Input for a web site

[Big Dave]

Remove the google ads. You won't make any money from them and they're hideous.

I like them on an entertainment site. You get the occasional interesting item.
Mine buy a cheap round of drinks per month.

Selling someone elses product on your commercial enterprise seems a bit weird.

[Winter]

another vote here for
No music,
no flash.

[EnzoYug]

Make sure you can order bikes / equipment by both type, style, genre etc...

AND by brand. Nothing worse than digging through twenty pages of 'sports bikes' just to find the website doesn't have a single Suzuki listed etc...

Also lots of hi-res photos. I believe that having shiploads of big photos is the best way to go, after all we want to see it. Nothing will give a biker what he want's except having the bike in front of him, second best is showing him the bike.

As for details - as full a description as possible. As much info as possible. Less than 1% of enquires / interested peoples will actually email for more info - IMHO.

[Romeo]

I majored in E-commerce apparently, but all I'll say is keep it simple, clean and professional. The more expensive the kit you're selling, the more documentation, pictures and physical presence you'll need.

You have to give people ALL the information they need so they can compare your products to someone elses. This includes your own company, paint a pretty picture for them.

People are reluctant to buy online if there's no evidence of accessible post-purchase support. Stress the return policy stuff, even if it's self evident based on the consumer guarantees act. Get a store, even if it's your garage, listing a physical address will add peace of mind = more sales.

I honestly believe that QuasiMoto's done extremely well with the above facets. Though I think his gear speaks for itself in many cases - viral marketing ftw!

[pritch]

Out here in the rural rump broadband is a bit dodgy so I'm still on dial-up.

If I have to wait for Flash to do its thing before I can access the site, I'll go somewhere else.

[TerminalAddict]

Remove the google ads. You won't make any money from them and they're hideous.

I make $140 every 3 months on my google ads

[clint640]

The days of keeping things small for dial up users is just about over I think, so be bold with your suggestions or ideas.

So you really want to tell near 50% of potential customers to bugger off then?

Whizzy bits are all good but keep them strictly optional, Have a simple list of the bikes on the floor available within 1 click, then the ability to go from that to a bunch of hi res pics & even video. Trev Cowcocky down in Waikikamukau isn't going to be driving past your front window every day, & he can't get broadband, but he does have a big wad of cash to spend on a bike, why make it hard for him?

I'd certainly buy consumables, parts & accessories off the web, not so much clothing or bikes, I like to try them on. The Munn racing site is pretty good example of an easy to use parts setup, being able to pick stuff out of a virtual parts book like that is the ultimate I reckon.

Cheers
Clint

[TerminalAddict]

So you really want to tell near 50% of potential customers to bugger off then?

90% of statistics number are made up

[The Pastor]

You want to make it super easy to see whats in store. If the store has it, it should be on the website. Every little thing. and weather its in stock or not.

Kiss it

Keep it simple stupid or (as I prefer) keep it stupididly simple.

No flash. No music, no video. Visitors want to buy bike/bike stuff not look at some flash crap.

[Tank]

...you wizz on the web huh? Would love to hear some feedback on mine (very very early stages!) be gentle!! LINK

Umm last time I saw your bike it looked a little more banged up than whats on the link - you sure thats your bike?

[clint640]

90% of statistics number are made up

Maybe so, but not by me

Statistics NZ's latest freely available ISP survey indicates that 51% of NZ internet connections are on Dialup. That info is near a year old now & no doubt broadband use has increased, but there's still a lot of people on dialup.

Cheers
Clint

[RantyDave]

I make $140 every 3 months on my google ads

Wow, really? Well done man, the first time I've heard of anyone other than google making a penny on those damn things.

Dave

[TerminalAddict]

half a million hits a month = $46 NZD per month

costs me much more than it pays me

[pzkpfw]

90% of statistics number are made up

I have whizzy broadband and I still piss off from sites that are "too big".

Flash, and flash graphics waste my time - regardless of my download speed.

So that's 100% of me that wouldn't visit a site twice, if it had too much glitz.