fluffythewondercat
|
posted on July 14, 2008 11:34:15 PM
I have a newish website for Jody Coyote earrings at:
http://www.jcearrings.com
I'm getting a ton of traffic to it, but no sales.
Statistics seem to be implying a moderate rate of shopping cart abandonment.
Would you be a tester for me?
Go to the site, navigate around until you see something appealing and put it in your cart. Stop just short of paying for it. Let me know what your impressions are.
For example, did you see the bottom line about free shipping inside the U.S.? I think people may be bailing because they don't know how much shipping will be.
That sort of thing.
Thanks,
fLufF
--
The Fourth is over but we've still got Fireworks...
|
vintageads4u
|
posted on July 15, 2008 12:03:21 AM
The free shipping is pretty front and center on the first page. In fact I noticed that pretty quick.
Shopping cart never added shipping and it looked like I was getting the earrings for $19.99 with 3-5 days ground shipping.
Nice site.
Beth
Antique Ad Shop
|
kozersky
|
posted on July 15, 2008 01:17:35 AM
It just does not feel right, when viewing the total just before checkout. Something seems to be missing. To me, it may be something as simple as the word "shipping" with 0.00 between subtotal and total.
Bill K-
William J Kozersky Stamp Co.
William J Kozersky Stamp Co. Book Store
|
pmelcher
|
posted on July 15, 2008 02:49:23 AM
I agree with Bill. Nice site by the way.
|
eauctionmgnt
|
posted on July 15, 2008 06:09:34 AM
Nice site... but I could make a few suggestions
1) Show what kind of payments you accept on the main pages (like how I have a Mastercard/VISA logo on mine...)
2) It seems like you only take Paypal... so why two separate checkout links? (one for paypal... and another for other payment methods... but ending up still only as Paypal?). Honestly... I'm a little skeptical buying from small independent sites that only take Paypal. (it's just too easy to set up a quick scam site with Paypal payments... not saying you're site is that... but that's just an impression I could get from your payment options...). Plus... something just doesn't seem right to me when I'm given two payment options... but they force me to a single choice (paypal).
3) I don't like what happens when I add an item to my cart or view the cart. All your navigational sidebars and headers disappear. It makes me feel somewhat "out" of your site. (probably contributes to that not-right feeling others have mentioned). It would be much better if you could keep the sidebars and headers throughout the checkout process. (again look at my site for an example...)
4) Just a little thing... your large images aren't much bigger than your thumbnails. I personally would like to see somewhat larger images.
Aside from those issues... it's a pretty good site. I also don't pay too much attention to traffic results and shopping card abandonment. There's just to many robots out there that muck up the results. I really like the jewelry too... and may have to stop back to get some (which honestly, because of the above issues I probably wouldn't if I didn't already know you from vendio).
Anyhow... just my thoughts... I hope they help. There's always a few bugs to iron out with new sites!
******************************
Vintage Paper Ads
http://www.vintagepaperads.com
|
ebabestreasures
|
posted on July 15, 2008 06:50:00 AM
I think FREE shipping could be more centered and highlighted better.
I agree the photo are on the small side.
Also I would move "continue to shop" on the side with the checkout button.
One thing really concerned me is that at some point in the checkout - a box popped up asking me to confirm my password. I ignored it and keep going because I KNOW who you are. I don't think other would.
Some really pretty stuff. I'm sure the site will be a big hit.
|
fluffythewondercat
|
posted on July 15, 2008 09:12:32 AM
Great information, you guys. Don't be too discouraged if you don't see your all suggestions implemented at once; I have to delve deep into the Yahoo store manual and that's going to take time.
Many of the things you mention, like photo size, are by-products of the Yahoo store builder process. The idea being just get the store up and running, then you can tweak it later.
I think the biggie of all is the payment issue. I had a choice of using a merchant account, which I don't have and didn't want to set up, or go for merchant card processing through PayPal. A buyer doesn't have to have a PayPal account to make a credit card payment, but it seems very unclear on the site. Folks who don't have PayPal accounts may be leery of giving their information out.
Thanks again (and keep those cards and letters coming!).
fLufF
--
The Fourth is over but we've still got Fireworks...
|
barparts
|
posted on July 15, 2008 11:23:12 AM
I would probably pass if PayPal was your only payment option.
I personally would add Google Checkout as a payment option.
|
carolinetyler
|
posted on July 15, 2008 01:31:44 PM
Wonderful site - I didn't notice the free shipping comment at all on the home page though - I had to go back and look for it. Also I agree with mentioning free shipping on the checkout page. If there's a way you can add in $7.00 for shipping and show a $7.00 discount on the same checkout page, that may hook someone in so they can realize how much they are saving.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 Caroline
|
glassgrl
|
posted on July 15, 2008 02:02:12 PM
I didn't see the free shipping either. Within the USA is kind of ambiguous.
Google checkout is a great idea since when you first sign up you get $10 off.
OT - did you get the new Iphone?
|
fluffythewondercat
|
posted on July 15, 2008 03:41:11 PM
I did not join the mad rush to get the new iPhone. I'm pretty happy with mine, the original iPhone. I had always planned to complete the 2 year contract with AT&T, and then get a new phone.
Google Checkout is a good idea. I'll put it on my to-do list.
So what is the dislike of PayPal as a non-eBay payment service based on? I'm sure they'll call me down to San Jose for another session, so here's your chance to get your voice heard.
fLufF
--
The Fourth is over but we've still got Fireworks...
|
pandorasbox
|
posted on July 16, 2008 10:00:16 AM
If I were you, I'd chuck the whole thing and run as many "Knickerpicker" ads as will fit...I guarantee I won't abandon your site!!
---------------------------
Internet Talk Radio
Everything eBay...and More. E-Auction-Air
http://www.eauctionair.com
|
fluffythewondercat
|
posted on July 16, 2008 05:36:40 PM
You're going to wear out that "Come Closer" button if you keep this up.
fLufF
--
The Fourth is over but we've still got Fireworks...
|
aintrichyet
|
posted on July 16, 2008 05:58:11 PM
i didn't see anything about free shipping on the homepage, but was able to read it on the page of the earrings i 'picked' .... and even that was really not played up with any bigger print/text.
and hey, when did e-auctionair- michael come back on board ...
|
fluffythewondercat
|
posted on March 29, 2009 05:09:09 PM
Well, it's nine months later. And nine months doesn't just make a difference in making a baby.
Here are some quick and hard-learned lessons for those struggling with websites.
1) Use AdWords but not before you pick up _AdWords for Dummies_. Read it all, including the parts about writing ads, generating keywords and split testing. This book is worth at least ten times the purchase price.
2) Once you've read the book and start your AdWords campaign, bid high enough so your ad will always display in #1 position for your top three or four keywords. If you're in second place or lower, you might as well not even play. If you can't afford to bid enough to secure #1 every time, you'll have to use long-tail keywords. And you won't make as many sales.
3) Sure, natural search is great (and free), so make sure you have keyword URLs. What do I mean? I mean that if you have a page full of shiny silver widgets the URL to that page should read:
http://www.yoursite.com/shinysilverwidgets.html
rather than:
http://www.yoursite.com/ssw.html
Google is really big on URLs reflecting keywords.
Plan on it taking a minimum of SIX MONTHS for your site to appear in prime natural search position. It might happen faster but don't count on it.
4) Your home page needs to be:
http://www.yoursite.com/index.html
5. Check out the shopping comparison engines but be aware they are expensive. Not all of them use PPC. You may do as well or better (we did) having your ads show on the shopping sites and not bothering to upload product feeds at all. Many of the shopping sites get their ads from Yahoo, so you should open an account on Yahoo Search Marketing, too. (But spend more on Google.)
6. There are lots of places out there where you can place backlinks to your site. Some bloggers are so desperate for comments, any comments, that they will publish yours if it's relevant, even if you include your store's URL.
7. Using PayPal as a payment method hasn't created any discernible problems.
fLufF
--
Claim your FREE $5 jewelry gift certificate!
|
kozersky
|
posted on March 29, 2009 05:37:07 PM
fluff - great post. Thanks for updating, and for the tip on the "Dummies" source.
Bill K-
|
deichen
|
posted on March 29, 2009 05:46:39 PM
Did you add Google checkout? I really like it and actually I have been making more sales with Google than Paypal.
|
hwahwa
|
posted on March 29, 2009 05:54:12 PM
Nice site!
I have yet to come across a customer who insists or even ask WHY NO GOOGLE CHECKOUT?
To them it is just another payment gimmick for accepting credit card by sellers who are on low budget to afford his own merchant account!
Question-no offense but why the cup and saucer background in your pictures? It is an unusual way of displaying your jewelry,most people dont think of cup/saucer when they think of jewelry?
*
Economic Reform act of Chairman Obama of the socialist States of America :
10 ounces of meat per month,half a yard of cotton per year per adult.
Hellilujah!
|
fluffythewondercat
|
posted on March 29, 2009 08:45:24 PM
WHY NO GOOGLE CHECKOUT?
Not allowed or supported with Yahoo Stores.
why the cup and saucer background in your pictures?
To give some context and to get the earrings to hang straight, but mostly because the fashion these days is to photograph everything with a white background (or to remove the background, leaving it white). Most of the earring pictures I've seen done this way are very unappealing -- white washes out adjoining color. Here's an example:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=350109608261
I understand why people do it. You can make the image transparent so it can be used on sites like Polyvore:
http://www.polyvore.com/clarys_class/set?id=2236323
...and some people say that drives sales.
Here's a photo that goes to the opposite extreme, very appealing in its own way:
http://robertwilsonphoto.blogspot.com/2008/10/jody-coyote-earrings.html
I may have this guy do some work for me. I know my photograph isn't very good, but with 600-plus earring designs coming out every year, I can't do studio work on each (nor do I have the skill).
fLufF
--
Claim your FREE $5 jewelry gift certificate!
|
fluffythewondercat
|
posted on March 29, 2009 09:42:39 PM
Oh, some more things I've learned:
Cut your home page text until it's as short as it can get. Then cut it a little more.
Emphasize or bold keywords that appear in your text. The thinking here is that if a person clicked on an ad titled "Jody Coyote Earrings" one of the first things they should see on the landing page is Jody Coyote Earrings. Seems obvious in retrospect.
No splash pages that don't have a picture of the product. And no elaborate Flash intros. No one cares how much you paid to get it done. They're going to be hitting the back arrow.
Speaking of which, keep track of how many seconds it takes to fully load this page, which has gotten raves for its "impact":
http://www.palm.com/us
fLufF
--
Claim your FREE $5 jewelry gift certificate!
|
fluffythewondercat
|
posted on March 29, 2009 10:04:51 PM
Another thing (just when you thought you were safe!):
Most shopping engines charge you, but TheFind.com is free. All you have to do is ask to be added.
http://www.thefind.com/main/AddMerchant.fhtml
What's really cool about this is that TheFind checks RetailMeNot to see if a merchant has a coupon posted there.
fLufF
--
Claim your FREE $5 jewelry gift certificate!
|
kozersky
|
posted on March 29, 2009 11:38:40 PM
I just went to The Find. Did a search for Christmas Seals, and .... there was my store. Plus, the Yahoo ad if anyone might have missed the other search. Interesting.
Bill K-
|
deichen
|
posted on March 30, 2009 06:40:37 AM
Back when Yahoo auctions were around, Yahoo had a payment system, it was alot like the ways Half.com works. Do they still have a system like that?
|
