Give me advice on my attempt at website

grandma12703 · #1 09/07/12, 07:50 AM

Alice In TX/MO · #2 09/07/12, 08:39 AM

At first glance:

What is hamp and shrop? They are listed on the home page as that, and if I didn't suspect what they are, it would be confusing.

I can grammar, capitalization, and spell check for you.

(I'm a former English teacher.)

Are you growing pecans here in Missouri? We have them in Texas, but I didn't know they would grow here. I'd like to visit with you about that!

nadja · #3 09/07/12, 08:45 AM

OK, a few recommendations. First of all, when you click on any of the links, you get the same picture. Pretty, but really boring. People , when clicking on websites, want to see pic's of what they are looking for, not just the same one and only.

There is no other information other then your page titles. You need to spend some time on that as well.

When doing a web site, keep in mind, that people looking have no way of deciding what they want other then your pictures and/or descriptions. Pretend that you are going into a jewelry store, then picture yourself, looking at something through the glass. Does that make you want to buy it, or do you ask the salesperson to allow you to see it, hold it and maybe even put it on. Make your pictures show that description to everyone about everything you wish to sell.

MJsLady · #4 09/07/12, 08:50 AM

Overall for a beginning it looks very nice.
Reading the opening page in context I was able to surmise that the hamp and shrop were like the suffolk, lambs.

I do agree, you need more text and more pictures.

grandma12703 · #5 09/07/12, 08:52 AM

Thanks guys. Alice, I fixed the market lamb problem and thank you. I have also looked through quickly to see if I needed to fix spelling and capitalization. I don't find a lot but if you find something please let me know. I can't tell my kids though because they are also educators. I would get read the riot act. LOL! We do have 6 pecan trees that are doing very well as well as English walnuts.
Nadja, thanks for the advice. I am just getting started and absolutely need to get some photos up of the animals, garden, trees, etc. I will be following a lot of your advice as I do this. I have a nice camera but my DIL dropped it a month or so ago and I need to get the battery door fixed as it won't stay shut and so when I try to take photo's it comes open and the camera goes dead.

Again, thank you both! I will keep all comments and suggestions close as I work on this process.

PaulNKS · #6 09/07/12, 09:14 AM

I have a couple suggestions. I have a very successful website of my own and have for 5 years.

People on the internet want "it" (products) instantly. For example, if they are buying something, they don't want to have to contact someone to find the price. If they SEE what they like, they want to place an order, pay, and get a confirmation and quick shipping without having to wait.

I had a friend that had a store and had a great website. But, he didn't like PayPal and didn't want to use his store's merchant account for the website. He wanted to have the people place the order. Then he would either call them to get their credit card info or he would have them send it in an email. So wrong for several reasons. No one placed orders and he had traffic. The problem is they didn't want to wait.

My biggest suggestion to you other than LOTS of photos on all the pages is instead of having them use the "contact us" page to inquire about what you have, take a few minutes every morning and update, on your website, what you have available.

People using the internet want things now including information. They don't want to wait.

PaulNKS · #7 09/07/12, 09:19 AM

After looking at your site again, if it was me, I would make the blog your homepage. It's a much better first impression than the page you are using.

Look at other websites. You want your "landing" (home) page to be busy. Your blog is much busier looking than what you now have for your home page.

You can take the info from your current home page and put it on your blog's right column as the intro. You still have the links across the top for people to go to other areas of your site.

Joshie · #8 09/07/12, 11:35 AM

Pictures, pictures, and more pictures! I agree that people won't buy unless they see how much it'll cost and how to pay. How do you sell your products? Do you sell by the pound? Do you sell meat and if so do you butcher or is that a separate price? Will you deliver to the butcher? Are your critters show quality? Registered? Do you show and have you won any awards?

When are your nuts available for sale? Is your place open to the public? If so, what are your hours?

I didn't click past the front page until I read another's post talking about your other pages. The menu tab isn't highly visible. Oh, I think it would be easier on the eye if you separated all of your products something like this:

Sheep: First type
Second type

Nuts: Pecans
Walnuts

This didn't format the way I intended. I would make sure that line up in a row (like pecans, walnut, type 1 sheep, etc.)

I would place a picture of your best sheep and maybe a lamb to the right of the list. I'd also put pictures of your trees when loaded with nuts. If you don't have good photos of your own products you might be able to find them online. Be sure to either pay for their use or use free use photos.

Good luck! I hope your site brings in a lot of business.

grandma12703 · #9 09/07/12, 11:40 AM

Awesome ideas! I am just getting started with the site but I am getting great advice that I intend to put to use. Thanks

snoozy · #10 09/07/12, 12:40 PM

I think you should use a different colour for your text font. Although it is a pleasant colour scheme, it is always better to have a higher contrast colour for your text.

laurafergie · #11 09/07/12, 05:20 PM

The brown background on top of the white background comes across to me as harsh. Maybe along the more pictures, the PPs have suggested, you can make a watermark of a picture for the background. You can't have too many pictures. More is better.

I agree that the blog should be the home page. Possibly the present home page should be the "about Ribbon Road Farms". I wouldn't use abbreviations (nzw rabbits) and justify your text. It just looks neater. Also, instead of an over use of commas, break up your sentences and use more descriptive words. Make sure your capitalizations are consistant.

Where ever there is a mention of contact us, insert a hyperlink to your email. Make it easy for your customers.

The fancy CSA and organic farms around here all have the ability on their websites to order produce and meats directly from the websites. If you can possibly do this, I can't stress enough how important it is. The easier you make your product acessable, the faster it will sell.

grandma12703 · #12 09/10/12, 01:22 PM

We are now headed into the off season for our livestock and produce so come early spring I will add a lot of pictures and options for purchase. Thanks for the ideas. I have added some photos but need to do a lot of work on this. I really appreciate the ideas and I am going to implement a lot of them as I have the time. Thanks again.

Oggie · #13 09/10/12, 04:45 PM

I like the fact that the site is cat-free.

It's good to have another web page that doesn't have to be blocked for our children.

Alice In TX/MO · #14 09/10/12, 06:03 PM

I looked again, and some of the problems remain.

Yours:
We welcome all of you to our home among the trees. We raise dairy goats, hamp, shrop and suffolk club lambs, turkeys, geese, chickens, crossbred market hogs, nzw rabbits, garden produce, apple trees, peach trees, pecan trees, and walnut trees. We welcome inquiries through out contact page to check and see what we have available. If you are interested in bulk produce please call ahead of time as we sell our surplus weekly.

Mine:
We welcome you to our home among the trees. We raise Hampshire, Shropshire, and Suffolk club lambs, dairy goats, turkeys, geese, chickens, crossbred market hogs, and New Zealand rabbits. We also grow garden produce, apples, peaches, pecans, and walnuts.

Please use the contact page to learn what we have available today. If you are interested in bulk produce, please call ahead of time, as we sell our surplus weekly.

Alice In TX/MO · #15 09/10/12, 06:06 PM

Sheep page:

Suffolk, Shropshire, Hampshire, and crossbred club lambs will be available beginning May 15th.

One of our students, Katarina, excelled at showing this award winning Shropshire lamb.

Alice In TX/MO · #16 09/10/12, 06:08 PM

Alice, the show gilt, is being shown by Annalisa. Alice was an outstanding show gilt in 2011-12 and is now producing piglets.

Alice In TX/MO · #17 09/10/12, 06:09 PM

We sell versatile rabbit cages that can be hung from the ceiling or mounted on stands.

Alice In TX/MO · #18 09/10/12, 06:10 PM

Format the veggie and fruit/nut pages the same, please.

grandma12703 · #19 09/11/12, 03:09 PM

Did some more work on the site this afternoon and hope to have more time tomorrow. Thank you so much Alice for the advice.

GREEN_ALIEN · #20 09/11/12, 05:53 PM

Hey, one I can share my .02 in.

I build sites for government organizations to supplement the farm.
One of mine --> NEMNCTC.ORG

1. I disagree with making the Blog the landing page. A blogs a blog...
2. The font choices are what to 'in your face'. Consider using the same fonts and size that appear in the blog.
3. On your landing page (index.htm) nowhere does it tell me what you SELL? It tells me all about what you produce. Example produce We have the XXX produce available in season by the basket, bushel or truck load. [link] See our produce here etc...
4. Title at the top of the page - put the appropriate spaces in.
5. PICTURES PICTURES PICTURES and each and every one must SELL something. They must be bright and detailed. The customer has to have the "I GOTTA HAVE THAT" reaction.
6. Links everywhere...

& the biggie
7. You can’t do enough of SEO.

You have a great look and feel, just needs those devilish details.

Ted

Edit - Put your link in your signature....