Like Julie Pedersen, Web Mistress of Shadow Domain, I too am a self taught web designer, (approx 6 years) who’s need to come to grips with the web & web design, was driven by other business demands. I now design a limited number of web sites for small to medium businesses.
Anyway I’ve been to have a look at the site, and my biggest gripe is “too much scrolling around” is needed in order to see what is there, especially on the 1st page.
I prefer to the index.html page to fit in the screen. This page determines whether people stay to browse or leave. The balance of your index page is not happening. There is too much going on. The fixed background effect with the text that scrolls over the top is a bit disorientating. There’s also too much going on, on the first page – I’d keep the index.html page very clean & Simple… I’d take the background image into Photoshop or something similar, and edit it so that there are skulls only on one side of the screen and not both sides. I’d write a brief intro, and welcome to the site… and finish with a Enter Button…. one of your animated skeletal hands would work for this… the next page would have all the navigation to the remainder of the site… I’d also have a button called “Catalogue” or something, and in there have all the links to your product lines & products.
As Julie has a shop in “real space” online customer trust, can be built by having some photos of your shop… inside & out with address and contact details… I’d also have that nearer the top of the page, so that potential online customers can find out about you easily… Lets face it, who buys anything from a complete stranger?
The sales catalogue pages are a bit bland – a thumb of the item, with a brief description including cost should be on the Product Page Directory, and you should be able to use the image as a link to a Individual Product Page, with links for Purchase Options at the bottom. e.g. Catalogue has links to Product Lines / Product Lines, divided up into individual groups of items, like “skull stickers…. page… show image of skulls… etc. Make it easier for people to find what they are looking for.
Instructions & Options for purchasing goods is clear and presentation is excellent… I’d just move that, and the link to “Pass it on ” to the individual Product Page… I know it means adding heaps more pages to your site, but sale should increase… also navigation needs to be the same throughout the site, and in the same place.
At the moment the site looks like 2 different places, and that does take away from the “trust” factor.
The content is good, and as a London Goth, there are things on your site that I haven’t seen here in the UK, and may have some business to put your way… Although Goths wear a lot of black, not all Goth sites are black,red,& white, with shades of grey. Deep Ruby Reds, & Rich Purples are also fav., colours.
From my own experience if your going to try to sell anything to Goths, you need to be seen out and about on the Goth Scene from time to time, it certainly build trust, also helps to advertise your shop. Finally from a marketing point of view do a little research and see if you can’t find your local/ regional & National Goth Magazines, to advertise in, most these publications will have web sites of their own, with whom you can request mutual linking. (With the big National & International Publications in this genre, having your link or banner add on their site will cost you a small fee.)
Hope this helps.
Anna Heim
Anna Heim Web Design
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