Be Nice Please

[Cassie]

OK - site reviews are my worst nightmare - I hate to be told I suck.

But I am struggling to get any sales from my site even though my other 2 are doing good and the new site is in google etc.

Is there a usability problem with it?

I keep getting told not to use frames (my other 2 sites do) so I didn't with this one.

I do admit I have not checked it with all browsers and did use Front Page to make it (tweaking the bad bits out using notepad though - or so I thought).

Any constructive comments would be good. (be nice please )

craft-kits.co.uk

[kev woodman]

It works ok in Firefox and IE7 Cass.

I could probably offer some criticism but it's not broadly different from your other sites really and they seem to work ok for you so who am I to judge. Are there differences in the target audience for this site compared to the others?

[Cassie]

The other sites are knitone.co.uk which is knitting yarns etc. and craftbits.co.uk which are bits and bobs to do with crafts - teddy eyes, pony beads, pipe cleaners etc.

A lot of the kits on the new site are already on one of the other sites but I intend deleting off there when this new site gets established.

We have had a few customers so we know the cart works but none for any of the new x-stitch kits - they are just on the new site not on the others. I guess I am just a bit disappointed they are not going.

The biggest difference is that the knitting one is a set UK shipping of £2.50 however big the order and the CB site is free UK shipping over £8. The new site is minimum £1.50 and rises as weight over 90g is added to the cart. The prices of the kits are cheaper than on the other sites.

Also the other sites take non-UK orders (we email shipping quotes after order) and the new one doesn't take non-UK at all yet. Non-UK makes up about 1% of our sales on the other sites but could the UK Only bit be putting everyone off?

Perhaps you could pm the criticism - I might be able to take it if it's not public

[Pumazooma]

The basic structure and navigation works fine. I think my only criticism would be that it looks about 10 years out of date in terms of web design. Just doesn't look very exciting.

[Cassie]

I don't mind if it looks out of date as I really prefer functionality over pretty design. Don't get paid to do it and don't have time to keep up with all the modern designs . Mind you a lot of the websites I see out there look far too complicated and just frighten me off as a customer. And all the rest just look the same - usually database driven and you wouldn't be able to tell them apart if you took away the header.

As long as it works I am happy. Any other comments or suggestions?

What do you think is most important as a customer?
Is cheap prices with real postage costs or more expensive items with free shipping more appealing?
Do you think the UK Only would put anyone in the UK off?
Should I try and get the cart set up for non-UK too?

Now I've started on this Review bit I want to know more

[Dan]

I think you should change the font size to "Verdana, Size 10" it looks better.

[Pumazooma]

I agree about the font size.

Going back to my other point, I'm not necessarily saying you should complicate things, far from it, but I just don't think it looks very modern. Very small graphic, font and colour changes can make a big difference if you pick the right combinations. You were right to avoid frames though, they be bad

What do you think is most important as a customer?
Is cheap prices with real postage costs or more expensive items with free shipping more appealing?
Do you think the UK Only would put anyone in the UK off?
Should I try and get the cart set up for non-UK too?

As a customer I'd want clear pricing and images and information on what I'm buying.
Prices are a tricky one. It's not always nice being stung at the last hurdle with big p&p.
Can't see why UK only would put off UK people. As for the non-UK cart, I would think it's more effort than it's worth. Do you already get many/any requests from overseas?

[kev woodman]

I've pm'd you Cass.

Personally I can't stand Verdana Much prefer Tahoma or Helvetica for Web stuff. I'd agree with Puma that little changes can make a big difference though.

[Cassie]

Originally Posted by Dan

I think you should change the font size to "Verdana, Size 10" it looks better.

Do you think the font size is too big or just the wrong type?

I guess if I set it up right, if the font is too small customers can change the font in IE7. At the moment only some of it changes size so I must have mixed my way of doing things.

That might be because some of it is in tables - Can you tell its done with tables instead of css positioning?

Originally Posted by kev woodman

I've pm'd you Cass.

Thanks for that Kev - really useful - when I get time it is done.

[kev woodman]

Unless they view the source nobody would know it uses tables so don't fret about that. The font size is probably a bit large for the amount of content you have. If you are worried about it being too small try using a relative size like ems
- you could set the size to 1em or 1.1em etc and see how it looks. Otherwise most people will be able to read 10 or 11 point text easily enough and they can always override your settings in their browser anyway.

[Dan]

Originally Posted by Cassie

Do you think the font size is too big or just the wrong type?

I think both, default font which i'm guessing your using doesn't fit that well. If anything i would use verdana, size 10 - 14.

[hayku]

I didn't think the font size may influence.

[Cassie]

I have done some of the things suggested - apart from changing the default font - but I have changed the font size.

I have also reduced some of the space at top and moved the Credit Card 'pic' to the top of the page.

The other main thing I have done is moved the large bulk of text and split it up between the pictures.

Does the navigation work on all platforms?

Any other problems?

[kev woodman]

There's a definite improvement Cass - have you noticed any increase in traffic/orders?

[paul]

Great kids craft site, I just suggest to add something that worth parents' attentions too like tips for organizing toys/gifts, few tips for homeschooling etc.