I made my site in 2003 and put it in for review - some of the suggestions I implemented and some I didn't. I just tried looking for all those suggestions but couldn't locate them so I'm going to ask again.
When I first built this site I wanted a kinda fluffy site but now my views have changed. I don't want all the fluff, but I don't want a "template store site" either. I could really use some fresh views on my sites look as I'm at a loss how to fix this.
I know my code needs work and will get to that after I know what my design will be.
My website is Loving Hands Boutique
Thanks
Sue

__________________
www.lovinghandsboutique.us

Sue,

Start over.
It is not 1997 anymore.
Total junk from a visual perspective.
Look at your competitors and steal all the great ideas.
Then, build a new website.

This one is hopeless.

,dave

__________________
Dave Barnes
+1.303.744.9024
http://www.marketingtactics.com
sitting in my basement with my iMac

some basic tips for you:
- get rid of patterned back ground
- have fixed width site - your content is too sparse to fill wider screens when the IE window is maximised
- don't center align text it makes it difficult to read
- use a plain sans-serif font (arial or verdana maybe?) comic sans looks unprofessional - you need users to trust you and take you seriously if they are going to purchase from your site.
- keep your main nav either at the top or at the side for usability
- have a 'featured product' on your home page to encourage click throughs and show off your best piece at any one time.

your logo is nice, and the architecture of your site works but it does look very dated. however this can be updated with some simple adjustments.
as davebarnes said, take a look at competitor sites, or even just sites you like, take inspiration from their colour combinations and page layouts to creat something that suits you and your product.

they are home made personal products so keep the website with a personal feel too to reflect the beautiflu quilted crafts you are selling

HTH

Thanks Dave for being brutely blunt (and I do agree with you).
Pagetta, thanks for the tips - some of them I did see in the stickies and the others I will do. I was glad to see you agreed with the personal touch and not a template look.
Looks like I've got lots of searching to do.
Thanks again
Sue

__________________
www.lovinghandsboutique.us

Dear Sue,

I would start with many of the changes that Pagetta announced. Simplify the visual of the site. Clean out the competing background and allow the work to stand out.

I'd recommend finding a quality cart that will allow you to add and remove products with ease and is based on a templating system so that you can easily update the look of the site based on a season or on your own feelings as your site grows.

For your products, I'd look into either professional product phtoos, or attempt to get them on as plain white of a background as possible. You want people to buy your products, get them to see the product in all it's glory. ALso, try and have unique pages for each product, offers more content for search engines to find.

In your new design, make sure to pay attention to your title, description and keyword tags along with focusing on highly accessible design so you can reach the broadest market of users.

This is not a hard project, and with some small focused planning, you can relaunch with ease.

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We offer a total eCommerce solution with eCommerce Web Design using Pinnacle Cart

Weslinda,
Thanks for those great tips
When I made this site, I was learning as I was building - so for me it will be a quite a bit harder to implement these changes than if you were doing it and you'd probably laugh if you knew how long it took me to build that site.
I'm feeling a bit braver than I did then, so once again it looks like I'll be learning as I build
(but I love doing that)
Wish me luck
Sue

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www.lovinghandsboutique.us

Sue,

Good luck, finding a good cart, and someone to design a template for you could save you a ton of time and help this move forward quite quickly.

Might want to weigh the potential cost of a professional versus learning on your own.

We all started out at one time, so don't feel bad on the time it can take to build a site. The key is putting together something that will get the job done for you. Never underestimate the power of a professional.

__________________
We offer a total eCommerce solution with eCommerce Web Design using Pinnacle Cart

I would recommend you get a professional designer, as weslinda suggests. There are lots of good, very inexpensive designers in other parts of the world who will design on spec. Find some of them or PM me and I will give you a name of someone I have used. Then concentrate on *marketing* your site.

And while Dave is most certainly *brutal* in his assessment (his sweet smile belies that tendency toward a less than tactful approach) you are wise to take his comments to heart.

Best wishes, MJ

Cheers, MJ

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M.-J. Taylor
SEO Web Design by Cyber Key Search Smart Design® SEO Copywriter & Traveling Vacation Gypsy

Weslinda & MJ
I know I would get a great site if I used a professional and I know that is the best way to go, but at this time it's just not possible.
I appreciate greatly the help you professionals give me to help me get a good usable website.
Thank you so much!
Sue

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www.lovinghandsboutique.us

The key is to think about how much a good designer can make you, not how much a good designer can cost you. That's the fun of understanding the value of a quality designer.

__________________
We offer a total eCommerce solution with eCommerce Web Design using Pinnacle Cart

Visit my website, Ten Common Mistakes Found On Websites, and How To Fix Them at Ten Common Mistakes Found On Websites, And How To Fix Them and download this free report. It will answer many of your questions.

Also, check out the Article page on another site of mine, The Creative Cauldron at The Creative Cauldron - Home You'll find about 30 articles on website design.

Have Fun,
Jeff

__________________
Visit The Creative Cauldron at http://www.CreativeCauldron.com You'll find reports, ebooks, events, retreats, a blog and much more.

thanks Jeff, those sound interesting - I'll definately check them out.
Sue

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www.lovinghandsboutique.us

Have you considered using an Indian designer? They are very inexpensive, and most will make samples of prospective designs without charging if you don't choose to use the design.

If you want the contact info for a man I use, PM me.

Weslinda is right; good design will more than pay for itself.

Cheers, MJ

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M.-J. Taylor
SEO Web Design by Cyber Key Search Smart Design® SEO Copywriter & Traveling Vacation Gypsy

Why must people post links to sites where they are forcing email capture to let anyone see the content? It's simply rude in my opinion to send that type of "help" to someone who is looking for quality advice.

There are numerous sites with better information for free. Geesh.

__________________
We offer a total eCommerce solution with eCommerce Web Design using Pinnacle Cart

Thanks for all you guys info - I've done a redesign that I hope is a little better than I had before. I tried looking at shopping carts, but they said "some CSS knowledge necessary" and I don't know CSS at all. I'm going to look into learning it, but until then I was wondering if this redesign would barely pass. Link is Loving Hands Boutique
Thanks for checking and helping
Sue

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www.lovinghandsboutique.us

Sue,

Somewhere I became confused. "for those interested in 67-73 classic cougars" What! Why are sending people (who might give you money) away from your website? Don't answer. It is a rhetorical question.

pagetta wrote "get rid of patterned background". She was correct. You did not. Why not?

,dave

__________________
Dave Barnes
+1.303.744.9024
http://www.marketingtactics.com
sitting in my basement with my iMac

I realize she said get rid of patterned background - I think the "light" patterned background goes with the fact that I sell all handmade items and I don't like a website that is white background. I've tried to follow as much of the advise I can (and I'm still working on pics - but it's a slow process). I tried the other fonts, but I like the Comic Sans - I know I wouldn't turn away from a site just because they used that font.
Thanks for the input Dave

Sue

__________________
www.lovinghandsboutique.us

When looking at carts, look for ones that have templates available as well. That way you can get something attractive at a fairly low cost. Just a couple hundred maximum if you go with a free opensource type cart. If you go with something like the PinnacleCart I shared, you will spend a little more but it is a better cart and has support if you have issues.

Perhaps even looking at a hosted solution would be a good idea for you, then you can pay a flat rate each month and someone else handles all the technical stuff.

__________________
We offer a total eCommerce solution with eCommerce Web Design using Pinnacle Cart

Thanks Weslinda, I'll check into those
Sue

__________________
www.lovinghandsboutique.us

Hi angelmom3, Along with the other suggestions I would suggest that the links be consistent to avoid confusion. Example ‘tote’ on some pages turned into ‘take alongs’ on others. The link for cougars disappeared on the quilted page. Check your private messages,...

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Clicken
Math Flash Cards Online

ooops - I thought I checked all the links

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www.lovinghandsboutique.us

Sue,

I just checked your site out today. It does have nice "homemade, warm feel", which I know you are going for. A few additional modifications I suggest making are:

*Update the buttons for the top navigation - they are fuzzy to read
*Take new photos - you need higher resolution photos that are clearer. I would retake pictures of your product line so that users can really see the merchandice.
*Links - the links on this page have nothing to do with your site or merchandice. I'm personally not into this type of link building. Like previously mentioned, why are you driving traffic away from your site? I'm not sure how much you rely on this for SEO or what the implications of this proposal are, but at least make the links target=new so that it opens a new window so that users aren't totally removed from your site.
*The contact info on the homepage and the formatting seem weird to me...
*Consider using bullets (<ul><li> or <ol><li>) for the text on the Ordering page

All the best to you!

__________________
MartinK
Study Abroad with CEA

Martink
Thank you about the "homemade warm feel" which is what I wanted.

I don't remember where I got the button maker from, but it's the only button it makes. I tried looking for a new button to use, but they either looked like tabs or too futuristic.

I'm working on getting new photos taken to put on there.

ok - the links don't really go with my site or for SEO purposes, they are just links of sites important to me and which are brought up under different product descriptions. I'll see if I can do the "new window" instead of a straight link.

The bullets might be helpful on the ordering page.

I have a real hard time getting my home page to line up when I have the navigation at the top of the page, which is what I had to do to keep all the pages uniform as other people suggested. I tried all the different alignments for everything on the page and this is the only way it would work without items crossing over into another objects space.

I am a total amatuer, no training except what I learn from my WYSIWYG editor, what I can pick up from websites and from all the helpful members of this forum which I totally appreciate!!!

Thanks again martink & all others who have helped me.

Sue

__________________
www.lovinghandsboutique.us

hi,
your homepage idea is sound but still seems somewhat yesterday, have you considered a cart like OScommerce or similar ? if not use a ready made cart where everything is setup im in UK and i started with ekmpowershop (google it) but im sure theres similar start-up cart services where you are based. if you really dont want to go this route here a few tips which i dont think have been mentioned so far

add more content on your homepage especially with respect to your intended main keywords such as "handmade gifts", "tote bags" , etc... make little articles about what they are what they are made from and why your customers should buy from you...

on your product pages - give your customers the delivery cost if possible people are more likely to purchase if they have relevant and full information - actually information is the key factor - the buyer must know what they are getting for how much and when they should expect to get it... you will be amazed at how many companies do not provide this info ...even some of the larger ones!

on another note... Your logo is an excellent idea (although the hands would look much better if they formed the perfect heart shape).