Be Honest- I can take it!!

[Juliepry]

Hey Guys,
I've got my website up. I don't have a ton of beads on it yet, I'm working on that! I'd love any critisism- good or bad!!

~thanks, Julie







http://www.prycedesigns.com

[Heidi von Frozenfyre]

The only thing I don't like about the website is that all the photos are on one page, and not categorized into different pages... it seems like it's a blog. Other than that.. it's fine!
I like the ease of use of your shopping cart for sure!

[Karen Hardy]

I'm kind of torn here.
I do think that it's a beautiful website you've got setup there.
And YOU DON'T HAVE to agree with me (I'm ok with that )
You may be wanting to go for a more homey-warm/fuzzy feel to your
website.

However, I'm kind of old-school when it comes to websites.
I'm a strong believer that a website where you sell stuff should
be confined to a website where you sell stuff. And a blog should be
on a blog. You've kind of combined the two here - and while it makes for
a good read, if I had happened on it by chance, I would not realize until
I practically read the whole thing that you were selling something.

The first page of a website (again - my opinion only) should be everything
about your store. What your new beads are. Pics of said beads.
Jewelry items. If I'm looking to buy beads, and I see pictures of your kids
fishing or your vacation to the grand canyon, I'm not going to take you
seriously as a bead/jewelry seller. I mean, again - it's cute and homey and
all - but I say to save all the homey stuff for your family website.

Same thing with your "about me" page. I'd trim it down to about half the size.
Customers don't really need to know about your pregnancies or how you met
your hubby. You can brag about your wonderful family, but customers
don't really want to hear the details. Far from making you seem accessible
and personal, it rather serves to make you sound a bit long winded. I want
to know how you anneal my beads, and you're inspired by your surroundings.
Not about you being a dental technician or your hubby's job as an electrician.

Again - remember - this is your RETAIL STORE. Not your personal blog.
Think about how you want to present yourself to your future customers.
How would you feel if you walked into a car dealership, and the first thing
the salesrep did was make you sit in a room and watch home movies of
his kids playing in the wading pool.

Trim it down. Cut out all the unnecessary chatter. Move the blog to a blog
space. OR your can use the blog for jewelry only pictures like "look what
came out of the kiln today - here's a link to it". Personally, I'd ditch it for
a more clean stylized front page.

Again...just my opinion. You're free to take what you want - use what you can.

[Karen Hardy]

...was I too brutally honest ?

[maren]

One thing that would keep me from wanting to come back: it's too wide for my monitor.
I have to scroll sideways.

(Partly agree with Karen about the blog. You can have the blog on the same website, but I wouldn't make it the front page. But what's wrong with having more than one blog?)

[bshelle]

Really gorgeous pictures, I love the ease of the shopping cart, and I like how you have incorporated sales items and personality together; it's different. I kept reading, too. But, I don't think it's going to help your sales because there's too much to read until you get to what you are selling. I like your blog but I would definately have it separate from your store.

I know that the "What's New" will link you back to your home page because I searched around a bit, but if you are in the shipping cart say looking at earrings or PMC it would be helpful to have a real distinct "Home" link.

By the way, you live in an absolutely beautiful place and Juno is adorable!!

[Cathy at the Beach]

Your photos are hilarious. Love the kit kat one. I have to agree- while its totally enteraining- its a blog not a commercial web site for business.

[barbbbeads]

Originally Posted by Karen Hardy

...was I too brutally honest ?

I don't think you were too brutally honest. It's what I needed to hear about my own site. I'm not completely happy with it and need to re-vamp it. I have too much blogging on it. I need to bring the latest and greatest additions to my store on the home page and create a new page for just my occasional commentaries. Thanks Karen. Your honesty is appreciated.