What is your favourite business web site?

Channel Ribs · 18 August 2011, 16:57

We are going to redo our site, it has grown and grown and now needs a prune. So may as well look at a clean screen. Any links to favourite business web sites would be most welcome, boaty ideally but not strictly.

Thanks

BogMonster · 19 August 2011, 06:06

Autotrader is slick, Ebay/Amazon is pretty good too, may be some ideas there for searching/product selection filters and clicking into products to get further details?

I think a lot of the boaty websites are pretty poor in comparison to the leaders but I suppose this reflects funds available for site development. Force 4 have a fairly decent site and Marine store is not bad either.

A couple of things you need on the list are 1) a good search function with things indexed by a variety of common terms and not just the product name (eg "carbine" and "carabiner" should both work) and 2) a "show all" function on a search which displays all returns on 1 screenful so you can whizz quickly down a list of 100 products searching for what you wanted, instead of having to click through 10 pages and wait for each one to load.

Good product pictures that can be enlarged full screen are also worth having - thumbnails are pretty much useless for a lot of things.

Leapy · 19 August 2011, 07:00

Martin...

Favourite marine website: the newly revamped Sea-Screw: it's clear, bright and attractive and the up front categorisation of what they sell in the on-line shop helps homing in on what your after.

Favourite business website: First Direct: again clear and easy to understand. It's mostly in black and white which has a certain appeal for what it is but is probably inappropriate for your needs.

Poly · 19 August 2011, 07:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leapy

First Direct: again clear and easy to understand. It's mostly in black and white which has a certain appeal for what it is but is probably inappropriate for your needs.:

I wonder if it would be mostly red and white if I moved my banking there!

Martin, I don't know if you track this or not - but the simplicity of checkout is certainly something that can loose you sales. I've been told that if it takes more than 5 clicks from "checkout" to completion, then more than half the transactions will be dropped. Obviously depends what you sell, how competitive etc - but I am more likely to revisit a site with a good buying process (rather than rely on google to find me a deal). Although my browsing habits may not be normal!

Your current website slightly gives me the feel that you are doing lots of things with a bit of chandlery on the side. Knowing your business better than an average visitor that doesn't worry me - but coming cold I would be concerned that like many you don't actually have any stock and I'll be waiting weeks. So stock status would be great to integrate.

Channel Ribs · 19 August 2011, 07:45

Thanks all, great comment and please keep them coming.

Bang on Polwart, the site does need a change of emphasis for sure.

benc · 19 August 2011, 12:47

My favourite website at the moment is still http://www.graze.com - its just so clean and slick, I am thinking of something similar for a project im about to start.

Theres a lot of clean ideas here too:
http://vandelaydesign.com/blog/galle...erce-websites/

karlT · 19 August 2011, 13:06

Hi Martin

It annoys me when I need to 'register' in order to pay on any website. I never remember the login / password when returning and have to get prompted email reminders. The only benefit of registration is storing my address which generally auto fills as soon as I enter 1st letter. Card details are not stored and I often use different cards.

I am sure you can still request an email address with the order and keep these for any promotional emails you wish to send out. I like most internet shoppers browse many sites and will usually go with the cheapest (inc shipping).

Stock levels a good idea. Also, demo video / links to youtube demo video showing displays / operation of electronics.

'Recommended packages' Ie VHF GPS Fishfinder and all the required bits to interface. Pictures of installations on your target market ie RIBS ??

Cheers
Karl

Poly · 19 August 2011, 15:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by karlT

It annoys me when I need to 'register' in order to pay on any website. I never remember the login / password when returning and have to get prompted email reminders. The only benefit of registration is storing my address which generally auto fills as soon as I enter 1st letter. Card details are not stored and I often use different cards.

I would agree with that. if you are going to insist on registration consider allowing me to log in with Facebook / OpenID / Google account etc to authenticate.

However Karl it sounds like you need a system to remember your passwords. The following is a variation on what I do (as telling you mine would be silly!).

take some letters from the web address e.g. Www.Rib.Net might become WRN and then add it to an easy to remember but secure "base password" so e.g. your ribnet password might become WRN_Zeu$ whilst Welcome to Facebook - Log In, Sign Up or Learn More is then WFC_Zeu$ and www.channelribs.co.uk would be WCCU_Zeu$ - every (well almost every) site has a unique password but you only need to remember the base & method. Much easier to do than write! It amazes me how many people use the same (or virtually the same) password everywhere.

PeterM · 19 August 2011, 17:55

I hate sites that ask you to print a page with an order number onto be able to call them when your order doesn't arrive (I dont mean that will happen with you) . Much prefer the ones that send you an email thats easiily stored /looked at if you need to.

Likewise the ones that email you when something actually goes in the post - so you know when it should arrive.

And as for the 'big' sites that dont have any contact phone numbers on - drives me nuts - what if I want to talk to a real person ? - Especially valuable for the complex type products involved in boating ....

solarwarrior · 19 August 2011, 19:09

Show some pictures and movies of you, your crew and your warehouse to make clear that you are a real company and not only a website. Make indications on oversea shipping costs and if people can pay via bank account, have your bank account number in international IBAN/SWIFT format on your site. (I don't know if this is common in the UK, in France many companies will be unable to you their bank account number in international standard).

willk · 19 August 2011, 21:56

Solarwarrior is right. I have my mugshot on mine and it doesn't seem to do any harm

I spent an hour yesterday trying to get an IBAN sorted for a froggie company I was transferring dosh to - what a pain. They didn't show that, or their email address on their Pro Forma

willk · 19 August 2011, 22:01

Another thought. Seeing as how Garmin have such a bloody awful website with piss poor information about their unusually marvelous products - howsabouts you start a Garmin Clinic? Maybe give some general indication of suitable Garmin combos for different type applications/boats and also offer your expertise offline for those who actually want to buy something...

willk · 19 August 2011, 22:03

Oh, and get a webcam, especially if you have a view of the ocean/harbour from your roof

Channel Ribs · 20 August 2011, 06:51

Thanks again all, excellent comments.

Channel Ribs · 20 August 2011, 06:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by willk

Oh, and get a webcam, especially if you have a view of the ocean/harbour from your roof

Are you just saying that because Erin keeps asking for one, or do you really think it is good for site traffic? As you can tell from the question, I dismissed it as gimicky.

Poly · 20 August 2011, 07:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Channel Ribs

Are you just saying that because Erin keeps asking for one, or do you really think it is good for site traffic? As you can tell from the question, I dismissed it as gimicky.

It hadn't crossed my mind - but if you have harbour/sea view and nobody else in Alderney has a webcam covering it then it might be useful (or can virtually everyone on Alderney see the sea from their house?). Certainly for those of us who have to travel a bit to our boats it would be good to know the actual conditions rather than the forecast. It will certainly give locals a reason to visit your site regularly - but I suspect they won't buy anything when they do. It all builds "brand" awareness / loyalty though - and should help Channel Ribs be the first place locals think of for your product ranges. Of course it won't do much/anything to encourage me to buy my next radio/plotter etc by mail order - so it depends which side of the business you are trying to promote. Local service or internet bargains?

willk · 20 August 2011, 09:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Channel Ribs

Are you just saying that because Erin keeps asking for one, or do you really think it is good for site traffic? As you can tell from the question, I dismissed it as gimicky.

Encouraging his voyeuristic tendencies would be the last thing I would wish to do. No, it does boost traffic into your site, so much so that you could have issues with your ISP. I ran a PTZ cam in my business for 18 months until I was busted by the Feds. Traffic went up from 200 visits a day (or less) to over 2000. Much of this was junk traffic but it boosted my search profile a lot. The secret was to have the right stuff on the cam page. In your case, it might be a good place to showcase your special offers. Local tides and WX sit well beside the cam.

Changing photographs regularly is no harm either. Clients want to know that you're there and dealing with other clients - happy clients. Consider a mini-blog (I know, I know - more work) where you feature the odd visiting client's boat. (Mr. X visited on the Jolly Roger on his last leg from the US. Picture. We resupplied him and fixed his whatever.) Once a month is enough. If you can include a few client testimonials, especially distance buyers, then that's a bonus too.

Leaderscharter · 20 August 2011, 09:42

When we redid our site last year, I was shooting for something that was very simple to navigate and made it as easy as possible for clients to make a booking.
Over the year it has tended to get more and more complex but I think still think it is easy the to accomplish the primary function of getting people on the boat.
Go Sailing in Dublin | Boat Tour Trip Dublin | Dublin Sailing Ireland

chewy · 21 August 2011, 12:38

I like Famous Four's site, nice and easy to naviagte:

Famous Four - Independent Land Rover Parts, Accessories, Sales & Servicing Specialist - Land Rover Parts, Land Rover Accessories, Land Rover Vehicle Sales, Servicing & Repair

akirk · 21 August 2011, 22:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by benc

My favourite website at the moment is still graze | healthy snacks by post | get nature delivered - its just so clean and slick, I am thinking of something similar for a project im about to start.

Theres a lot of clean ideas here too:
http://vandelaydesign.com/blog/galle...erce-websites/

well - forget chandlery - boring stuff - graze.com looks great - just signed up - eagerly awaiting my first box

more back to topic...
- first of all work out why people come to you / what you would like them to come to you for - make sure that you match that need on the home page or they will toddle off soon after
- make sure that you are using really good eCommerce software - several options out there
- make the buying really simple (minimal steps) / registration or purchase easy etc. that is the fundamental core of the website
- then add in richness with info / videos (store on youtube and suck in) / twitter / facebook / etc. etc. but don't let it get in the way of the transactional operations...

Alasdair