I have a decision to make

roban · #1 (**permalink**) 02-26-2005, 01:13 PM

I have a store that's been online for about 3 months. I am not happy at all with the results and am thinking that I may be in the wrong business. I am not getting much traffic although I have worked backlinks, keyword density, etc. So I am leaning towards changing products entirely.

I sell vitamins on a dropship basis and I am looking for a general category dropshipper that would appeal to more impulse buying than anything else.

I have gone to alot of sites and get brain dead from all the hype so I'm looking for advice on what to look for.

If I can go to a site and look for 2 or 3 key phrases about the service, what would they be?

The addy of my site is http://www.vitaminlink.info

cyanide · #2 (**permalink**) 02-26-2005, 09:17 PM

Hi Roban,

It could very well be the product you chose, however there could be other reasons it's not taking off.
First of all, 3 months really is not alot of time to give an online shop.

Also with an extension like .info - it doesn't sound like an ecommerce site... more like an informational one

maha · #3 (**permalink**) 02-27-2005, 12:25 AM

It looks like you need to do more SEO work on your site to get better ranking on the Search Engines.

roban · #4 (**permalink**) 02-27-2005, 05:40 AM

Thanks for the replies.

Yes more SEO work and more and more for sure. Now, do you have any specifics on that suggestion?

Also the point about the .info extension is well taken and I am now vitaminlink.net. It should be online in a few hours.

maha · #5 (**permalink**) 02-27-2005, 02:25 PM

Start by reading this information here:

http://www.stargeek.com/seo_tutorial.php

roban · #6 (**permalink**) 02-27-2005, 03:34 PM

Thanks maha. My page had a PR 5 at one point then it disappeared. MSN does very well for me, ranking me 1 & 2 on certain key words. Google does well for me on other sites where I have a PR 4. I'm beginning to think that Google has been capricious lately. How do you feel about the use of RSS Feeds?

roban · #7 (**permalink**) 02-27-2005, 03:34 PM

Thanks maha. My page had a PR 5 at one point then it disappeared. MSN does very well for me, ranking me 1 & 2 on certain key words. Google does well for me on other sites where I have a PR 4. I'm beginning to think that Google has been capricious lately. How do you feel about the use of RSS Feeds?

maha · #8 (**permalink**) 02-27-2005, 06:27 PM

RSS feed will help (SEO wise) a little as it brings fresh content to your site. Google is big on content.

angelpure · #9 (**permalink**) 02-27-2005, 09:02 PM

You have a nice site and a good product, although it is in a very competitive field.

Cyanide is right, 3 months is hardly enough to take a breath.

I have built many and manage a few e-commerce sites. The old Madison Avenue axium is just as true for web based busiesses and brick and mortar.

"When business is good, advertise, when business is BAD advertise MORE!"

If all you are relying on is SE placement, it will be a long and slow road.

Advertise, both on and off line, it works!

maha · #10 (**permalink**) 02-28-2005, 03:32 PM

Advertise on Google Adwords, it does work. Very well in fact. Make sure you put yourself on the 1st page, it's very important to be on the 1st page (first 8 ads).

procustomer · #11 (**permalink**) 03-02-2005, 06:45 PM

Hi Roban,
What kind of traffic are you getting? If organic SEO is not working, have you tried guaranteed placement?

Also I went to your site and aesthetics are nice, but lacking persuasion. Try adding a tagline on the home page that tells people why your vitamins / service is better - cheaper - whatever. Let them know right away why they should do business with you rather than your competitors. There is also a lack of persuasion. SELL your products rather than just describe them.

A significant problem is that you do not allow people to purchase online. This is a red flag that says "amateur" to sophisticated online shoppers. It's not only inconvenient, but you lose credibility / visitor trust and sponteneity of purchase.

roban · #12 (**permalink**) 03-02-2005, 07:37 PM

Thanks procustomer. I've gotten good advice here and followed all of it so I'll follow yours as well. My site has been online for only 3 months and I am getting little traffic but I just changed the URL from .info to .net with a redirect from the .info site so now I'll take another time hit.

When you say that I don't allow online ordering do you refer to credit cards? I have a gateway ready to go but was waiting until I had something to use it for. Now the 2 options are Pay Pal and email. Should I bite the monthly fee bullet and go online with my redit card gateway?

angelpure · #13 (**permalink**) 03-02-2005, 08:28 PM

I would use PayPal until you are ready for a Merchant Account. Unless you are doing at least $1,200 a month, the fees will eat up your profit. PayPal takes all forms of Payment, and now you don't have to be a member to pay with it.

I have set up many customers with PayPal and they have all the shopping cart stuff ready to go. It is seamless and you can hook it to your bank account, get a Debit card and have ready cash.

I know there are those that will say otherwise, but until you are way bigger, I'd stick with PayPal.

Gordon

roban · #14 (**permalink**) 03-02-2005, 08:32 PM

Thanks Gordon. I agree.

procustomer · #15 (**permalink**) 03-02-2005, 08:55 PM

Hi Roban,
I would say yes - implement credit card capability, but make sure you get a little punch in the site too for better conversion. If you have to pay anything other than a percentage of sales, I would suggest you work on the marketing first. If all you have to do is pay a percentage, you have nothing to lose and will look more credible by adding it. Another note: when you implement credit card capability, make sure you place a short statement about the security of the transaction next to any field that asks for customer's financial information, and a statement about privacy (what are you going to do with their information}next to any fields where you ask for other information. Also, the purchase process is tricky and statistics vary, but 35-50% of shoppers abandon the purchase process for various usability issues - one of which is sites asking for too much personal information. Whatever you do, don't ask for anything you don't need (like telephone number). Too many site owners are so eager to get customer information that they blow the deal. GOOD LUCK.
nina@webforcenw.com