What can we do to make this site better?

[TechBoyJK]

I used to be a speed skater, and my former coach has an online store for skates. I met with him about it. He wants to be able to compete with some other sites, but he isn't getting the results he wanted. First thing I thought once I visited the site is that it looks dated, the logo and layout needs redone, and the site needs more character.

What do you guys think? I'm open to any ideas and any criticism is welcomed. I didn't design the site so I don't care.

the website


His main competitor is

lowpriceskates.com

 

[dmw16]

I didn't know people still roller skated.

 

[Farang]

Sell something else.

 

[M0oG0oGaiPan]

One of the features I like about newegg or something like sierrasnowboard is being able to read reviews on a product. Maybe he can put up an ad on facebook or start a speed skating group together.

 

[TechBoyJK]

Originally posted by: M0oG0oGaiPan
One of the features I like about newegg or something like sierrasnowboard is being able to read reviews on a product. Maybe he can put up an ad on facebook or start a speed skating group together.

I'm pushing for those kind of things. Make it more community orientated. Add a message board, add reviews.

What about the design though? Colors, logo, layout...

 

[Homerboy]

have you analyzed WHY things aren't selling? Whats the traffic patterns like? How does the site rank in google searches for the advertized products and demogrpahics?

Maybe things just aren't selling because nobody is visiting the site? Or because nobody can find the site?

 

[Homerboy]

Originally posted by: M0oG0oGaiPan
One of the features I like about newegg or something like sierrasnowboard is being able to read reviews on a product. Maybe he can put up an ad on facebook or start a speed skating group together.

You can't have reviews and forums and such if nothing is selling....

 

[QurazyQuisp]

Make the look of the pages consistent throughout the whole website. From the front page to product viewing to final checkout. When I clicked one of the images on the front page, and it switched to the different layout I thought I was on a different website. At which point I start to get weary of said company/website and will likely look for somewhere else to purchase from.

 

[alkemyst]

cue in
Freakathon
Let the Music Play
Girls Just Wanna Have Fun
Because Weekends
Magic
I'm Alive
Jump
Party Train
We got the beat
Celebrate
Mony Mony
Freeze Frame
We Will Rock You
Whip It
Centerfold
...

skating died in the 80's BTW

 

[CrazyLazy]

Redo the entire site design and content. Then do some on and off page SEO and start a PPC campaign. You can do this yourself if you have quite a bit of spare time, or pay someone a fairly substantial amount of money to do it for you.

 

[ivan2]

i will need to look at the competitor's store to know exactly why. just for now, I believe that it would be nice to put together a page to explore different style of skating, and add a "beginner's package" to start building loyalty.

 

[K1052]

Assassinate whoever designed it.

 

[TechBoyJK]

Originally posted by: Homerboy
have you analyzed WHY things aren't selling? Whats the traffic patterns like? How does the site rank in google searches for the advertized products and demogrpahics?

Maybe things just aren't selling because nobody is visiting the site? Or because nobody can find the site?

We know the site needs more traffic. That's the thing. Not much is being done in SEO/PPC, but some is being spent in PPC.

The thing is though, I pretty much told him the design, layout, logo, and overall experience leaves a bit to be desired, and it all needs to be redone before any more marketing effort is done.

 

[ViviTheMage]

use my hosting? ^_^

 

[BrokenVisage]

A-ha, capitalizing the initial letter of the first AND second word in a sentence. An ambitious signature writing style to follow the path of ot'ers?

 

[TechBoyJK]

Originally posted by: ViviTheMage
use my hosting? ^_^

nah.. I'm going to host it for them. =)

 

[TechBoyJK]

Originally posted by: BrokenVisage
A-ha, capitalizing the initial letter of the first AND second word in a sentence. An ambitious signature writing style to follow the path of ot'ers?

 

[BrokenVisage]

Originally posted by: TechBoyJK

Originally posted by: BrokenVisage
A-ha, capitalizing the initial letter of the first AND second word in a sentence. An ambitious signature writing style to follow the path of ot'ers?

Topic Title: What Can we do to make this site better?
Topic Summary: Former Coach has online store that isn't doing as well as expect

back atcha, just trying to make sense of it. *shrug*

 

[Tobolo]

Find whoever designed it and beat them senseless. I'm getting a bad image on of them as well.

Anyway, he needs a major site redesign. I would tone down the color (the blue mixed with banners gives me a headache) and introduce some community features. Continuity between the sites would be nice as well. The main page is totally different (layout and color) than the category pages. Also, how many times mys Godaddy's verified site tag be on each page???

 

[dullard]

I know nothing about skates, so I just browsed the two sites.

1) Most importantly, I typed "speed skates" and "roller skates" into google and I didn't see your coach's website in the first 5 pages. Then I left.

2) Your coach's site appears to be two different websites. www.megaskates.com looks completely different than shop.megaskates.com. I perfer the shop.megaskates.com look far better. The www.megaskates.com black background is annoying and the missing Visa image screams shoddy quality. Plus, the www.megaskates.com one lacks proper navigation links that the shop.megaskates.com has (see the top bar).

3) Type some of the skate names into both websites. True, I have no idea what I'm doing, but almost every time the competitor had $5 - $10 less for the same name. They may be different skates, but unless you are a real expert, you might not know that and you'd buy from the competitor.

4) You start with the most expensive speed skate. If I saw $659.95, I'd leave far before I saw the better priced $89.95 skates in the middle of a long scroll list.

 

[TechBoyJK]

Originally posted by: dullard
I know nothing about skates, so I just browsed the two sites.

1) Most importantly, I typed "speed skates" and "roller skates" into google and I didn't see your coach's website in the first 5 pages. Then I left.

2) Your coach's site appears to be two different websites. www.megaskates.com looks completely different than shop.megaskates.com. I perfer the shop.megaskates.com look far better. The www.megaskates.com black background is annoying and the missing Visa image screams shoddy quality. Plus, the www.megaskates.com one lacks proper navigation links that the shop.megaskates.com has (see the top bar).

3) Type some of the skate names into both websites. True, I have no idea what I'm doing, but almost every time the competitor had $5 - $10 less for the same name. They may be different skates, but unless you are a real expert, you might not know that and you'd buy from the competitor.

4) You start with the most expensive speed skate. If I saw $659.95, I'd leave far before I saw the better priced $89.95 skates in the middle of a long scroll list.

Thanks. Keep pecking away!!

 

[TechBoyJK]

lol :shocked:

 

[sswingle]

Offer 5 wheel inlines

 

[TechBoyJK]

Originally posted by: sswingle
Offer 5 wheel inlines

hehe 5 wheel inlines are oldschool.. trust me, i have a pair that cost me about $1,500. Custom crafted boot and frame, etc.

The thing now is bigger wheels, but only 4. THey cover the same length though.

 

[dougp]

Increase traffic by doing a Deal of the Day ...