Startup Database business

[josha]

Hello all,

I'm just starting a business designing, converting and implementing databases for small companies and would really appreciate any feedback on my website.

www.assuredata.co.uk

I'm not a web/graphic designer and the site is a very quick 'mash-up' but I figure I should try and get feedback as soon as possible.

Any feedback is very much appreciated!

Josh

PS - It's currently hosted under my desk but will be finding a better home in the near future!

[fisicx]

Hi Josh,

The following comments although negative are not critisims, just observations that you might like to consider:

1. I have no idea what your main navigation means. I'm Mr Potential Client, I want to know if you can build me a DB for my company. Technologies, Products and Types mean nothing to me.

2. How do I get in contact? Where's your address, email, name? Who are you? What are your qualifications?

3. Search doesn't work. I searched for 'autobind' at got no results. Remove from the site - its pretty pointless since you only have a few pages.

4. Don't use Jargon. As a potential client I don't even know what a DB is so telling me you use Ruby on Rail is of no help. Leave all the jargon in a 'glossary' page. This might get you some traffic but is not essential to the main purpose of the site.

5. Where are the demos? I want to see your work. And the website is not an example of your work. The fact that it is DB driven is of no interest to the potential client.

6. What is the homepage image for? It's all about YOUR process not MY problem.

7. Fix the site. 10 external files on each page, you only need 1. DB generated page titles won't help you get ranked in the SE index. The site fails validation.

8. The site is very light on copy. There is no reason to employ your services. You have some casestudies (sic) that have almost no detail unlike this one which is excellent. Give me some fizz, wow me with your talents, make me dribble in anticipation. OK so maybe not the last but I hope you get the idea.

As an experiment in a DB generated site it's OK but as a vehicle to showcase your talents it fails. Sorry 'bout that.

Graham

[josha]

Hi Graham,

Thank you for being so honest! This highlights one of the main problems (in my opinion) of working on your own in that you often can't get a good objective appraisal of your work, friends and relatives will all tell you 'It's great!', 'Love it!' but that's not really what you need to be told.

This is valuable, productive feedback and I appreciate it.

Right...back to it!

Many thanks,

Josh.

[fisicx]

Not a problem.

But before you dive into the code stop for a while and think about the aim of the site. What do you want ot acheive? Who are your potential clients? How are you going to convince them to a) visit the site and b) avail themselves of your services.

There is more and more discussion now about keeping people on the site rather than getting them to the site. You need to think a lot more about your page titles, descriptions, headers, navigation and actual copy. Take a look at copyblogger.com for inspiration.

[OldWelshGuy]

The site needs to sell, you provide solutions, so logically (as stated above) you need to think what sort of problems people are going to be coming to your site with. You need to think about answering their questions.

[josha]

Hi all,

I've been beavering away and come up with a few improvements (I hope).

I still need to add content to the following areas - under 'service help' the three drop downs for customers with databases link to empty pages, this is on its way. The 'Web / Network database redesign' needs features adding, again - on its way.

I'm not entirely sure about the whole 'features' thing, it might be a bit techy - any thoughts?

Also, there is a mix of 'drop-down' info links and 'carded' links - I'll standardise on one or the other.

Again, really appreciate your input (OldWelshGuy - seeing it from a customers perspective is a great tip btw)

[josha]

ah - forgot to mention, I also have a whole new section to go up, this will cover the pricing structure and include details of the design / implementation process.

Cheers

Josh.

[dependx]

Thanks for sharing, but I am a big fan of simplicity. I would not like your site to go past the basics and I believe those issues are given above here.

I'd like to see your contact information and what your speciality is -- broadcast it like it was a brochure.

You have a good opportunity to create a wonderful site, don't stop!

[ivertise]

Hi Josh.

A website is a channel of communication, just like brochures and other marketing materials, except that it is interactive by nature. Perhaps it would help if you decide first on the message that you would like to get across. What makes your data service different? What is your unique selling proposition? What client concerns would you think your company can easily address to? Then you can move to how to package yourself. Perhaps create a little slogan to represent the promise your company can live by. By then, when you have clearly defined your marketing strategies, creating the visual communication in helping you get across the message should be a breeze. It will be very clear to you on what you want and what works for your business. This will also apply to your requirements in building your website. And know what elements or module will help strengthen your brand. If you can put in one sentence why your audience would need your service and not your competitors, you are halfway there. I like the simplicity and honesty of your site tho. Perhaps a lot of your good character is showing here which may be a very good starting point. Hope that was helpful.

[fisicx]

It's still all about you. There is nothing on the home page for the customer. Do what OWG says and put yourself in the customer's shoes. They don't care that you build databases, they just want a solution to their problem. So write some 'what if' stories and put them on the homepage. Don't mention Databases or any technologies you use anywhere on the homepage.