Wanted: Website Review Please review my first online shop

[alex]

I have finally launched griptape.co.uk, an eCommerce site selling skateboard Griptape.

I would like to thank Alex (Monaghan) for catching the domain and helping me when I was stuck, Ash (Ashton) for sorting the graphics and Craig (StudioVision) for helping integrate with PayPal.

There is still a long way to go, but everything should work and I have a good range of products. Once complete I’ll be moving onto my other skate related domains which include skate.co.uk and skateparks.co.uk. This has been a dream since my early teens and I’m finally moving away from eBay and onto my own sites. As of tomorrow my Ltd company will take on the assets and future business they generate.

If anyone has constructive criticism it’s always welcome, but I stress there is still a way to go before I’ll be completely happy with it. With the exception of the above, the site has been built from scratch by myself. I hope once complete this will be a good example of a physical business resulting from the catch of a domain.

 

[orchardapple]

looks good to me, personal thought itwould look better with a few more products on the homepage.

What ecommerce does it run on????

 

[alex]

looks good to me, personal thought itwould look better with a few more products on the homepage.

What ecommerce does it run on????

Thank you - my thoughts are the same, I will be getting more on there with a bit more thought given to the layout of the home page. I'm also witing for graphics and ads from the brands to display and rotate etc.

The site runs on my own scripts, completely built from scratch. I tried to integrate so many out of the box solutions, but I could never get it how I wanted it. This way it does exactly what I want and can integrate with the other sites I'm working on, although I know the code needs cleaning up.

 

[Ashton]

Well done mate, I am not going to comment on my own work The site content is great, id buy from it!

Only thing I dislike is the yellow buy buttons and the shopping cart, they don't match the design

Edit: Oh your home link still links to alexjordan!

 

[alex]

Well done mate, I am not going to comment on my own work The site content is great, id buy from it!

Only thing I dislike is the yellow buy buttons and the shopping cart, they don't match the design

Edit: Oh your home link still links to alexjordan!

Well spotted and now fixed, thanks for that. Just so everyone knows the good graphics were done by Ash and the rest by me

Agreed, I need to get the buttons sorted and change the colour of the basket. I needed the site to be working, which I think it is now, so I'm now going to be working on that.

 

[monaghan]

The site runs on my own scripts, completely built from scratch. I tried to integrate so many out of the box solutions, but I could never get it how I wanted it. This way it does exactly what I want and can integrate with the other sites I'm working on, although I know the code needs cleaning up.

I've found this, I want to do so many things that are outside the capabilities of off the shelf scripts. I tend to use Drupal now and code up a custom module when needed.

Site looks good, hopefully it will get plenty of customers.

 

[Rob_F]

You've got an error in this link...

http://www.alexjordan.co.uk/griptape.contact.php

On this page...

http://www.griptape.co.uk/about.php

- Rob

 

[wb]

These points are all in my opinion, others may agree or disagree:

1. Logo could do with standing out more

2. Basket total and contact information in the header could be moved further right so it's inline with the position of the menu bar

3. Not a fan of the font used on the email address and telephone number - just doesn't look quite right

4. Perhaps centre the footer copyright text

 

[Ashton]

These points are all in my opinion, others may agree or disagree:

1. Logo could do with standing out more

2. Basket total and contact information in the header could be moved further right so it's inline with the position of the menu bar

3. Not a fan of the font used on the email address and telephone number - just doesn't look quite right

4. Perhaps centre the footer copyright text

1. Potentially, but its good to replicate on print etc how it is. Any suggestions?

2. Was to the right in design, but the design was a bit thinner I think, so thats just a few lines of code adjusted.

3. Not my fault! @Alex, if you need me to write out the number + email to match the rest just ask.

4. If he goes with the footer in the design, then it will make sense (there will be more links and a couple of logo's

 

[alex]

You've got an error in this link...

http://www.alexjordan.co.uk/griptape.contact.php

On this page...

http://www.griptape.co.uk/about.php

- Rob

Cheers Rob, thanks for pointing that out, now sorted.

Thanks for your suggestions WB, the footer isn't quite complete as there are a few graphics and links to add once the relative pages are complete. It should look much better when these are implemented.

I agree with the header contact details. @ Ashton, I tried to download the font, but there was an file error so could you email it to me?

I will have a play with the basket total and see what it is like moved more to the right.

As for the logo - any suggestions anyone?

 

[peacock]

Great site / venture.

I would consider adding some "trust symbols", maybe the paypal logo.

You have the logo on the site twice. In the right hand banner area, I would add a "free delivery" or other promotional message / call to action.

Best of luck.

 

[alex]

Great site / venture.

I would consider adding some "trust symbols", maybe the paypal logo.

You have the logo on the site twice. In the right hand banner area, I would add a "free delivery" or other promotional message / call to action.

Best of luck.

Thank you very much. I like the idea about replacing the second logo on the hope page with the free delivery info etc and I'll get working on that a bit later.

As for the trust symbols does anyone have any examples? I know what they are, but do I have to sign up to use them? Which are considered the best?

 

[j13]

think this is what you mean, Ive definitely seen these three before:

http://www.verisign.co.uk/ssl/ssl-information-center/index.html

http://www.comodo.com/business-security/digital-certificates/ev-ssl.php

http://www.thawte.com/products/index.html?sl=t89260283370000007&gclid=COGO6eOnt6QCFZL92AodAmdczw


edit: bit cheaper here
http://www.instantssl.com/

 

[sowhatever]

I dont think you are using an ssl certificate..
also if you have an option as continue shopping this can help with sales
The total does not change when you add the shipping,i assume it will change when you go to paypal..would be nice if it can update on the same shopping page

 

[alex]

I dont think you are using an ssl certificate..
also if you have an option as continue shopping this can help with sales
The total does not change when you add the shipping,i assume it will change when you go to paypal..would be nice if it can update on the same shopping page

Thanks for the comments. Just a few points and things I hoped you could clarify? There is a link in the basket that says 'remove item' and at the bottom of the basket that says 'continue shopping', equally I'm having no issues adding to basket. Please could you let me know what browser you're using etc to see if it a compatiability issue that it's not working for you? Has anyone else had issues like this?

I do have an SSL certificate, but removed it from the site as PayPal use their own certificates which means I don't need my own.

 

[alex]

think this is what you mean, Ive definitely seen these three before:

http://www.verisign.co.uk/ssl/ssl-information-center/index.html

http://www.comodo.com/business-security/digital-certificates/ev-ssl.php

http://www.thawte.com/products/index.html?sl=t89260283370000007&gclid=COGO6eOnt6QCFZL92AodAmdczw


edit: bit cheaper here
http://www.instantssl.com/

Thank you for the links. I already have a certificate, but it's not used because all details are processed by PayPal. I can use the PayPal standard graphics, but they don't emphasise security. Are there any sites that provide credable security graphics based on a site built around PayPal?

EDIT: Sorry, just noticed that you don't have to buy the certificate to use the seal. I'll browse through a few now. Many thanks.

 

[alex]

I have now added the VeriSign trust seal and the PayPal graphics so hopefully it looks trustworthy. It's starting to index in Google and make its way up the rankings.

Are there any more 'official' graphics/seals people can suggest or any advice to get the site indexed well and visited?

 

[orchardapple]

i might be wrong but dont think you can just add trust symbols to your site to make it 'appear' trustworthy, you actually have to use their products

Ignore my ramblings, far to fast out of the block with the comment, i see you do have the symbol and works correctly.

apols

 

[alex]

i might be wrong but dont think you can just add trust symbols to your site to make it 'appear' trustworthy, you actually have to use their products

Sorry, just to clarify I purchased VeriSign's trust symbol (at £200 ) - they will be checking the site for malware hence why the site should be trusted.

 

[alex]

i might be wrong but dont think you can just add trust symbols to your site to make it 'appear' trustworthy, you actually have to use their products

Ignore my ramblings, far to fast out of the block with the comment, i see you do have the symbol and works correctly.

apols

No problem. Thanks for the comment though. I do intend to pay for the necessary services, I just want to know what else is available.