Advice On Website

[sgtbash]

Having just read through all of this, the one things that stands out to me Dan is that you have tried to be different, but what you changed was all the things that should come as standard with an ecommerce/info site. We all drive different cars, but they all have 4 wheels an engine and a steering wheel. We want to be different is very close to saying 'we are setting ourselves up to fail', UNLESS you are very very clued up on what to do. You've sacrificed useability to try and look different, when in reality (i call upon numerous sites of experience here) a bog standard actinic theme would serve you better and take more money.

I have no problem with different, i actually like it, but it's no good being different and failing. I'd rather be a loaded sheep than a skint unique person. Get the site back to core basics and the good times can roll.

Some fair points there Lee, but what is coming across from everyone who has said that, is that you all seem to think that by doing it different 'i am doomed to failure' and what has actually happened is much the opposite.

Although you may all seem that the site is rubbish, unusable, doesn't conform to the standards set out by ecommerce sites or whatever; this sites job is not primarily a front for sales, it is more of a sales option.

As you have quite well put 'a bog standard actinic theme would serve you better and take more money' - the whole point is that the nineplus site is not there to 'be another bog standard actinic driven site and take more money' its to look good, run along side our company ethos, fit in with our publications, fit in with our advertising, and without being to corporate, fit in with the corporate branding of nineplus and be able to take money IF it needs to.

Your analogy of cars is a great example, we all do drive cars, but you know you belong to a special group of people when you own something like an Aston Martin or Jaguar or something along those lines. You belong, Not 'have one too'

[sgtbash]

If 'the free ones knock the socks off Actinic' then shouldn't you be making a move in that direction?

"Sadly", while Actinic is far from perfect, if you give everyone the impression that you think it's a crock of sh*te (which you are doing) then you'll find it increasingly difficult to get the help you're after.

I would be making the move to the free ones if i could make a break between the two sites. I don't like site downtime; So it will probably be done next season break, just before next seasons product is launched.

I didn't say that at all, I am finding limitations in the application - all apps have them, and there are usually ways around them, its just finding the best ways around them.

I thought that we had found ways around them when we designed the site, and now I am asking for advice on tweaking those 'hacks' to make them conform a bit better.

[sgtbash]

If it's doing well, ignore all this advice you have been given and leave it well alone. No need to change something successful and make needless work for yourself, reviews are only opinions. Your users are obviously telling you that you got it very right, stick with it.

Not at all, but there is always room for improvement, nothing is perfect, and obviously the Nineplus site is FAR from acceptable let alone good.

So that's why I'm here, having my work ripped to shreds by everyone trying to make it better but at the same time, still conforming with my design spec.

[leehack]

It's an interesting ideal you seem to be working to Dan. As a designer, to me if a site offers ecommerce facilities, it wants to take as much money as it possibly can and please as many of its users as possible in the process. If you have a more purist view on things and want to do things 'the right and in your own unique way', then that is cool, but you simply cannot ignore the fact that almost everyone who has commented doesn't like it. This must ring home at some level.

You clearly have some success from the site, do you want more, if you do then the evidence says it needs to appeal more to the masses. You can still have your own uniqueness, be pleasing to the masses and be successful, there are enough doors closed in the face of businesses, don't let your idealism for the site be another. There are some radically different actinic sites out there, where only the checkout process and the acatalog folder distinguish them as actinic sites. It certainly is possible.

I hate standard actinic themes, i've seen them for too long to ever like them and i would always urge to get away from them if possible, but you must have the right people doing the right things in the right places, otherwise it's just a bad road trip you find yourself on.

[leehack]

PS - i like the bearded guy (not in a limp wrist manner). He looks quirky and at least catches my eye. He's a cross between a gnome, a tramp and Tom Hanks in that film Castaway in my eyes and is interesting.

The sheila looks a right miserable sod though, she needs ditching.

[parklifeclothes]

PS - i like the bearded guy (not in a limp wrist manner).

<< Lee grows beard

[RuralWeb]

If the site is making money then what's your problem. You say you want advice on making your hacks better but you never mentioned this and don't tell us what they are so how can anyone help you.

We are all waisting our time here - I'm out

[parklifeclothes]

I think we all get that you want to be different to the corporates but personally I think it should be the product that is different and not the layout, browsers expect certain things on a website such as place of basket, contact details etc. When those things aren't where expected you lose (confuse) people. I know that 90% of websites I will go on today will have the products one above the other in a left naviagation bar, the basket will be top right hand corner and that is what people expect. Let the product be different, keep the vagrant if it makes the difference (Lee likes him!) but keep to the same path as that proven.
Ruralweb will tell you, 9 months ago I wanted to trash our brand and do this and that different, thankfully he made us see sense, put things where they should be and today we are flying because we conform and the only thing people have to think about is what to buy.
What you are trying to do is rewrite tesco's and even though I can't stand the g*ts, they have the proven layout both instore and online.

[bamboo]

Well I'm totally confused.
I've just read right through this thread twice to try and make sense of it and the best I've come up with is the OP is actually making money from his site but not as much as he thinks he should and is basically ranting about the limitations of one piece of software compared to his perceptions of another and that software is getting the blame for the lower than expected income.

If this is the case why ask for a review in the first place?

Just build another site in whatever software you think is 'the best' and be done with it.

[leehack]

Darron, that was a truly hilarious thing to see first up today, cheers dude .

[guccij]

Ginger is better. It's the only way.

[TraceyHand]

Ginger is better. It's the only way.

absolutely!!!!!

[Goz]

just thought I'd finish the job, Darron, but it seems Jules had an even better idea!!

[leehack]

Friday started early this week i see. LOL very funny, nice one.

[guccij]

I don't take any of the credit for brightening up Lee's morning. Darron's ur man.