Yet another online store-Vintage Clothing- Need suggestions

[SandraM]

Hello.
I recently opened my first online store. I sell vintage and designer clothing. I sold on eBay and wanted to add content to my sales. My friend helped me create the site using MT.

What can I do to increase my hits? I have a links page. I am constantly looking for places to exchange links. I was thinking of opening an eBay store just to drive some traffic to my website.

What else can I do? I am open for any suggestions.

By the way, I love this site. I am new but know I will be back to learn and share.

Sandra
www.debutanteclothing.com

[Tubby]

Hi Sandra, I had an enquiry a while back (couple of years) from someone looking for a his and hers outfit that would suit a 1940ish Buick that was at an early car show, the owners wanted to complete the image. and look the part in photos.

I think there is probably a market there for you.

I can find room for a few individual items (worded right) with a link.

[SandraM]

Thanks Tubby. That's a good idea. I have some 40s and 50s dresses and shoes. I will send you a few pics and a link so you can decide Tubby!

anyone else? I could really use suggestions on the overall optimization of the site.

Thanks.
Sandra

[sytemaker]

Hello.
I recently opened my first online store...

How recently?

[SandraM]

Hi Sytemaker. Just about two weeks ago. I have a links page and am working on getting more on there. Anything else I could do?

Sandra

[Tubby]

Sandra - List your outfits here.
http://restocar.com/cgi-bin/usfm/form.cgi?form=18
list the item by year - for make put either Chevrolet or Ford.(busiest) and use words like - driver or passenger accessories, for show or parade - then describe the outfit. and in the space for the url place a link to the page with the outfit on.

you will automatically get an email explaining how to deleted the ad etc. update your listing after about eight to 12 weeks or it will fall of the bottom of the page.

[sytemaker]

Hi Sytemaker. Just about two weeks ago. I have a links page and am working on getting more on there. Anything else I could do?

Sandra

Wait and work on it for another 6 months or so. You won't have much SE success until then I'm afraid. I usually tell my clients to expect nothing from a brand new site for between 6 - 12 months.

Patience is definitely a virtue in this game.

Good luck.

[Tubby]

If she gets those ads in the classic car pages - google MSN Yahoo will find the dresses she advertises within a few days. those pages will get seen and be found.

[khurramali]

I am only aware of Google Sandbox,

Yahoo and Msn might have similiar filters but they are easier to get into,

Try PayPerClick programs of Adwords and Overture to drive relevant traffice in the short term and your SEO efforts will bring results in 6 to 12 months.

[send2paul]

Hi Sandra :)

I like the colour and feel of your website,(Lots of lovely CSS - I like :)), but here'a few design/SEO observations you may want to consider:

1. The banner image is 782 pixels wide - which causes a scroll bat to appear across the bottom of a browser for a person, like myself, (and about a third of the viewing population), who are browsing in 800 X 600 resolution. I suggest redesigning the banner to around 740 pixels to stop this happening.

2. You need to put a link to your homepage on the banner - and that be on every page. (You know the kind of thing where people expect to mouse over the banner and find a quick link back to the website's homepage as opposed to site navigation, back buttons etc?)

3. IMHO - lose the picture of the lady with the drink off the homepage, and perhaps the Topsite banner link as well, (move to a link page?) For me they sort of cheapen or degrade what starts off as a good looking webpage - but as you scroll down you think, (or I did?): "Who's the bird the drink - and why is she there?" ;)

4. Content and copy - You need to sharen up on the content of the first page. I see you have a splattering of <h1> - <h4> tags around the page. And some of those tags appear to be around keywords and phrases - but some of it doesn't scan as properly constructed English sentences. Try to make flowing text, with keywords in it. If it looks spammy - then when it gets to whether somebody will click on your website, or somebody elses when they are reviwing their Search Engine Results PageS, (SERPS), in Google, Yahoo etc - there's a good chance they'll click on someone else's website link.

5. Look to see what your competitor's are doing. Yup - it's called plagurism if you steal anything LOL. But seriously, you can get some good ideas for content, design , SEO etc from websites that are above you in search engine rankings.

And as sytemaker said before - changes in SEO on your wbesite may take months before you see any results - so patience, as they say, is also a virtue in this game :)

I hope all this waffle helps :)