I hope and think that the site is looking g.......

[cannon_fodder]

Looks much better.  Next step:  non-white background.  Make it a neutral light gray or something, maybe a hint of blue.  Consider running a theme.  White backgrounds are so 1995 [] (annoying picture bg are 1997).

[inteller]

So who does he send the design bill to, "Tulsanow Precision Internet Marketing"?[}:)]

[cannon_fodder]

Oh no Inteller, you have the paradigm all wrong.  We get to CHARGE him for our services.  We're consultants.  

[Im calling you out]

Ok, So what do you think about the green and tan?   Also, is this to much information on the front?  Should I only have the "featured products" section or is the "Reasons to shop with us" a great idea?  I want it to be simple!!

[tonydbaker]

Dear I'm Calling You Out

Normally I charge for consulting services.  However, I have recently been the focus of a flamer's attack on this forum and I am willing to offer you my opinion, expertise and an idea so that people have a true understanding of what it is that I have to offer.

My feedback here is not meant to be comprehensive but simply a quick sample.

First let me say that I can definitely see that you have put a great deal of energy, consideration and thought behind your web site and business endeavor.  I applaud people for become entrepreneurs.  It takes at great amount of ingenuity and fearlessness.  The more you invest into your business the greater the risk.  And likewise sometimes the best investment isn't money, but rather your time.

The first thing I would do is to find someone to create a professional logo for your business.  If you ask for a print quality logo (at least 300dpi) then you can easily have it available for business cards, embroidered shirts, hats, bags, and other opportunities to make a great first impression to your potential clients.  Likewise it can easily be scaled for use with your web site.   As with any creative service you will find people charging from $5 to $5,000 and up.

This cost really depends on who you choose to create the logo for you.  The artist may be a fifteen year old living in Bixby or a famous image consultant living in L.A.  Your choices are limited by what you are willing to spend.   Occasionally someone who charges less can actually create something that is worth much more than you pay for it.  Typically you get what you pay for.  Experience is rarely cheap.

One of my personal pet peeves is "Welcome to..." images and ad copy.  The web has been around long enough for everybody to know they are most likely welcome to enter your site.  You would lock them out or explain if otherwise.  However, I would not leave a site simply because I was welcomed.  It's just something I notice on home-made sites quite often.

My primary concern is that you need to answer WIIFM (What's in it for me?) for the visitor in ten seconds or less.  A headline is a great way to get started, whether it is within a primary image or text.

Your title tag does a better job of describing who you are and what you are about than your "Reasons to shop with us..." ad copy does.  Your headline should mention something such as "Tulsa and Jenks Delivery."  You might come up with something a little more snazzy than that, but at least mention what you do.  Also note that doing so in a headline tag is typically a good search engine optimization technique.

Obviously after you answer "What's in it for me?" I need you to answer "Can you help me?"

I have a good understanding that you deliver just about anything that I may want.  My next concern would likely be the delivery area.  A visual aid such as a map highlighting your delivery area would be interesting.  Likewise you could simply state that you deliver to Jenks and in Tulsa from Riverside to Garnet and from 111th street south to 21st Street south, if that is the case.

Answer this on your primary sales page, which is likely your home page.  Is it quicker and easier to do this myself or should I hire you?  What are typical fees?  I know that fees may vary, especially during ice, rain, and snow, and likewise during the day versus nights and weekends.  This could be answered in a F.A.Q.  A small chart or description of typical fees or tip percentage and minimum orders might be reasonable.  Likewise a typical response time would be interesting.

I would put an order (contact) form right there on the home page.  Just below your introduction, map and rates.  The order form would be simple.  I would require name, email, and a physical mailing address.  

Keep it simple.  It's feasible that someone could come up with all kinds of fields such as expected delivery time, date, etc.  Well maybe this is a good idea, but try to limit the fields.  The fewer fields you have, the more likely someone will fill it out.  Definitely allow a comment box so that people can explain exactly what they are looking for.

Make sure the submit button is prominent.

I just realized that some of your products are available through a shopping cart.  I guess it's getting late.  In this case let them choose with some quick links to areas/categories/stores they can order from through you and then give them an option to use the form otherwise.

I would not use a standard "mailto" tag under any circumstances.  I have clients who have required it and then they wonder where all the spam is coming from.  The mailto tag is easily picked up by spiders that are designed to grab your email for unsolicited email list.

The next thing that concerns me is that it seems you have interwoven sites that you are fond of, possibly trading links with, and sites that your have joined an affiliate program with, and likewise businesses that you will buy from and deliver for your clients.  I would definitely separate these out.  

As it stands the side navigation is more like a personal page than it is a business. If you didn't tell me in your title tag what you were about, it is possible that I could confuse your site with a links site, with everything from links to real estate services to mail-order steaks.  You have Gleam, Available.com, Tulsa Real Estate, all on your most valuable property.  It's confusing to know who I can order from through you, and who you are simply linking to with an affiliate program or otherwise.  IE:  Sharper Image takes me away from your site.  At the very least, open it in a new window.

However, some of your pages are just great.  I love the concept.  For instance, I think showing a slide video and the types and prices of Krispy Kreme doughnuts is simply brilliant.  You might want to include "hours available for delivery" for specific businesses, especially if they open early and close early.  I'm actually getting hungry writing this.  I haven't stopped for dinner yet and I'm already thinking about a high-calorie breakfast.  Can you take an order now where I can expect delivery at 9:30 am tomorrow?

You should see if you can take some of your testimonials from your Myspace page and seed them throughout your site.  Especially on any page that request an action.

I have noticed that you are already making changes.  Much of the content on "How to begin" should definitely be on the home page.   Likewise, I would move things such as "privacy policy" and "site map" to the bottom of your site and replace it with a prominent phone number, since you are also taking orders by phone.

This is all I have time for tonight.  As you can see, my main concern is web site strategy.  What will it take to create leads and sales?  Other than your need for a professionally designed logo and a couple of graphs, we haven't even discussed the actual web site graphic design.  Sometimes "ugly, cheap, amateur" sites sell better simply because they have a great strategy.

You definitely have a great idea with a huge potential group of clients.  You could even create ad copy specifically designed to cater to people groups who could benefit from your services.  

IE:  Single or working parents who tend to eat out more simply because they are too tired and do not feel they have time or energy to fight the store crowds.  

Likewise, people who want to eat healthier but tend to find that by the time they stop working, that there's nothing available to be easily cooked at home and nothing available at the hour but fast food.

You could even have articles and press releases written about how your service is designed to help people achieve healthy lifestyles even though they have busy schedules.  The Krispy Kreme store may come up as questionable in this case, but there are many varieties of other target markets as well.  

You can write articles and send out local press releases in regards to helping small companies/groups with regular deliveries to encourage business meetings and how this helps boost moral, attendance, and more in small companies/groups.

I tell people all the time.  To think like an entrepreneur you must think like the people you serve.  What are their needs, concerns, issues, and how can you best be of service to them?

Don't be the dreamer that just throws up a site for the sake of having a site.  "Build it and they will come" does not always work.  Be an entrepreneur who discovers how to meet the needs of others and you will be successful.

Tony

[Im calling you out]

THANK YOU EVERYONE!!!!!!!!!!!!