Question

Topic: Website Critique

How To Win Back Cust Who Left B/c Of Bad Web Desig

Posted by Anonymous on 7/26/2005 at 6:12 PM ET 250 Points
We have had a web site since 1996, and up until last year it was fairly profitable. Late in 2004 we noticed a gradual decline in sales. WE felt that the exisiting website needed to be updated, as it was written in a language that the search engines were not picking up on. The new site launched and has had numerous problems, but appears to be easier to navigate. I am hoping htat someone out there can give me an honest ctirique of the site and what they would do to improve the visibility, ease of use, and overall appeal.
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RESPONSES

  • Posted by Inbox_Interactive on 7/26/2005 at 6:14 PM Member
    My crystal ball is in the shop. What's the URL?

    :)

    Paul
  • Posted by mgoodman on 7/26/2005 at 7:20 PM Accepted
    I'll give you a quick reaction: The home page doesn't tell me the big idea, and there's a lot of motion/animation up at the top that I don't understand.

    When I hit a homepage, I like to understand the company (or sponsor), what they do, and what makes them worth a few more minutes of my time. I also want it to be obvious what they want me to do as a site visitor. Giving me a bunch of options, photos, reviews, shopping carts, etc., before I even know what I'm supposed to be looking at is confusing.

    My suggestion is that you get out your positioning statement, or (if you don't have one) your mission statement. Then try to communicate the positioning on the home page. Nothing else, just the positioning. Once the visitor understands who you are, what you do, and what makes you different from and better than your competition, then it's time to give him/her some options for browsing the site (and maybe buying something).

    As it is now, your homepage looks like an inside catalog page, and there are so many options and links, I can't figure out what to do.

    Pick up a copy of Seth Godin's "The Big Red Fez." Some very good ideas in there that apply to your site design.

    Hope this helps.
  • Posted by Deremiah *CPE on 7/26/2005 at 7:28 PM Accepted
    Richard,

    clear and simple web design is always the best place to begin.

    Problems:
    Site is too busy and too much movement at the top of your screen. What are you trying to communicate? We'd love to know.

    Your Servant, Deremiah, *CPE (Customer Passion Evangelist)

    C-lear P-urposeful E-design
  • Posted by mgoodman on 8/3/2005 at 1:16 PM Member
    Before you accuse Honestyfactor.com, look at the creative brief you gave them. If you gave them, and they accepted, the brief as a spec sheet for the job, then they may not have delivered the contracted services, and you shouldn't pay them. Of course, if you gave them a poor brief and they delivered an end result that reflected what you gave them, then you're stuck. A good lesson for next time.

    And a lesson for everyone: Don't underestimate the importance of a good creative brief!

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