Recently I have been exploring ways to increase my traffic, and also increase my traffic conversion rates. Traffic conversion rate is the percentage amount of traffic that converts to sales. I posted a thread of my problem on a forum and without realizing it I opened myself up to critisism. It hurt at first to read the comments, but I knew they were right. I greatly needed to hear it. I have had this website set up for 4 going on 5 years now and hit a plateau with sales, but not traffic.
“I can’t say for sure but I wonder if having a less ‘prim crafty’ look and more of a ‘crafter supply’ look for your website would be better?”
“1. I’m a baby boomer who is working online to help get us ready for the big “retirement” jump.
2. I have made and sold crafts most of my 50+ years.
3. I’ve been online marketing over 2 years.With that said here are my thoughts.
Your site looks like one I would buy crafts from – not give me a leg up making an income crafting.
The website needs to look more like a “shopping” experience and not so much a “crafting” experience.
Think about what your competition is doing and if you should be doing things differently and not the same.
Do you have an affiliate program? Are your products something you resell?
Really… you have a great product line. If I were still making and selling candles I would be interested in your product.
But I don’t see the products – I see lot’s of pictures of what I get when I use your products… but not the actual product.
Plus… The blog and the sales site don’t match – at all…
These comments stung a bit, but like I said I needed to hear it. I do want to be different from my competitors. I do want to make the whole shopping experience enjoyable and not confusing. I wanted to serve my customers better than my competition.
Yes, French Hill Country ~ Candle And Soap Silicone Molds will be coming out with a new look soon, but more important is how can my graphics and website design mistake lead you to your thriving website.
Items to take into consideration when looking at graphics and design of your site:
1. Who is your target market and where do they enjoy shopping?
I imagined that my target market enjoyed shopping at Michaels and Joanne fabrics. I went visited their online shops and am designing my site around theirs. Make the graphics and pictures appealing, but relevant to our website. We love visuals.
2. How would you make their shopping experience more efficient?
We live in a very fast paced society. If our customers cannot find what they are looking for fast, they will search the next website on their list.
3. What are your competitors doing?
Check them out.Make a list of what you like and don’t like about their site. Are their graphics and visuals relevant to the site and their products. Definitely do something different from your competitors. Stand out above the rest.
4. Is your content relevant to your business pitch and titles?
When your target finds your site they are on a mission for something specific. Whether it be a specific product or specific information. Make sure you make all your information relevant. Recently, I have had to switch a bit the content of this blog to match the information that I was writing. You guys had a reason to receive this blog info and newsletters to me and I want to make sure I give you that exact content.
Learn from my mistakes. Let me be an example of what not to do. I know certain things take time, but keep these pointers in mind. You can make small adjustments to your site and graphics to appeal to your target market.
Remember your website represents you and your business. You want to put your best foot forward.
Many Blessings,
Dawnaurora
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Melissa,
All I need is a picture for my logo and then it is done. UGH! THis has been in the works since November of ’08. Should put this in top priority. Need a good kick in the rear!
I’ve been thinking about this one long and hard too Dawn. I sometimes feel like my site only attracts to customers who are into prims. I want backgrounds and maybe headers and footers and call it good. Let your products speak for themselves through pictures. I feel my site is so cluttered and busy. I spent days cleaning it up when I first bought it.
I personally love your site, but that’s me. I think it’s easy to navigate and very well put together. I don’t like going to sites that have a ton of topsites trying to load and pictures. I just leave their site. I only have so much time to shop!!