new store

[johnstone4192]

I will appreciate any comment on any aspect of my shop My Webpage

[Guest]

Got pen and paper ready? *grins* It's all good stuffs, dont' worry....

 

1 - Not sure what your experience is with HTML and CSS, but play around with the style sheet and such (look at other sites for examples) and try to create a design and not have your site be so "stock".

 

2 - Your banner in the header - takes a long time to load for us dialupers. But it's a great looking banner!!

 

3 - What's new box - the scroll is just a tad too fast. Can you slow it down just a smidge?

 

4 - I am not too happy about the lighter blue background for the column boxes. Perhaps leave the dark blue box header (cause that blue matches your banner) and just do a white background for the rest of the boxes/columns?

 

5 - Nix the stock Osc clipart in the upper right of each page/section. Delete the code for that or replace with your own images.

 

6 - Since you only cater to one language and currency - you can delete those boxes in the right column.

 

7 - Depending on what your plans are in the future for contribution add-ons, you could possibly move all your boxes to one column (either right or left).

 

8 - If you keep both columns (or even if you don't), I would suggest using the Fixed Width w/CSS 2 contribution. Super simple to install and your site won't be so wide and spread out. Also, in conjunction with this, the clipart images along the top, next to your banner seems redundant to me cause of the links in the navigation bar right below them. If you put your site width at 800, then your banner will be nearly all the way across and you won't have that white space void to the right of the banner.

 

9 - While I think your warning about the delay being redirected to the PayPal site is a valid one, I think this should be displayed on the payment page of checking out.

 

10 - Categories. I would delete the product count next to the categories. Not needed. Since you do not have a long sub-category listing, perhaps make the sub-categories list all the time (not just when DVD movies is clicked on). There's a way to do this, perhaps someone can point you to a contrib or code change to achieve this. That way, from the index page, it looks like you have move to offer right away, instead of just 2 categories showing.

 

11 - ON the product listing page, you have a quantity count. I'm not sure how this will affect your customers psychologically. They may see a quantity of 5 and less on all the products listed and wonder why you have so few movies in stock. You might want to think on this one.

 

12 - Silent Hill movie for example: The product description is SO hard to read - just one block. Use <p> and <br> and such and break up the paragraph. Make it easier for your customer to read. Bolds and caps are not always the best option. Like the description though. Need running times, PG-13 type ratings listed, etc. This goes for all product descriptions.

 

13 - Footer - delete the requests since date line - no one needs this info but you and you can get it descreetly via Awstats or Supertracker Contribution.

 

14 - Is there really a need to repeat your large banner again at the bottom? If you have nothing else to put there, how about a thinner version ... like 480x60 or such. And perhaps add your company's name, physical address, etc down there.

 

15 - And if you don't add your company info there, at least put it in the contact us page. Especially when it comes to DVD's and such, visitors want to know who you are ... physicall address, phone number, alternate emails (in case the form doesn't work for them).

 

16 - While you did well with the FAQ page, perhaps only make the questions bold and the answer in normal weight - makes it easier to read.

 

17 - Back to Silent HIll ... you mention stuff about video games based on movies - how about selling those also? Or having cloaked affiliate links to those companies that do sell them. Another words, since you have such few inventory, if your visitor doesn't find what they want at your site, give them something else ... and make a commission on it. Just don't over do it either though - you still want your visitor at your site.

 

Hope these help a bit. You got a good thing started, keep going!

[jpweber]

Got pen and paper ready? *grins* It's all good stuffs, dont' worry....

 

1 - Not sure what your experience is with HTML and CSS, but play around with the style sheet and such (look at other sites for examples) and try to create a design and not have your site be so "stock".

 

2 - Your banner in the header - takes a long time to load for us dialupers. But it's a great looking banner!!

 

3 - What's new box - the scroll is just a tad too fast. Can you slow it down just a smidge?

 

4 - I am not too happy about the lighter blue background for the column boxes. Perhaps leave the dark blue box header (cause that blue matches your banner) and just do a white background for the rest of the boxes/columns?

 

5 - Nix the stock Osc clipart in the upper right of each page/section. Delete the code for that or replace with your own images.

 

6 - Since you only cater to one language and currency - you can delete those boxes in the right column.

 

7 - Depending on what your plans are in the future for contribution add-ons, you could possibly move all your boxes to one column (either right or left).

 

8 - If you keep both columns (or even if you don't), I would suggest using the Fixed Width w/CSS 2 contribution. Super simple to install and your site won't be so wide and spread out. Also, in conjunction with this, the clipart images along the top, next to your banner seems redundant to me cause of the links in the navigation bar right below them. If you put your site width at 800, then your banner will be nearly all the way across and you won't have that white space void to the right of the banner.

 

9 - While I think your warning about the delay being redirected to the PayPal site is a valid one, I think this should be displayed on the payment page of checking out.

 

10 - Categories. I would delete the product count next to the categories. Not needed. Since you do not have a long sub-category listing, perhaps make the sub-categories list all the time (not just when DVD movies is clicked on). There's a way to do this, perhaps someone can point you to a contrib or code change to achieve this. That way, from the index page, it looks like you have move to offer right away, instead of just 2 categories showing.

 

11 - ON the product listing page, you have a quantity count. I'm not sure how this will affect your customers psychologically. They may see a quantity of 5 and less on all the products listed and wonder why you have so few movies in stock. You might want to think on this one.

 

12 - Silent Hill movie for example: The product description is SO hard to read - just one block. Use <p> and <br> and such and break up the paragraph. Make it easier for your customer to read. Bolds and caps are not always the best option. Like the description though. Need running times, PG-13 type ratings listed, etc. This goes for all product descriptions.

 

13 - Footer - delete the requests since date line - no one needs this info but you and you can get it descreetly via Awstats or Supertracker Contribution.

 

14 - Is there really a need to repeat your large banner again at the bottom? If you have nothing else to put there, how about a thinner version ... like 480x60 or such. And perhaps add your company's name, physical address, etc down there.

 

15 - And if you don't add your company info there, at least put it in the contact us page. Especially when it comes to DVD's and such, visitors want to know who you are ... physicall address, phone number, alternate emails (in case the form doesn't work for them).

 

16 - While you did well with the FAQ page, perhaps only make the questions bold and the answer in normal weight - makes it easier to read.

 

17 - Back to Silent HIll ... you mention stuff about video games based on movies - how about selling those also? Or having cloaked affiliate links to those companies that do sell them. Another words, since you have such few inventory, if your visitor doesn't find what they want at your site, give them something else ... and make a commission on it. Just don't over do it either though - you still want your visitor at your site.

 

Hope these help a bit. You got a good thing started, keep going!

 

 

Barbara? If I may expound slightly on the aforementioned:

 

6 - Since you only cater to one language and currency - you can delete those boxes in the right column.

 

1) What she's saying is go to your includes/column_right.php file. Open it up.

Find:

include(DIR_WS_BOXES . 'languages.php');

include(DIR_WS_BOXES . 'currencies.php');

Change to:

// include(DIR_WS_BOXES . 'languages.php');

// include(DIR_WS_BOXES . 'currencies.php');

 

As Barbara mentioned, there's no need to include this unnecessary business on your site. Make the change.

 

2) Look in to getting SSL. Your e-commerce site MUST be secured. This isn't a "choice". It's a mandate, and I'm demanding you get SSL! hehe .... SSL is security. When your customer enters a credit card number -- or any information -- you want to give them the affirmation that what the enter is secure, and cannot be seen or hacked. SSL accomplishes this (among other things). Here's my post on How to Get SSL On Your OSC

 

3) Consider installing PWA -- purchase without account. After all, not manypeople want to sign up for an account to uprchase a $6 movie.

 

Just my extra tidbits. Good luck.

[johnstone4192]

Barbara? If I may expound slightly on the aforementioned:

 

 

 

1) What she's saying is go to your includes/column_right.php file. Open it up.

Find:

include(DIR_WS_BOXES . 'languages.php');

include(DIR_WS_BOXES . 'currencies.php');

Change to:

// include(DIR_WS_BOXES . 'languages.php');

// include(DIR_WS_BOXES . 'currencies.php');

 

As Barbara mentioned, there's no need to include this unnecessary business on your site. Make the change.

 

2) Look in to getting SSL. Your e-commerce site MUST be secured. This isn't a "choice". It's a mandate, and I'm demanding you get SSL! hehe .... SSL is security. When your customer enters a credit card number -- or any information -- you want to give them the affirmation that what the enter is secure, and cannot be seen or hacked. SSL accomplishes this (among other things). Here's my post on How to Get SSL On Your OSC

 

3) Consider installing PWA -- purchase without account. After all, not manypeople want to sign up for an account to uprchase a $6 movie.

 

Just my extra tidbits. Good luck.

Thanks for the help it is much appreciated :D

I will work my way through all of the suggestions one at a time ,this may take time as im only learning as i go :'(

I will be back for advice as i work through it if thats ok.

ps, Why has my banner attached itself to the footer too,If my memory serves me correctly what i did was uploaded the banner with the same name as the old one (oscommerce i think)

Thanks again for all the help

cheers

Gary

[Guest]

Jason,

 

Thanks for the more detailed explanation. Good job! :thumbsup:

 

Gary,

 

Just take your time. Just like the rest of us, we do want our stores up and running, and loaded with traffic and sales. But, a solid web site design, complete with appropriate contributions, will provide your visitors with confidence in your company and they will turn into customers. I know what you mean by learning as you go. I did this also. Hence why I started in early Dec and opened the doors in June - and still fixing and tweaking and adding today. I learned about php and mysql as I went along.

 

Best of luck!