Unlike groceries and soft drinks, not everyone has a pressing need to buy a purse, let alone a hand painted one, so it could take a whole for your market to find you.

What are you doing to drive peope to your site? Just because its on the internet, it doesn;t mean the world even knows you exist. You need to get some ads out in places where folks who desire hand painted purses hang out. Is there a hand painted purse forum? Maybe a facebook page dedicated to them? Place ads their letting them know you got what they are looking for. The fact that traffic is light from adwords tell me that few people are searcing for hand painted bags. Yes, you DID look into how many times 'hand painted bags' is searched through google and overture BEFORE you decided to go into the business and build the web site, didn't you?

Yes, that is one glaring truth, what if very few people want such a product. It may be a while before a sale occurs then.

Also, Google Checkout? One of the least popular payment methods on the planet. More folks take Paypal and 2Checkout! I'd dump GC, and go with a real payment processor like Authorize.net. Most professional websites don't go with a badged payment system like PP, 2CO and GC. The poayment system is looking like you run out of your garage.

Sorry to be so harsh, but, you asked.

Have you checked to see if the site has even been picked by search engines yet-it can take a few weeks just for that to happen. Check out ways you optimize your site through both Google and Yahoo. They both have programs to help promote your site--at a cost per click basis, you control the daily amount you want to spend and what you are willing to pay per person that clicks on your site. The more you are willing to pay the better exposure you will get. Go to Google and Yahoo and check out those programs.

On another note, I couldn't find any way to to get in touch with you except by email on your contact page. I don't even know what country you're in, let alone an address or customer service contact number. Since anyone can set up a site and take payments these days, I expect any potential customers would question buying from someone who they have never heard of, who they can't get in touch with, and have no idea where, literally, in world they are. That's a big creditability issue to overcome.

All of that aside, it's a big web out there and it's rare that people will come to you (expect by pure chance) if they don't even know you're there. You've got to get your site out there for people to consider. And again, I wouldn't be surprised if the site hasn't even been picked by the search engines yet. Did you try to Google it?

Hi J T O Solt

I have perused your handbag website and there are a number of issues that should be addressed to help your visitors to make a purchasing decision.

These are fundamentals for any online sales website. I have looked into the issues of poor performing websites for some years with many clients not aware of the issues including many web designers.

Would you buy from a website where you did not know the origins of the company selling? Would you pay for something that the only contact with the company is an anonymous form on an anonymous website page?

Trust is an important element in the purchasing decision and this is one of the elements that is missing from your site. Also you do not have any terms and conditions, privacy policy or content that established you as a bone fide or legitimate business.

The handbags, my wife informs me, are attractive and interesting and she would consider buying them if she could see them in more detail. Also she would like to know what others have said about them. Has your wife got feedback and testimonials from customers that have already purchased?

I could spend the rest of this day developing this for your site and as I have already done the work I think it would be better for you to look at my book

Internet marketing - How to get a Website that Works for Your Business.

It is available from Amazon and I have put a link below for you to find it easily

The fundamentals are in the book and after reading it you will have a greater understanding of the important elements that all websites need for success online.

[URL deleted by staff]

Best of luck

Nigel T Packer

Great advice by others. Sales sites do take time and some patience is warranted.

It appears that you already made some changes in regards to contact info. I would put a phone number and email address in the footer of each page. Make it very obvious on how to contact you.

I think some client testimonials would be a great idea. Even if these were from people that purchased hand bags before you had the website.

I think you need to have some larger product pictures that would allow people to see more detail.

For sales you do make be sure that people are given resources to direct others to your website. Perhaps a brochure or at minium a card. People will tend to buy things that they see others have. Make sure that people that purchase your purses on or off the web now how to get a hold of you. Remember, this will take time, but has a better chance of happening if you give people the right resources.

Hope this helps,
Mike