website visitors but no sales, suggestions and feedback gratefully received.

[osaraf]

Hi,
I've (finally!) launched a website for a small business I've started and have been getting the word out. I've had quite a lot of unique visitors since it went live a week or so ago but no sales! I was hoping to get some unbiased views and suggestions from people who aren't family and friends being nice . I'd be really grateful if any of you lovely mumsnetters have the time to look. it's www.cassamjewellery.co.uk. thanks in advance! not sure if I can post the link here but if I have to remove it I can pm anyone who can help.

I think you have a good website and some pretty items for sale. However, if I was going to pay for an engraved disc (at the prices you are charging) I would go the whole hog and have my daughter's artwork or babyfoot or whatever put on it. It may be that nowadays when you can do so much just having a name embossed, is not enough and there is now another tier of personalisation requested?? I hope you get custom as oyuhave nice things - perhaps satrt out at christmas school fairs etc and then build up? Good luck.

my first thought is that it takes a while to load, and one of the first words that loads is "Cart" which would make me think of an American site, even though it's .co.uk. Could Cart be less obtrusive / in a smaller font?

If you scroll to the bottom of the home page, you also get Oops in blue letters on the site - I'm guessing that's not meant to be there.

If your main USP is jewellry, I'd make that the main focus of your home page, not linked from one of 9 options across the top. Also, Parties is hidden in with "in the press" etc, when it needs to be alongside Shop. you could divide your home page into sections: Birthday, new baby, something special, then add in extra options for graduation, mothers day etc.

I'd have concerns about the strength of the website to be honest. I cliked on necklaces and again it took ages to load, that would make me wonder whether there'd be problems processing a card payment. Could your designer make the photos into smaller size files so they load quicker?

I think your website looks pretty good, it perhaps should be easier for people to see prices/buy stuff, but a week really isnt long.

Your photos are great, are they professional?

thanks for your very quick replies and really useful comments. I've built the site myself using wix as I can't afford a designer at the moment! I'll have a look at doing the changes you suggested. I also do want to do the further personalisation with regards to hand and footprints etc so that's in the pipeline! I have lots of ideas but need the initial sales to fund them. thanks so much for your help!

thanks Sim, I did the photos myself by borrowing my dad's camera and making a light box with cardboard and tissue paper. perhaps I should just write an ebook about starting a business with no money, ha ha!!

Your home page should be the shop, not this quick moving gallery with all that text below. If people want to know about you they will go to that page.

Each product page should retain the other areas for sale, rather than making your customers go back.

Your pictures load strangely. They seem to load and then adjust themselves. It's a bit annoying.

I analyse websites for a living and help improve them. That's just a quick look, I imagine if I was working for you and taking my time I'd find a lot more.

For your business you need to get very active on Facebook- have you got a good FB page?

How's your Google performance?

I think the text on your home page needs looking at. On my phone it looks long and bunched-together.

But a week is not long at all, not sure it's realistic to expect sales so quickly for a brand new business unless you already have a good reputation locally through shows/fairs etc

I went on to the site with my mobile.

The first two times it wouldnt load at all. Then it did a bit but theres a task bar at the bottom that makes it impossible to view.

Just thought I would point that out. I realise you dont intend it to be a mobile site, but even mobile friendly would help. There arent many sites that I have this difficulty with.

thanks. you are right tee, I do need to concentrate on the products and get rid of the text to another page but I was trying to boost seo with my keywords. I'm a real amateur at it so I mat be completely wrong!

my site is too 'young' to show up in google so no stats yet about that. Apparently it takes 1 to 3 months to get listed. I do have a fb page that I update regularly. the slow loading and weird phone view is frustrating but I can't do anything about it as I'm stuck with wix for now

I like it and I think you've got some nice products :) Well done on doing it yourself too, and the photography is great!

I agree with whoever said to list items across the top, necklaces, wedding etc. rather than having them under 'Shop'.

I think you need to move the birthstones section, and add some text to explain that by choosing the month it adds an additional personalisation to the jewellery, that isn't explained when you see an item with a stone - maybe a link to the birthstone chart on each shop page saying, add your birthstone?

Oh, also I found the pictures loaded absolutely fine, no problem at all

thanks souper, I will do your suggestions. I'm going to have a busy night but what you have all suggested will definitely change it for the better!! I do wish I could sort out the speed but I know there have been a few issues with wix that they are trying to remedy. I'm not sure there are any better providers out there, they all seem to have their limitations if you want to keep costs down and do ecommerce yourself.

Just place marking.

thanks mrs de vere. I think the gallery is for the chop! I do need to do some photos that show scale, I will rope some friends in for a neck photoshoot!
I would like to offer a service bereaved families eventually and perhaps link up with a local children's hospice which is very well known in this area but I would never want to make a profit from anyone's loss so want to earn enough from other sales to donate pieces. this is all conjecture though since I haven't sold anything .

ps, I read mumsnet a lot but never post so I feel honoured you have looked at my site and replied to me

thank you mrs de vere . You have all made lots of great suggestions. I know I'm impatient and can't expect sales immediately so I'll keep making changes and hopefully get things right.

Agree with what has been said above.

And to add something really petty but a pet hate of mine and lots of others - the font on a lot of the engraved pieces is a bit Comic Sans which would put me off buying it - sorry.

What traffic data do you have?

superior, not petty at all, it's the reason I asked. I only have a couple of font sets at the moment as they are expensive but I plan to get more in the next couple of weeks and people can choose which one they want. What kind of font would you be looking for?

ninja, I just have Google analytics which shows the number of total visitors and unique visitors etc.

It loads fine for me.

I agree that the shop needs to be what you hit on the homepage.

Personally (and sorry for being critical but you did ask!) I find the writing a bit amateurish and uneven, e.g. the "isla" name disc and all the different fonts on "you rock my world". That might be why you are getting visitors but not buyers?

thanks euro. the rock my world one is supposed to be like that, a bit retro and handmade looking. I always do my best to get the wording straight and even but with hand stamping it can vary! the isla piece was one of my first so I'll redo and replace it. I really appreciate all your help.

I have nothing to add re the website and its functionality, and hats off to you starting up a business, well done.

Here comes my bit....

I dislike your font, it is too heavy and black and looks a bit cheap. Sorry. I think for the pieces you have, the font has to be fainter and more subtle....
Notonthehighstreet has 28 pages of personalised silver jewellery...it feels like this type of thing may have had its moment, a bit like a cupcake or wooden blocks with words on them....

Just my (drangony) opinion, based on my tastes and experience. Please do not be offended or disheartened.