Thread: Bobs Internet Mart

Hello All,

I have just about completed the basics of building my site and would appreciate you guys taking a look at it and let me have your suggestions, comments, etc. Please let me know if there is anything that I can do to make it more user friendly, etc.

Thanks,

Robert L. (Bob) Watson, Sr.
Bobs Internet Mart
http://www.bobsinternetmart.com

Look man, very very nice, I like the colors and style just few things to change:

in Home page:

1 - the sentence the n1 key to online success etc etc seems to be a part of the triangle logo right? make it smaller and put it on the right of the triangle and center them.

2 - ads by google, you better put them on the bottom of the page, they are not part of your project

3 - change the font of "we welcome the opportunity etc etc"

4 - For me, I would use the red color in the text only if something like a link or one inportant word on a sentence, what you think?

5 - please feel free to visit our site etc etc, just take it off, people will come back if they like the web site.

6 - put the black text on smaller size and give some spaces from the sides.

hope it helps

I'll be back later for the other pages

but nice one, I like it

Hi,
As previous comment suggested move the google ads either to the bottom or side so the first thing people see is your introduction,perhaps get something with a bit of life to it on your page such as a changing feed of some of your products so as to make it a friendly experience for your potential customers and to stand out a bit.It`s coming along just great thus far.
regards
Jay

Lot of work, a lot more to go.
-You seem to have copied the Google logo, you're going to have to save it as *.gif or *.jpg and then use the image tool to insert in your page. Otherwise users will see a red X.
-Either get rid of the ads (Google, MSN, Ask, yahoo, etc all have their versions of junk mail) or move them to the far right. Right now they are the focal point of your site.
-Consider moving the products, way at the bottom, someplace else. Nothing wrong with having them on your Home page but you're hiding them.
-Consider redoing the NAvBar, it is very confusing. example Products and Adlandpro.
-You show a UPS logo someplace, link to it or add something to the effect that you use UP to ship. Buyers want that type of reassurance.
-There is a contact form in one of your pages that "floats", very annoying.
-Might want to change the page titles for different pages and maybe add something descriptive. "Bobs Internet Mart - Products and Gifts"
-Consider a direct link to the tremendous selection of products, some were easier to find than others.
-The products that I did find were very nicely displayed and the "e-mail to a friend" is a good idea.

Good luck with your site.

Bob,

You've been given great advice so far. I dont run google ads on anything I WANT TO SELL on. If you have to have them, make them the LAST thing your customer sees.

To Elaborate more on your products. Move them to top level pages making it one click to buy instead of two. Your page titles, meta tags and keywords should apply only to the page that you are viewing, not the whole site. Run sub pages for only those categories where you have more product than page.

Your home page needs to sell your cutomer on staying on the site. Show them something to intrigue them and use YOU instead of I or we in your text. Do links to products as you mention keywords within the text. You are selling and every single page needs to let your customer know that. Dont let them forget or it will be a 2 sec click drive by. Get rid of the idea that its a website.. its a STORE STORE STORE. Watch those selling channels, lots of good lessons there, they make millions, and remember alot of it is visual!!! Go visit Walmart! They arent surprised you found them! Look at how displays and ads are set. You need to do the same thing, only on the internet!

MOM and POP business or International Corportation? The mindset is up to you! Either way it pays to look professional, and nobody knows on the internet. Its up to you to build the reputation. All of this needs to be on the About Us page and not the home page.

Your links pages need some order. Set up categories for your links and then list them accordingly. Currently they are rather helter skelter. I wouldnt trade links with you because they are of no use to your viewers as they are, and they will just click off of there rather than sort it out. As a fellow store owner, Id be viewing it in the same light. Will my link here be of any quality?

Finally, your opportunities, and business to business items belong on another site if they arent related in any way to this one. Keep your store focused, themed and relevant! You have a ton of Web Space with your Voda Account. Put some to good use and make a Business Homepage and put all of this type stuff there.

Whew! I just gave you a ton of work to do! If you need help with any of that please just ask. Glad to help you! Youve got a GREAT start you just need to iron out some wrinkles!

Karen

I agree with all above move your google advert all the way down to bottom to the footer, move your text on page up, and bring your products up as well just under the text. and as for that google search remove it due to you already have the google advert that will automatically send them to google. a search box in my opinion on a persons site should be relevant to that site in order to search for products for that site not steer away from that site to another and miss a sale. don't know if i am making sense or not but lets say you have something on your site I'm thinking hmm type in that search box for lets say *******, then i am sent to another place that shows other stores/shops i click on their link i see a watch i buy it they get the sale and you got nothing, you just helped your competitor with a sale he profits $400.00 and you profit $000.00. your site think about it and do the math. site other than that looks good.

Hello Nite Producer,

I made the changes you suggested on my Home Page. Logo has been changed completely. No more Ads by Google. Thanks for your input.

Robert L. (Bob) Watson, Sr.

Bobs Internet Mart
http://www.bobsinternetmart.com

much better much neater but you may want to change this...Our motto is and always has been, “Our customers are our most valuable Asset”, therefore your complete satisfaction is our ultimate Goal.

to this...

Our motto...

“Our customers are our most valuable Asset"

Therefore your complete satisfaction is our ultimate Goal.

and this ...

"we become free by serving and encouraging each other"
Below it if your gonna keep the products on bottom page, just under your last text say something like

"we become free by serving and encouraging each other"
Look below at some of our products.

and bring the products up a tad, still a tad bit far down.

just a thought.

Hello Jay,

Visited your site - WOW - Fantastic!

I have already implemented some changes to my site, based on the suggestions that you guys made - but would love to implement a changing feed, especially after seeing your site. Could you possibly tell me where I can find information to guide me through whatever steps I need to take to implement a changing feed showing some of my products?

Thanks,

Robert L. (Bob) Watson, Sr.
Bobs Internet Mart
http://www.bobsinternetmart.com

Hello Bill,

Thanks for responding to my post. I have already made several changes to the site based on suggestions that you guys made, and will be making several more.

Definitely the google ads are gone. They are on a page by themselves.

Still got lots more work to do.

Thanks,

Robert L. (Bob) Watson, Sr.
Bobs Internet Mart
http://www.bobsinternetmart.com

Bob,

Welcome to Bobs Internet Mart is not a good heading. You need to use H1 tags with your best keywords a a heading. I also wouldnt use the cart feature to put pics up. Id use a table or css to save some valuable real estate space. Its looking better! Just more input for you! If you need help with coding etc.. Let me know ill be happy to give you examples of layouts.

Karen

Bob what have ya done? lol now you have products on top at first i thought i was on a products page it was fine the way you had it the first time. here click on link for a test i did for ya..

www.naghosthunters.com/bim.html let me know when you have seen it so i can remove it.

jim

Hi Jim,

I love the test sample you did for me. I made a copy of it so you can take the test down now. I very much appreciate your assistance.

Could you possibly tell me how you did the changing graphics on the test or tell me where I can find instructions on implementing a changing feed so that I can add a changing feed, (possibly on the home page), to show some of my products.

This is my first time at attempting to build a website, but thanks to you and other webmasters at BlueVoda, (with your assistance), I am determined to make it as good a site as I possibly can.

Thanks Jim,

Robert L. (Bob) Watson, Sr.
Bobs Internet Mart
http://www.bobsinternetmart.com

well it wasnt nothing special, i copied your background ,added a white page in middle, copied your text and info and pics, and i have a animated banner creator and used your green background to use as the banner placed in the info in it and added it to top made a few changes in your main text then wahlah completed. if ya want the banner just right click on it save as and save it to your computer like in the my picture folder so you can use it later. then when you are ready to use it open bluevoda website builder open your page click on add picture look for banner and place banner on top. save as , then publish. i no nothing about feeds so i am at words on that i try to make it simple but yet pleaseing to the eyes. :) and thanks for the compliment about webmasters i am a beginner also but beth, bill2006, ez-ez they are the gods of useing bluevoda and how to impliment the sites to better help you with search engines etc. i consider myself an apprentice.

oh and try to keep photos with description on it if you want it on main page then create another page that has your products on it with everything from photo to description to checkout or buy noiw button. try not to sell on your main page.

What naghosthunter did was brilliant, I appreciate the move you did man.

Robert, you still can add more of your creativity to make it more attractive, I didn't say that the sample wasn't good, what jim did is so good, but still need a little bit of retouches. I'll be back later for more details, I need to get out from this computer, I'm just a computer abuser.

Hi NiteProducer,

Thanks for all your assistance. You guys are fantastic, and you are right - What Jim did was brilliant. I love it! I plan to take Jims example and use it to redo my home page.

Like yourself though, I need to break from this computer for the rest of today and tonight - my small peabrain is about to go on overload. lol.

I appreciate all of you - I have learned a lot today.

Thanks,

Robert L. (Bob) Watson, Sr.
Bobs Internet Mart
http://www.bobsinternetmart.com

Hello Jim,

Thanks my friend - you have helped me tremendously. I am going to use your example and redo my home page. Will be in touch tomorrow to let you know when I have finished reworking it. Have a great night.

Thanks,

Bob
http://www.bobsinternetmart.com

Originally Posted by naghosthunter

oh and try to keep photos with description on it if you want it on main page then create another page that has your products on it with everything from photo to description to checkout or buy noiw button. try not to sell on your main page.

Jim.. hes building in SOHO not bv, so he wont be able to paste MOST of that in there.

I agree totally with no BUY now buttons. You need to sell on the main page, just not with the SOHO shopping cart buttons. You definitely need product pictures and text to the products. If you need help with putting products in a table and pasting it into soho text element let me know which products youd like and ill run up the codes for you. If you want to have an internet STORE every page needs to sell for you!

Karen

I don't know what your home page looked like before - but right now I wouldn't buy from you. I'm bored looking at it and have absolutely NO CLUE from any text "above the fold" what you carry - nothing in your name, headline or title on the page to tell me. I'd be long gone.

I also believe in the power of pictures. I don't believe in overdoing them - but EVERY page of your website needs to be selling for you - just as Karen stated above. If you think not - then you aren't looking at any of the big stores. Look at best buy - look at smartbargains.com - look at ANY of the major forces - and they are SELLING the minute you get to their page - and you also know exactly what they have to offer.

You have a store that is NOT going to sell for you - and customers aren't going to be able to find it.

You have a policies page with shipping information - but you don't tell me what shipping will cost me - just that I'm responsible for shipping. The policies have to answer the questions - not make more questions.

Your 2nd navigation is to a page called products - and it's a useless page as it is now. I expected you to have some other type of navigation to your products from this page. If anything - this information is what should be on the home page - cuz know I know you're really a store.

Now, about your writing - you need to completely rethink how you're writing - cuz no one shopping wants to hear about you - they want to hear why the product you have is right for THEM. Emphasis on you, your, etc - not I, we, our.

The copy has to be inviting and SELL them- on EVERY page.

I just put in a link to SEO that is necessary for ALL websites - will add it here - because it's VITAL for a store:

SEO Basics - free ebook

I know you want to make some money on line - but what you have right now will never get a single referral from search engines - and the few people who do find your store will not buy - except friends and possibly some forum members.

You can do this - but you need to do major tweaking.

Originally Posted by Karen Mac

Jim.. hes building in SOHO not bv, so he wont be able to paste MOST of that in there.

I agree totally with no BUY now buttons. You need to sell on the main page, just not with the SOHO shopping cart buttons. You definitely need product pictures and text to the products. If you need help with putting products in a table and pasting it into soho text element let me know which products youd like and ill run up the codes for you. If you want to have an internet STORE every page needs to sell for you!

Karen

ahhh now that explains it soho hmmm sorry can't tell the difference between soho and bv :) i promise not to say nothing when it come to soho sorry bob misunderstood as i said i consider myself as an apprentice in traing was just trying to help. my baaaaaadddddddd. :)

thanks karen for letting me know about soho not bv.

Jim

Youre not bad, and Im not spanking you. I was just letting you know he was going to have issues pasting that into his site cuz its soho, and not a bv template! Your logo was great!

Karen

Hello Bethers,

I appreciate your honesty and frankness. I know I have a long way to go before this site is ready for business and that is why I asked for suggestions and help from you guys. I am not even trying to promote this site at the present time and won't start promoting it until I have tweaked it to the point that you guys tell me that it looks like it might be ready to do business.

I realize that all of you know what it takes for a site to be successful on the internet in todays business world and that is why I have asked for assistance and suggestions from fellow website owners here at BV.

I am taking notes and honestly trying to make changes based on your suggestions.

Thanks,

Robert L. (Bob) Watson, Sr.
Bobs Internet Mart
http://www.bobsinternetmart.com

Hello Karen,

First of all, thanks for your help, suggestions, assistance, etc., so far. I do have one favor to ask. You are right, I am building this site with SoHo and copying & pasting is sorta difficult. I have looked at your site and would like to know how you got clicking on the pictures on your home page to direct the user to a description, price, etc. for those items.

I am going to completely change my home page and would like to add at least one picture from each catagory to the home page and have it link to that catagory when someone clicked on it. Can I do that using SoHo?

I am also going to completely change the heading to somehow include the words shopping and gifts and will be incorporating the current product page text into the home page text and will be deleting the product page completely.

Any suggestions and/or assistance you can pass along to me regarding the above would be greatly appreciated.

I would actually like to include a changing feed with pictures of products on the home page and if someone clicked on one of the pics in the feed, I would love to be able to have it link to that page catagory. Can this be done with SoHo?

Thanks and Regards,

Robert L. (Bob) Watson, Sr.
Bobs Internet Mart
http://www.bobsinternetmart.com

looks much better to me bob but you are missing an image all the way at the bottom for bravenet. sorry also didn't know you were using soho and i have no idea about that thingy. :) but at least i steered ya in right direction.

Bob,
Please realize, everything I say is to help you improve it - I know it's new - and I want to see you be successful. I could sit all day on here and tell everyone there pages are wonderful - but it wouldn't do them any good even though they might feel better but never understand why they aren't getting sales.

You keep plugging away, and we'll keep helping you.

Bob: If you take Beth and Karen's suggestions, there is no doubt in my mind that you will be succesful! The only tip I have, is to try and have fun with it. I know it can get frustrating, but just keep an optimistic outlook and know that every step is a learning experience. That's what gets me through "life".
Beth; thanks for the link to your ebook. Great info!

Bob,

Im currently killing my back and cleaning house so i can get the Christmas thing going on, but when I sit down tonite, Im not gonna wanna move for several hours, so .. ill go peek at your site and post you some codes and explain to you how to get them into soho. I cant promise you ill hit every category, but you can also do that with text. A text link is like this.

<a href="http://www.yoursite.com/yourcategory.php?id=whatever">Your Text Goes Here</a>.

I dont know if soho has tutorials for this specifically, but you can type in your text in the soho text box. Hilight it, and hit the link button, and then use the drop down to find product pages or pages within the store, categories i believe, but maybe not individual products. I dont use it cuz I am so used to doing my own coding, that its just faster to do so. I believe you might be able to do the same with images, if you know the image name exactly.

Anyway.. i will catch up with this a little later.

Karen

Hi Robert, I checked out your site, and have read all the replies about it... It doesn't seem that your link is linking to the same place everyone else has been looking at. The page I see has only a small amount of text.

Each of the pages you selected in the Wizard have been created and are now ready for you to edit. In many cases, pages have been populated with generic text and styles to help give you a head-start on formatting your content.
If this will be your first website, now is the perfect time to experiment and get acquainted with the various features at your disposal.

So I am not sure what the others are referring to. From what I see, I can say to you that I really like the look of the page especially your choice of colours... really nice. I guessed from reading the text that this page would display after using a wizard to create a website, so I clicked on the "HomePage" link, but it only refreshed the same page. I can only comment on your site as to how it looks cosmetically, as there is nothing on this page for me to use or try for being user-friendly.

So I guess all I can say, is that I really like the look of the page, and it has a good feel to me. Sorry I cannot be helpful.

Regards,
Mandy

LOL.. BOB what did you do? You reset the whole site, no categories or anything LOLOL.

Karen

Mandy,
You were not seeing what we saw - you are only seeing a template with nothing on it.

Now Bob - you starting from scratch?

Hi Karen,

Yes, I hit the wrong button, but it is back up now. I just have to begin making the changes I had mentioned to you in an earlier message. Will begin changing home page and deleting product page tomorrow. Should have the changes made by noon tomorrow hopefully.

Thanks,

Robert L. (Bob) Watson, Sr.
Bobs Internet Mart
http://www.bobsinternetmart.com

Originally Posted by Bethers

Mandy,
You were not seeing what we saw - you are only seeing a template with nothing on it.

Now Bob - you starting from scratch?

I gathered that was the case Bethers, but thanks for confirming it.