Hi all, (ooooooops - wrong thread - )

I'm not sure if I have asked for an "appraisal" of this site previously however I am under the pump here to get it working better.

I recently put this site up for my wifes new Jewellery business (yes dear, no dear, of course dear - given I have some affiliate marketing sites I was "encouraged" to do one for her ) ......... www.dazzlers.net.au


It is the first e-commerce site I have done and am looking for a critique (or thirty eight) of the site. The traffic is coming along nicely but the conversion to sales is pathetic.

Am I pumping the "safe and secure shopping site" thing TOO HARD? or indeed the Join Dazzlers Club ?? (trying to get a loyalty return visitor thing going). Is the site hard hitting enough in respect to asking the visitor to buy? What is good about the site (if anything) and what is bad about it (sorry, no compensation for RSI if you reply honestly ........ seriously, please be brutal here, my marriage may depend on me getting this right .

So looking for some assistance.

many thanks,

Mike

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The site is a mess, get some shopping cart software ASAP. Example I go to the front page, see some jewellery I want to buy, click on the image and it doesn't link to anything.

Other links just go to a "coming soon" and even some of the "buy" buttons don't work.

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Hi Mike

I'd agree with Snoopy that some shopping cart software would help - this software would help you organise your stock with categories and intuitive layouts.

It's a bit overwhelming tbh - so many things flashing in your face I don't know where to go. The actual design could do with a web 2.0 overhaul. Happy to put you in touch with a guy who could do this if you wanted

You have the product, with loads of content and photos which is great, I think its just a case of presenting these in a clear way

cheers
Mark

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Getting rid of the shitty text flash banners in the header would be a good start, it's like your trying to indoctrinate me in some bizzare cult.

Far too many banners flashing around... there is no clear call to action. Also too many random colour and font size changes. Looks like you are trying too hard. When you are trying to sell, often less = more.

No returns policy.. no shipping policy.

Also, having have built a few jewelery ecommerce sites over the years I know a thing or two.. and the photos you're using are lacking - you need white backgrounds.

Hosting the cart on PayPal would definately be hurting conversions, with so many 1 click install ecommerce solutions that have inbuilt payment gateway support including the PayPal API there is really no need to be using these buttons.

In my experience, PayPal works best when provided as a alternative payment method to credit card.. using the express checkout, users can significantly cut down on the checkout process and reduce cart abandonment.

You are also asking for bracelet size.. if you have to do this atleast provide a drop down with the options. If I was buying for my partner how am I supposed to know? And how do I know which sizes are in stock before handing over my money to dazzlers9000000@hotmail.com?

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Those can't be real pandora charms at those prices, right? Doesn't look like the sterling silver pandora charms.

Regarding shopping cart stuff I'd be using some free open source software like zen-cart, many hosts have auto install type buttons for this. I think you'll find it a lot easier than doing what you've done.

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Net.au - Trusted by The Goulburn Railway Bowling Club and other leading businesses. Menu now online! Sunday Special: $9.90 MEAL DEAL - STEAK or SCHNITZEL with CHIP & SALAD or VEGETABLES + A FREE OF "BRUER BRIGHT" BEER.

pandora "style" necklaces.

Thats another good tip, include materials in the decription to assure the customer they are getting a quality product.

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all of the above comments

Shopping Cart scripts are Easy to install , use and update

Plus lose the 3d name for sale ads NO relevance to the site Intent

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WOW - some really great feedback.

I will endeavour to make all of those changes.

You make me laugh General

I am looking for a drop down menu program to have all the specifications of the products, tibetan silver, lampwork glass beads, 925 sterling silver chain etc etc so for every product it drops dow as the mouse runs over the image - but also will have a button to a page with further images and product specs so that it is printable but also so that I increase the size of the site and get more SEO factor.

Can someone suggest a freeware dropdown menu program, one that shows up kinda like a quotation box like you see in cartoons - if so please post it in here.

I have ZenCart - I just started with PayPal because it was so easy and had an account anyway but have taken the advice onboard and will set up ZenCart.

Hey Snoops - no need for interpreters, I figured out what "the site is a mess" means ....... "the site is untidy, incohesive and lacks a certain professionalism in my opinion" ........ see, I am learning


LastPage .... images........ I am not a professional photographer and in taking pics on a white background, many different types of material(s) backgrounds and different lighting etc etc it is still such that the background is a dull creamy type of colour when published (looks ok on the camera screen). I am reasonably good with PhotoShop and it is near on impossible to take these items images and make them fully transparent because of the continual change in shape, shadows (bits of shadow will go, some stays, looks terrible - even the pro shots leave the shadows in because of this issue) etc. - well at least for someone with my experience, albeit I can do it however it is very fiddly and takes about 40-50 minutes per image and then is not overly clever, time I don't have. So I will have to do some more learning with PS and try again.

Thanks everyone, I now have a truckload of work to do - will post the site again for new comment once I have revamped it.

cheers,
Mike

p.s. did you guys get your paypal receipt emails ok ?

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Buy a logo man, if you go to an online store you want something professional I am 100% turned away by your cheap text logo.

I can give you quick SEO advice -

1. Meta data is all too long it will get cut off on search engines.
2. you have www. resolve problems, non www and www versions redirect together.
3. no use of XML sitemap.
4. no social media link use.


do some keyword research do not target the high competition head terms you will never rank, go for middle tier website.

It is 100% evident you need to buy some e-commerce software.

good luck.

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