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greenhomeelectronics
09-02-2008, 19:04
Hi Folks, I have been playing with changing the way my listings look. Trouble is I can't decide what poeple prefer - a wordy listing or just a table of facts. So what I thought I would do is run a little competition -it's very simple. Just compare this listing - http://www.greenhomeshop.co.uk/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=13&products_id=491

with this listing - http://www.greenhomeshop.co.uk/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=3&products_id=370

tell me which one you prefer and why. Please post your comments here.

I will give it a couple of weeks and will pick one respondant at random, that person will receive a pair of super high quality Arcam interconnects totally free of charge.

Thanks in advance to anybody that takes a look and makes any comments (serious ones only please). We are always looking for ways to make our site more user friendly, this is one of many changes and updates I am thinking of.
Please note these are just sample listings, the items are not available for sale, they are just to give the idea of two styles of listings.

All the best,Dave.

snapper
09-02-2008, 19:19
For me it would be the 2nd one.

http://www.greenhomeshop.co.uk/shop/...roducts_id=370

because I like to read a bit about a future purchase.

In the first ad there is a Features box,maybe you could incorporate a bit of each of them.

I know it's been mentioned before,but I still think you should get rid of the lady at the top.

IMHO

YMMV

Marco
09-02-2008, 19:21
Hi Dave,

I vote for the first one - the template advertising the Arcam is tidier. For the type of website you're running and the products you're selling a table of specifications reads better to prospective buyers I feel rather than something wordier. Remember people's attention span reading websites is usually quite short, and as they say, you don't get a second chance to make a first impression!

Hope this helps :)

Regards,
Marco.

P.S I agree with David about the woman - she makes it look like an insurance or a loan website.

greenhomeelectronics
09-02-2008, 19:28
P.S I agree with David about the woman - she makes it look like an insurance or a loan website
Aaaaaaarggghhhh *Dave scampers off to find Zencart book section on changing templates*
Thanks guys, keep em coming :-)

Mike
09-02-2008, 19:38
I'd like to see some sort of combination of the two. Some descriptive text thats actually interesting and relevant followed perhaps by a small table of features.

I have no idea what Mrs Schoolteacher is doing at the top either??? :confused:

Cheers,
Mike.

greenhomeelectronics
09-02-2008, 21:05
LOL - yes she is a bit corporate / schoolteacher I am going to remove her as soon as I figure out how to do so. She got embedded by the company that used to host my web site and she can't be removed by the proper method. I can't figure out how they have done it so need to get a proper software person to have a look at it for me. I have a big upgrade planned so I may well work in the removal of Mrs. Strict at the same time.
Dave.

Marco
09-02-2008, 21:14
I'd like to see some sort of combination of the two. Some descriptive text thats actually interesting and relevant followed perhaps by a small table of features.


I agree, Mike, but there's a limit to what you can say about an Arcam Alpha 5! ;)

I still say that for this type of product the small table of specifications and brief description shown in the first example is simple and effective. If it were some rare valve amp that was for sale then that's a different matter...

Dave, I think it's unanimous that 'Jean Brodie' is superfluous to requirements if you want your website to be the creme de la creme! :)

Marco.

Mike
09-02-2008, 23:01
Fair point, but I was generalising..... I didn't take much notice of the Arcam as I assumed it was just an example!

:cool:

Marco
09-02-2008, 23:39
You're right about it just being an example but as far as I'm aware it's representative of the type of kit Dave sells :)

Marco.

Chris Frost
10-02-2008, 02:19
We've all agreed so far that Mrs. Corporate has got to go, Dave :)

If it was me I'd rethink the layout completely. The top half of the page is the most important bit. It's the part of the page they see before scrolling. That's where all your good stuff needs to be. It tells customers why they should deal with you, gives them the tools to find what they want and some help navigating around the site.


Here's some specific thoughts:

* Use a shorter header banner. Then more of what you sell can be seen on the page before scrolling down.

* Ditch 'Home', 'Login' and 'Search' at the top of the page. Home isn't needed if your navigation structure elsewhere on the page is properly designed. 'Login' suggests I've got to register before searching - They'll go to someone elses site before giving you their details. (Use the sales page for returning customers). Search isn't needed twice on the page.

* Remove the grey text categories. You have more useful category links in the box on the left (like the numbers BTW, good idea). Replace that text with the breadcrumb trail (the blue text) and make the text bigger.

* The top box on the left column is good. Now you've got their eye over there you should put the Manufacturer category box below it, then have Search below that. 'Point and click' to find is quicker and more reliable than giving someone the chance to type Merantz or Phillips and come up with 0 results when you know there's stock on the site. (Think about adding all the wrong spellings to your search engine just in case.)

* Right hand column. Top section should be the 'New Products' box. I presume that will cycle through 5 or 6 of your juiciest deals? If not, it should.

* Your Important Links and Information boxes contain some duplicated info. Rethink what's in there. Put customer-centric info into a box called 'Useful Info' - Gift Certificates (another excellent idea), Recommend a Friend, News Letter, Latest Offers mailer, Special Deals, etc. All this is stuff designed to keep customers on your site a bit longer and give them a reason to visit again (offers & deals) or tell their friends about your site. BTW, remove Unsubscribe, put it as an option in the news letter or mailers.

* Next box down is the 'Site Info' box - this is where you put commercial info important to the customer first (shipping costs & del times, warranty, contact details, company background) and then stuff important to you (T's & C's, Privacy, Returns etc). This info could be positioned across the footer bar just as effectively.

* Center column - I like 'Product X/Y' and the nav buttons. Once the site is developed I assume that 'List' will take me to a line list of the sub category - i.e. Amps, rather that a mix of all categories as now?

* The picture needs more white space around it; a 10%-15% equal white border all the way round, and the image should be centered with text below or a smaller image used and left justified if you plan to wrap the text. 'Click for an enlargement' is good; try to get a magnifying glass image and have the hot link placed over the small thumbnail to save space. Loose the tiny green text below and the huge white bottom border. Anyone pinching images from your site for Ebay will erase that in text in 2 seconds flat. It also looks untidy. Protect your original images with a larger semi-transparent logo placed over the product.

* Product text - Product name + remote is good - leaves no doubt. Move the price to the end. I like the text talking about the product, it's more welcoming . Add some testimonials from old reviews if possible. I think you're allowed to use 12 words without breaching copyright. 'New remote' & 'door fixed' is good info. It inspires a bit more confidence. The table is useful too. but change the category order. The first thing I want to know is the physical condition. Rephrasing to say "One small scratch, otherwise excellent" is better IMO. Then I want to know about practical things like colour and connections, then USPs like oversampling and DACs, finally size, weight and warranty last.

* Product price and the buy button should be positioned together with plenty of empty space around. Below this should be methods of payment and any sponsor links.

* You're doing your bit for a greener world, so why not go the extra mile and promote a carbon neutral policy? My business supports energy saving projects in E.Africa. You can read more about this at www.co2balance.com (http://www.co2balance.com/) I offset the businesses carbon consumption and those of my customers installs. The percentage cost is tiny. There is an opt out in my sales contract but so far no-one has taken it. The £'s amount is negligable, probably £1 in every hundred for your business. It fits what you're doing perfectly.

* Finally, I'm in two minds about the word "Recycled". To me it is very loaded. I think of recycled as once thrown away. 'Pre-owned' says to me that it has come from somebody else's home, perhaps someone who cared well for it.


Developing a commercial web site is a mammoth task. I know, I'm going through the same thing myself. Dave, you have my admiration and very best wishes for business success.

Regards

Chris

stupinder
10-02-2008, 08:50
I prefer the second listing. It's friendlier and gives more information. I used to wor in advertising before buying our restaurant in france and used to train new recruits how to write good copy.
We used a system called AIDCA; Attention, Interest, Desire, Conviction, Action.
pretty sensible and proved to work.
Attention. Grab the readers attention with a headline. New or News are good ones, as are silly ones. Try not to use simply the name of the product. "New Improved" would be better than Arcam CD.
Interest. This is the bit in the ad where you generate a bit of interest -a photo is good.
Desire; Use of descriptive/emotive words is what this bits about. Beautiful, superior, excellent etc etc.
Conviction; This is the bit where once the reader desires the object but needs convincing to buy it. Limited supply, the best cd player you will own blah blah, secure posting, proffessional packing....
Action; Move the reader to a buyer. give as many options to enable the buying/parting with cash as poss'. "Pay by cash, card, paypal, magic beans" is better than "Cash only"
Hope this was useful. I recently started selling on e bay and just whacked items up and described them. Since using Aidca stuff shifts more qickly and for a higher price!
Stupinder Rajpoot III

greenhomeelectronics
10-02-2008, 09:07
Wow, some excellent responses and suggestions here, thank you so much guys. The business and web site are both quite young - we started them in March of last year. My grasp of Zen cart is limited but I have bought the book that has taught me a few things, I have a long way to go. I take all your points on board - some of the changes that Chris has suggested are already in the pipe line, I just need to find some time away from fixing, buying, listing, packing and testing to get them done :-)
One thing is for certain thaough and that is that Mrs Strictly-Corporate has to go :-)
Thanks again guys for some excellent, considered feedback.
Stupinder - good luck with the restaurant, my Brother moved to France last month.

Mike Reed
10-02-2008, 19:19
The first is simpler (but lacks the price!!!), therefore quicker on the eye, as already suggested. The second looks (relatively) cluttered.

Green woman from Halifax PLC (or any other building soc./bank, come to that) should be replaced by green hifi pieces, or some other creative computer trickery.

Correct use of the apostophe (and capital letters) would improve credibility (on both images). (The rules for the apostrophe are quite staightforward, but frequently ignored)

greenhomeelectronics
10-02-2008, 20:28
Thanks Mike, looking in to a new logo, I am not very creative in an arty sort of way so will bring somebody in on that. I can't see any inappropriate use of the apostrophe, only questionable one I could see was on dac's but that's correct as dac is an abbreviation, yes I know it should therefore be d.a.c but as everybody calls them dac's who am I to argue? :-)
Thanks for your input, much appreciated.

Mike
13-02-2008, 18:58
Arghhh!!!

I see M'dame Dominatrix is still there!

Kill her I tell thee! :mad: :dynamite:

greenhomeelectronics
13-02-2008, 19:10
I can't just kill her, I have nowhere to hide the body. I am working on getting rid of her but more in a sort of html editing kind of way rather than in an axe murdering frenzy kind of way. A very nice man that posts on here has said he will help, don't want to say who it is because he might get inundated with tart removal requests and that would not be fair.
Do keep watching though as I expect her to be gone soon, there are "specialist" adult interest sort of web sites for anybody that misses her.
Dave.

Mike
13-02-2008, 19:34
Dave, I have an axe and I'm willing to travel! :lolsign:

MartinT
14-02-2008, 08:37
Since dac is an acronym it should be DAC. The plural is therefore DACs without an apostrophe.

By the way, I prefer the second listing with a paragraph of description since the tabular specs tell you nothing about how it sounds. At least the write-up may give a clue. Also, the left-justified photo with right-hand wrap looks ugly to my eyes.

Filterlab
14-02-2008, 09:00
I prefer the grid, but maybe put a little free-text box for a brief explanation of superlatives.

By the way, an apostrophe should never be used for pluralisation. :)

Marco
14-02-2008, 09:20
By the way, an apostrophe should never be used for pluralisation. :)

Indeed!


I prefer the grid, but maybe put a little free-text box for a brief explanation of superlatives


I agree with that concept and think it strikes a neat balance between all the suggestions put forward so far :)

I don't know about anyone else, but I have a very low boredom threshold for reading long reams of promotional blurb when products are advertised for sale on websites. I always respond better to something slick and visually stimulating which gets the basic information across quickly. If I want more in-depth details on a specific product I will either email or call the vendor direct.

Marco.

greenhomeelectronics
21-02-2008, 15:44
Hi Folks, thanks to all those that responded to this thread, I have taken your input in to consideration and have already made some subtle changes, there are many more to come. I have picked a recipient for the Arcam interconnects, well done Mike Reed, you have a freebie on the way - please PM me your address.
As a thank you to everybody for contributing to such an interesting and fun site I am creating a discount voucher, details will appear in a separate thread.
All the best,
Dave.

Filterlab
21-02-2008, 15:48
Very well done Mike!

Dave; I'm glad our members could be of help to you. :)

Chris Frost
21-02-2008, 17:49
Yep, well done Mike :clap:

Mike Reed
03-03-2008, 21:03
Brief comment for the mo' to say that I'm mildy and pleasantly surprised (to understate the case considerably!) to receive these nicely burned-in Arcam (or Audioquest? or hybrid?) i/cs.

Am currently 'testing' them against my resident Chord Signatures on various types of music via the Meridian G08. Initial findings are, I'm surprised to say, favourable, though like most things, they're a bit of a curate's egg.

Shall publish more fully some time hence.

Thank you, Mr kind man Dave of Greenhomeelectronics

greenhomeelectronics
04-03-2008, 17:01
It's a pleasure Mike, hope you enjoy them.
Dave.