Incredible Sitemap

[Duncan Rounding]

...extreme death situations...

OK for moderate death situations then?

[george]

Hurrah for Ling!

We love Ling! Long live Ling!

[gabrielcrowe]

Am I the only cynic in the universe that that bloody website is too atrocious to even consider a reprieve for its uniqueness?

I do hope for the safety of the internet, that no one copies your work.

I do find the javascript, impressive.

[leehack]

It's a great test case to study, is the enthusiasm of Ling and how she does business the success story and that all works inspite of the website presentation. Or is it the website that is the success story. Or is it both.

I find it fun to look at, would I ever find a car on there, i'd struggle personally, the paraphernalia obliterates most of it to my eyes. I went to look at the Audi prices and was presented with a popup window too small to read without scrolling. But i could find out everything about Ling, including her favourite food and inside leg measurement. That lacks usability to my eyes, BUT that in itself is the whole essence of the site, it's raving bonkers throughout and does make you smile.

I think i'd enjoy the website and ring up for a car, it'd be easier.

The unanswerable question is whether with what we call a normal approach to a website, would we improve the business, or is it the bonkers identity that in itself is the success. I think at some level the website wackiness leaves some money on the table, but it makes you laugh and say OMG and keeps you there, so who knows.

I am pulled in both directions I must say.

[Mike Hughes]

As the saying goes "people buy from people".

Yes, the website is bonkers and focused on Ling, but I would seriously consider leasing a car from her.

Mike

[george]

Ling takes a face to the virtually faceless world that is ecommerce and for that she deserves an Easter Egg.

[jont]

she deserves an Easter Egg.

We have 3 left as signed and made by Chesterfield FC for Comic Relief

[george]

*looks forward to postie on Monday*

[completerookie]

I was asked to do a site map for a gokart company,
I thought up this one over at ARC Motorsports
its not in the same league, but its definately a site map

[LINGsCARS.com]

That Go Kart map is great. Maybe a go kart follows the mouse pointer would be nice. Or zooms around a roundabout relentlessly.

Generally I must say, it has been very hard to create this prison camp map. It has really taken a lot of time. The bugs and stuff have been VERY hard and it is still not perfect.

I am building a nice thing where they will all gather in a circle and watch 2 of them dancing to pump up the jam. That is fun, but not ready yet, still 30 secs to code in flash.

However, my site works because a) it polarises people so the more anal go away and I am left with the more enthusiatic ones. then b) I treat them like adults and with some emotion.

Now, you may say this stuff is not adult, I say it is very adult because under the entertainment (and we all like entertainment, even turn on the TV news and it is designed to entertain you - yet few websites are designed to entertain) there is vast info. With the visitors, have you scrolled down the site map and seen the live Google searches? I know you can argue "so what?" but, it allows people to make judgements, they feel vindicated that if 25 others have found me with the searches they can see on Google, then they are not alone. They may feel more comfortable with their decision.

This forum allows some limited interaction, so we all like forums. Because other humans are here. In online games, there are other humans. In real life there are many humans. But... In online shops, there are rarely other humans. You are often alone in an electronic world.

99% of website treat visitors as all alone, it can be lonely place with no reference other people to give you a happy feeling of safeness.

Many people lack confidence even on the web. I like to reassure them and provoke a reaction. Even if bad reaction, they can see some other feel the same way/differently/whatever. At least people feel something.

In general people are not looking for dry info. They want entertainment and enjoyment. Look how the most popular sites are about that stuff, not about dry price lists.

I will say further that most sites in my industry operate criminally by displaying "ex vat" prices to consumers. This is totally illegal now under new laws last year. Yet most of those "professional" sites commit criminal (not civil) offences by doing this. All to show cheaper prices and trick consumers with "price points" ex vat. It is outrageous the way the laws are broken.

[grantglendinnin]

I will say further that most sites in my industry operate criminally by displaying "ex vat" prices to consumers. This is totally illegal now under new laws last year. Yet most of those "professional" sites commit criminal (not civil) offences by doing this. All to show cheaper prices and trick consumers with "price points" ex vat. It is outrageous the way the laws are broken.

Quick word of advice - shop the bastards.

[LINGsCARS.com]

Oh I am.

It is also that the industry body BVRLA knows about this and does nothing.

Many big-name sites break that Pricing Practices Guide made under the "Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008".

But I get threats about blacklisting, withdrawal of supply (not in writing) etc. Many of my suppliers advertise their retail deals illegally.

But I have given the BVRLA a deadline of the 1-year anniversary of the legislation, and if not policing the industry, I go public.

[chris ashdown]

Hi Ling

I notice you respond very quickly to any post mentioning your company name on a few forums

What software do you use to monitor mentions of your name if any?

[LINGsCARS.com]

Chris,

I use the very software that I have modified to power that sitemap!

It is called whoson from Parker Software a British Company. I run mine on a dedicated server to have some control and modify it. They do a much cheaper hosted version which I used for 2-years and is great, but you can't hack it.

It is the same that powers my live chat.

I don't look at any logs, I look at a live visitor view of my website and when I see anything interesting I jump in. Like here.

It is very good for business, it means I can interact directly, not 24 hours later. But to do this you must live inside your website. I sppend most of my day looking at who is in my website. It is like being inside your own shop.

Very few websites do this

There is an image here www.lingscars.com/images/ukbf/whoson.gif which shows someone using IE from this board looking at my sitemap, now. For info, I have included a customer using a google search for a LAnd Rover dealership. You can see they searched a LR dealer, found me, and are looking at my Freelanders. I am sure you can make sense of the info. Partially below is someone looking at an Audi A4.

Hope this helps.

[chris ashdown]

Many thanks Ling

I will look into it