WAHM chatall the ins and outs of being a Work At Home Mom, how to get popcorn out of your keyboard/printer, and when not to send that invoice with the scribble.
I just checked out your website. A few things that jumped out at me right away...
1. If I didn't know you, I wouldn't know that you sell AIOs! I'm not sure why you have the categories (on the left side) listed in that order. It goes "Home", "postcards", "view cart", "for mom" then accessories, and so on. If the majority of your business is AIOs (or if you want the majority of your sales to be AIOs), then make that page accessible right away! Put the link to it at the top, instead of the postcards and other stuff.
2. Nobody is saying that poor grammar or typos means your diapers are terrible. But when you have an online business, then the only way a potential client can get to know you is through the look and feel of your site. All those "little" things (spelling, grammar, colour choices, photos, content, etc.) become VERY important. Take the extra time. Attention to detail in your words and online "appearance" are much like proper attire for a job interview. You may be the best person for the job, but first impressions have a lasting effect and you may never be given the chance to prove that your product is better than the competitions'.
3. I agree, make those testimonials stand out!!! You've got great feedback, let it be known.
Originally posted by snugglebug No offense mamas. I have heard that before. I type very fast and frankly don't take the time to go back and check. I do have a link in my siggy to my store and my store was proff read by someone else,lol. Maybe I need to go back and check it,lol. I'm not new I have been doing this for about year and a half. I do post details of the diapers in every post and I do have pictures along with them. I'm just wondering if maybe I need to switch to more hemp type fabrics or if someone is bashing me behind my back. I allways ask for feedback with almost every sale and sometimes get it don't know if thats the case. Maybe I need more feedback. I could do testers again but not for 5ppd for I think half the people who bought them where just out for cheap diapers for they never left feedback. Ooh well of to look at the store again. Could someone tell me why would gramer turn you off? My gramer does not reflex who I am or what my diapers look like im just a bad speller not a bad sewer and I like to type fast. Angie
Bad spelling in your posts wouldn't turn me on, but spelling errors on the website will........it just isn't professional. Your website is cute, and your diapers look great, your prices are excellent! However, I find the descriptions confusing and not quite telling me what I want to know. Also, I like fleece covers or wool; I don't like PUL.
Good luck mama!
Kristi
__________________ “The real leader has no need to lead he is content to point the way” ~Henry Miller
I also didn't notice the diapers and AIO's; you really need to change the button to say "Diapers". I would actually chage your buttons and catagories to something along the lines of:
I would get rid of the postcard and guestbook, imo it just looks unprofessional. Doesn't really benefit the site at all. Add more pics, and fix some of the typos and text. Put a pic of some diapers or a baby wearing the diaper on the main page, take off some of the text. You are totally missing puncuation on your main page:
Quote:
Welcome to our instock and custom order store. We hope you find what you are looking for. We carry a wide variety of cloth diapers, diaper covers, cloth wipes, burp rags, swim diapers and more. We have side snapping diapers and covers, blankets and soaps now. I will be offering personal things, breast pads and wet bags in June. I look forward to meeting your diapering needs and as allways feel free to e-mail me with any questions you may have. Custom orders are allways welcome. Color sherpa fitted diapers coming in May. I am currently adding new fabrics and items so bare with me during this brief period. Here is what some of our customers have to say.
My son just loves the Army diaper that I bought from you. I have sent in a order for four more. Best Ever Thanks, Sue.
Should look more like this:
Welcome to SnuggleBugs instock and custom order store. We hope you find what you are looking for. We carry a wide variety of cloth diapers and covers, cloth wipes, burp rags, swim diapers and more. We also carry handmade blankets and soaps!
Here is what some of our customers have to say: "My son just loves the Army diaper that I bought from you. I have sent in a order for four more." Best Ever Thanks, Sue
Future Arrivals:
Color sherpa fitted diapers will be available in May!
Breast pads, wet bags and more coming in June!
I look forward to meeting your diapering needs and as always, feel free to e-mail me with any questions you may have. Custom orders are allways welcome.
Thank You,
Angie Potter
Last edited by grisandole : 05-19-2004 at 04:04 AM.
Location: baking a happiness cake with the ingredients I already have...
Posts: 3,444
I am the queen of typos lately, because I've got a squirmy nursling trying to grab the keyboard, my hair, and anything else he can. However, for me, it's not so much about the typos in posts (although typos on sites do bother me.) It is the grammatical errors that will make me just pass right over reading the post, and if I don't read the post, I don't know what you are selling.
Perhaps it's because I'm married to a (former) English major, and I am an avid reader, but grammar is one of my major *things* that I wish people would pay more attention to. I know it probably makes me sound like an elitist snob, but when I read posts with terrible grammar, incorrect use of words, and poor sentence structure, I tend to think that the poster is sloppy. And if I think you are sloppy, I'm not going to buy diapers from you, because good diapers take meticulous attention to detail.
So, for me, poor grammar equals poor attention to detail, which means I'm not going to buy from you.
__________________
Theresa, Mama to AJ, Ethan, Greg + Rusty Little Turtle Knits
Last edited by littleturtle : 05-19-2004 at 10:15 AM.
I think you are getting some great feedback. The text on your main page is all run together. When I read it, my eyes blur over and I just give up. The buttons on the left should be changed too, it took me a while to find the diapers. I didn't see diaper covers at all? I also think a cute picture of your diapers or a baby wearing one would be cute on the front page. The grammar and spelling is important to me for all the reasons mentioned. I like to know that the person behind the products I'm buying is a perfectionist
Also, I'd love to try one of your diapers, did you still want to trade one for the old navy dresses? I've still got them, let me know!
__________________
Shannon- mama to JJ, Janae and Peyton
My first impression on your site
(and mind you, some of this is the web designer in me speaking, lol so take my pickiness with a grain of salt)is that:
The green is REALLY bright on my monitor-- I would do something more like
The combination of the green and the clarge colorful buttons is a bit overwhelming.
There are too many categories in some ways, and not enough in others. I would get rid of the postcard link, move the returns policy link down into the category of links below(with contact us, etc). I believe there is a way to make your shopping cart floating with wahmall-- i would do that I would change custon to diapers and maybe even hyphenate it with aio's. Instead of having fabric below it, i would have covers below it, and then fabric below that.
Having to click on the extra category in fabrics is annoying as heck. You want to minimize the number of clicks someone is going to have to get through to navigate your site. Unless someone wants one of your dipes really badly, they are not going to want to go through a lot of screens to order. Since you really dont have that many fabrics, I would consider consolidating them on one page, and noting below them what type of fabric they are-- that way someone can tell in a glance if they like any of your fabrics or not, instead of having to go through 10 pages of fabric (well 5 categories, plus the extra click you have to get through to get to the fabric page, so really 10 clicks). Also, you don't have the name of the fabric below each pic, so it makes it harder when you are trying to figure out what to order.
Loading time--- someone complained abt loading time, and you said you couldnt fix that, but you can-- your graphics are very simple, you can save them as a smaller file, and speed up the time they upload.
I think you have already gotten some great advice on how to improve your pics More pics, pics of differnt closures, pics of the inners, etc-- all of those would be helpful. I dopn't think the pictures you have are terrible-- on some of the fabric it would be helpful for them to be a bit brighter and clearer. Outside is a great place for pics-- it can make the pictures from even a crappy camera look brighter and crisper.
Ok, gotta go get ready for a LLL meeting-- lmk if i can help Good luck with your biz, and really if you like doing it, don't give it up. You can push it to the next level by advertizing more, if that is what you want to happen. Trade banners with other WAHM's, register at www.dmoz.org, find sites that allow free links-- there are lots of directories for mom and baby products that do. May I also warn you that if you DO decide to start pushing your shop, be prepared for the orders, and be sure that you are ready to take on a greater volume of business. I find that often when WAHM's start to get really popular, they realize how much time it is taking away from their family, and the tradeoff isn't worth it to them, so make sure you are ready for that commitment
Most of all-- good luck and many blessings!
heather
heather
__________________
Heather , mama to Liam, born 12-19-01, and Simon, born 04-17-05 wife to Mark, married 09-23-97
Thanks mamas.
Some of the stuff I can't change on the site due to I paid to have it done that way. I didn't do the grafics I just paid to have them done. I can't control alot of the things some people are saying to change,lol.
I can't put a baby picture on the front for it was to big and took up the whole screen no matter how small I did it and I like the front page but it does need to get worded differently.I will take the postcard off but I don't like the floating cart for it was in the way when ordering alot of people complained about it.
I also have the diapers set up they way they are for people complained about that also. I like the way it is actually.
I can't change the fabric buttons the site makes it that way not me,lol.
I do have more boy prints just havn't posted alot of my fabrics but will be this week. I guess I could name the fabrics but never seen that done before. I could take the time and do it.
Sorry about the run of words. Funny thing is I was in advance English all in High school and I was taught that way, gee she must have been so wrong,lol. I will go change it I like to type and talk,lol. Ok need to go now for im doing spell check and diapers today so im very busy,lol. Jess is sleeping so I have time,yeahhhhh. Thanks guys.angie
Hey Angie - pm or email me, k? I can shrink the graphics for you (file size, not the "size", kwim? so they load quicker). They'll look nearly the same unless someone knows they're shrunk. I can help you resize a pic for your main page, too, if you need one resized.
Angie! don't get discouraged.... I know we've all just put a TON of work in front of you and it's so easy to feel overwhemed - but don't! Everything everyone pointed out can be done - but do it/learn it/think about it one piece at a time. Maybe devote May to rewriting descriptions and breaking up paragraghs , June to repairing spelling & grammer, etc... Babysteps will take you the full mile. Plus I bet you could pm most of us and ask for bits of help - ex. 'cathy, could you please look at spelling/sentence structure on 1 page?'
When I first set up my site I had categories that divided into subcategories. I noticed a jump in sales when I did away with that and only had categories...no subcategories.
I think it's just easier for people to shop when they can see a category that are clear and definitive.
For example, by looking at your main page I have no idea what "for mom" or "accessories" means. I actually assumed "for mom" was mama pads and was surprised to see soap. And the only diapering category that is obvious is covers.
Even if you end up with twice as many categories it will be much easier to shop.
And I have to agree that grammar/spelling is important. Even the best proofreader will occasionally miss something. I often see mistakes on my site the next day (I usually load new stuff in the middle of the night when I'm less alert). Taking the time to proofread carefully says, "My business is important to me!".
I am, admittedly, a grammar freak. I'd be happy to get really nit picky if that would help. Just let me know.
__________________
~Dannielle
Momma to Isabelle (8/95) and Mason (1/01)
Im going nustso. I can't find spell check,lol. To much to do and I want it all done today,lol. Wrote what the fabrics where now im trying to do spelling and such,urggg. Does anyone else have trouble with it loading slow. I don't so im wondering and I have horriable internet,lol. I think I will have my friend bring her baby over to do a baby shot for the front page,lol. I can do a todller one with Jessica. I need to take a break im getting really mad,lol. I like all the ideas but I think I will stick with how I have it but change a few things and for sure the spelling and such. The post card thing will go to bad I paid for it.
Pictures will be done next week.
Spelling today and some sewing done also.
Thanks mama's I think I have had all I can handle right now,lol.
Angie Potter
Your site keeps looking better all the time! Diaper making is a tough business! It does take a while to get established and even then, it's just very time consuming.
Customer service will make or break you...always do your best to send out in a timely manner, email responses quickly, etc...(even I have been lagging in these departments lately).
I also find that most of my customers prefer unusual, hard to find woven prints and knits. Most of my customers prefer knit prints in general.
Most of my customers also prefer hemp fabrics, but there are some who prefer just cotton, so I wouldn't limit yourself to just hemp. BTW...I will be buying a roll of hemp fleece soon if you want to buy any (I'm the other diaper maker in Fresno if you remember meeting me at the baby fest) just let me know :0)
In the diaper biz...I really find that word of mouth is really what helps you with sales. I did advertise when I first bought my business...I think I did maybe a year's worth of advertising. Really though, the advertising did nothing for me and it was the nice words of a fellow amity mama that started the ball rolling for me. I have not done any advertising in about two years and it hasn't hurt my business any.
If you quickly want a picture of a baby in one of your dipes, let me know. Lucas is 8 months and I can get a picture as soon as he wakes up if you need/want it.
Christy
__________________
My Website ... Blog
Mama to Shelby, Wyatt, Cassie, Lucas & Logan
Yes I pmed you about the picture thanks a bunch~
I would love to buy some Hemp from you when you get it.
Im taken pictures of my fabric and I didn't notice I had some much flannel it's unreal,lol.
I will be doing a fitted diaper sale I guess soon
My camera program is being a butthead so I need to go fix it. I will be online if anyone wants to instant me on yahoo? samsmom26. Angie
I'm a very poor speller. I never did well at grammar either, and I know these are weak points with me. I struggled with it as a teacher and I know that I will lose customers if I don't look and sound professional.
This is what I do:
*I re-read every post I write in my head, to make sure it makes sense. I re-read it again once I've posted to make sure it sounds correct.
*I know my tricky words and have downloaded a toolbar from the M-W dictionary site (http://m-w.com/toolbar/). I can quickly double check spellings.
*When writing things for my websites, I first write it into a word editor like MSWord, and it will point out spelling and grammar errors.
Yep, mistakes still get through but I have tried--and you don't have to type slower, just edit when you are done and proofread a tad more.
We might not like that you are judged by your spelling etc. but it's the only thing a lot of people have to go on. So make it as good as you can, put your best foot forward and you'll find things get easier as time goes by.
__________________
~Meg~ teacher, podcaster, but mostly sahm to my trio of little women (4, 6, 17)wife to Mr Big and dog-ma to Indy the crazy miniature golden retriever
I would change custon to diapers and maybe even hyphenate it with aio's. Instead of having fabric below it, i would have covers below it, and then fabric below that. 
.
Linear Mode
