Balloon Chat

Uncategorized Boards => Website "Chat" Help => Topic started by: YvonneH on November 22, 2008, 11:25:27 AM

Title: What would you expect of a website?
Post by: YvonneH on November 22, 2008, 11:25:27 AM
I am in a bad situation with my website.  Through my own stupidity and that of my previous and current webhosts I have lost my old site (which I kinda liked but wanted to change) and am making do with a temporary one I whipped up one afternoon last week.

I make the new one using templates provided by my current webhost but really do not like it and wish to change it asap but am really uninspired as to what to do.

I need a website that equally showcases my face painting but also promotes my balloons as I think my business name (chosen when I was actually afraid of balloons  :roll: ) does not encourage people to click on my site.

I suppose what I am asking is what would you expect to find on a website for someone who does face painting, twisting, temporary tattoos, mini makeovers & blood & gore parties?  Also what are your opinions as to what it should look like bearing in mind that I do wish to attract corporate customers as well as private party bookings?

I have the perfect opportunity to get this right but am unsure as to what I REALLY need rather than superfluous drivel that will put potential clients off.

You can see what I currently have on my site by clicking here (//http://www.thefacefactory.co.uk).

Thanks in advance for your help  :D
Title: Re: What would you expect of a website?
Post by: Fuzzy on November 23, 2008, 11:51:15 AM
Hi Yvonne

Suggestions:

Decide what YOU want you site to do.
Then work backwards as to how you will get the result you want.
Do a survey of you customers.
Have 2 sites one Face painting & Balloons. Keeps your prospect focused.

Big Tip: Get a professional web company to do it for you.

Unless you are brilliant at Web Design, Seo, FTP & all the other stuff that is involved and you have loads of spare time to experiment.

Fuzz
Title: Re: What would you expect of a website?
Post by: YvonneH on November 23, 2008, 12:44:51 PM
I certainly have no intentions of paying someone to do my site for me.  I have enough knowledge of websites and computers to do it myself - not only that I do not wish to have to pay people to update my photos for the face painting as these do really need to be changed more often that even I do at present.  Also I do have a fair amount of time on my hands since I am a stay at home Mum all week.

My question is more from a parents point of view as to what they would expect to find on a website of my nature.  I do intend in the future to have a separate site for my balloons but really need a good and working main site up first since face painting is my primary business and where the majority of my business is at present.

I want to get a site that is not too full of information but has enough for parents to want to call me.  I am contemplating having an area's covered page but suspect people will ignore it in any event as they do at present  :?  I am also looking at removing most of my information - especially my term & Conditions as I send that out with the booking forms.  However, looking at various other sites I am also considering having a downloadable version on a non-linked page so that when a client books they can just download it without the hassle.

Aesthetically speaking would most people find a colourful site preferable to a black site (like I currently have)?  Also what things do people find annoying about other sites - I know I have my list of website peeves but I may have missed some.

Really I am trying to do some research to incorporate not only my vision of what my website should contain and look like but that of others too as I want it to appeal to the widest variety of potential customers as possible.
Title: Re: What would you expect of a website?
Post by: Danny the Idiot on November 23, 2008, 08:58:22 PM
Hi Yvonne,

I can only recommend this book...

The Big Red Fez, by Seth Godin.

How to make any website better - it really helped me. He assumes that most people when on the internet are like Monkeys looking for a banana. They want one objective on each page that is obvious to find. He says make it as easy for the monkeys as possible otherwise they get bored very quickly and go somewhere else.

Buy the book - its great.


Danny   :ugeek: