FSB sites
When you buy something nowadays the packaging of the product will usually include two things, firstly a description of what the product is and secondly directions for its use. The FSB script is no different, so let’s have a look at some of the issues that have attracted the negative comments on this thread.
First, for those who are complaining about the rate of commission paid by Amazon there is no sympathy. The rates are clearly laid down and if you didn’t know them before you set off on your FSB venture, then you should have. If the income from your site(s) is not high enough for you, it is because you are not selling enough products, for whatever reason.
As with many of the websites we all put together the most basic aim will be to tempt customers to buy a product or service from the site, and again FSB is no different. As some of you will know I am no technical whizz, so cannot comment on the finer points of how the FSB script is put together, but this gives me an advantage as I can consider things without my opinion being clouded by the technical bits, allowing me to look at things at the most basic level.
So, are FSB sites customer friendly, do they look welcoming to Mr Average? Whilst others may disagree, I believe that they do and for example the Stalfoshop template presents a polished, clean look, subject to intelligent use of its features by the web designer. Does your home page have the right balance of content and products, both in quantity and them being in the right place, above or below the fold? Too many words before the products will turn people off, too few is just as bad. Do you need both Best Sellers and Special Offers on the home page – did you know that you can change the number showing of each, including to zero? etc etc
Ask yourself about the selection of your niche, and consider;
• Is it a product that customers would buy from Amazon? Some people just research online and buy local in person. Others have a unique market they will always use.
• Typically your niche should be a small area that does not have much competition. Is your chosen niche too wide and general? If it is, then you are going to need many categories with many products and sufficient content to go with it, and from what I see I do not believe FSB is intended or best suited to that.
• Does your niche already have the same domain name but in a different extension, that has already nailed the market? There’s no point in putting out PinkPyjamas.org.uk if there is already a large and successful site on PinkPyjamas.co.uk is there?
What about your site?
• Do you have enough quality content – I know I have never got enough on mine!
• Is the balance of products v content about right? There’s no point in having 1000 products with two 500 words articles as it appears that our friends at Google don’t like that!
• Have you left your category on auto-populate and not checked the products on your site? Will a customer buy from your site if they see the ‘Dummies Guide to the Internet’ in with some Cookie Recipe books, as the search had picked up the word cookie in the description (silly example, but you get my drift I’m sure)
Nothing that I have said is an exact science, and involves only basic sales and marketing principles, together with a working knowledge of FSB. The point is, most of them are covered on the FSB website as the directions for use I referred to earlier. So drawing on the old cliché ‘a bad workman always blames his tools’ ask yourself whether you went through the description of what you were buying into in sufficient detail, and whether you followed the directions of use? Do you consider having half a dozen sites as giving FSB a fair chance? I'm sure Carey would be the first to say that it's not perfect and his team are looking for ways to improve it.
There’s always two sides to the coin and so before you slate FSB, ask yourself if you have made mistakes yourself, I know I have made plenty … but I’m not blaming my tools!
Good luck to all,
Chris
