Please Critisize My Site

Er, before he gets on to the more fun stuff, he should actually fix the basic design-usability errors first.
 
Ozymandias said:
Just thought I should mention it because some menu systems make it hard for search engines. Javascript, being mainly a client-side scripting language, relies on user actions like mouseovers etc. Spiders do not have mice so certain links might not be visible to them. If you find that Google is not indexing all your pages you can add an HTML sitemap link on your home page. You can also try Google sitemaps www.google.com/webmasters/sitemaps/ . You would need a program like CoffeeCup Google Sitemapper to crawl your site and the upload the resulting XML file to your site's root.
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Thanks for the concern. There is also a contribution out there for google sitemap for osCommerce to do what you are saying. I also plan to install that ... this is why I am getting all the criticism now ... to see what must be fixed. I will ask for criticism again when the site is finally done.
 
SYNERGY said:
Er, before he gets on to the more fun stuff, he should actually fix the basic design-usability errors first.
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I have to agree with you there ... but at the same time, I would like to hear what anyone has to say about anything to do with my site at all ... even if it means adding the letters CK before my registration number at the bottom ... anything that anyone thinks might help.
I will tackle the bigger problems first, and then the rest will come later ... but I will always have this forum as a reference.

Speaking of registration numbers though ... do you guys feel more secure 1if I have those details that I currently have at the bottom of my site.

Would you feel more secure if I stuck a sur-e-tail banner on.

And does having a RapidSSL certificate make you feel more secure when entering data ... or am I wasting my money on them ... they are half price of Thawte and are also a Root Certificate accepted in 90% of browsers ... if you click the create an account link, you will enter a secure page.
 
Yep we do. Also, don't over advertise on your security, the rapidssl logo & certificate is fine.
You're not wasting money on the ssl, as people would not buy if your site wasn't secured. The ssl should be implemented from product choice.
Seriously, dump the developers and go for a fresh install & template. Will be faster and cleaner.
Unless the developers are working for free.
 
What do you mean by don't over advertise my security?
What I meant by my question earlier ... is if people will trust RapidSSL ... because it isn't as well know as thawt. I haven't paid for the certificate yet ... still on a trial.
No, developers aren't free ... but they're working for very very cheap ... the thing is I don't want stock osCommerce look ... I want something different and catchy.
 
The other problem with a fresh install is all the contributions I need to reinstall ... and the products and customers ... I have no idea how to move them to a new database. Also, there would be a lot of in depth editing I need to do which I just don't have the time for. The first time I ever programmed in PHP was with this website ... its probablt better and safer for me (and the customer) to leave it to the pros.
 
As long as you have a ssl/certificate it will ease over 80% of the peoples fears.
Okay, but they gonna take a helluva long time. Its easy to move the database. Why don't you instruct the developers to do a fresh install and move over the sql database?
As well as implementing a template and replicating the cosmetic/content changes you have done? (Including the contributions) The developers should do a proper job of it and your website will be infinitely faster and loose many of its problems if you go for a template.
Personally I believe thats the best option.
 
How good is your knowledge of osCommerce .... do you know anything about STS template system, because that is what I am using now.
 
Been experimenting with alot of online retail stores.
Its ridiculously easy to install a template.
You need to obtain the template, and copy the template folder to your server, and choose the template from the admin panel.
You obviously edit the dummy text & default categories 1st before you upload it.
For templates:
Code: 
http://www.templatemonster.com/oscommerce-templates.php
I'm out for the night. Chat tomorrow
 
The thing is I don't want a standard template ... call me fussy but I want to be unique :P ... thats why I use STS template ... you create your own template with tables and stuff then you use keywords to include the content ... for example $specials will include the whole specials box whereever you put it ... if I delete the keyword ... no more specials box.
 
Buy a template that no one has bought yet. The OScommerce ones have very little downloads. Also, you can fine tune the template more- use it as a basis and modify it to suite your needs.
 
I do agree with you somewhat ... but I still don't like the idea of a template ... it would be the same if I was just to go look at template designs and then recreate them if I was to fine tune them anyway :P
 
Another thing I would like people to tell me is What they would like to see on my site by way of features. Or what you want on the site to make it more user friendly. Such as to be able to register for newsletter without registering. But I will start a new thread for this with this as a main topic soon
 
You know what is funny ... I start a forum for people to critisize my website ... because I saw people were critisizing the guy who reviewed me ... but in the section where you are supposed to critisize ... no one told me my pages look like Barney's vomit ... come on guys ... give me your best shots ;)
 
I just wanna ask a few things ... does anyone ever look at or use the top 10 purchased items on the right or is that a waste of space? How about the specials box and the new items box on the right?
Is it worth keeping the safesurf icon at the bottom of the page?
Does anyone use the reviews box on the left ... or the skype box?
I want to get rid of anything that is unneccesary and wasting space.
Is there anything I should put on my site that would make you happier to buy ... maybe the Sure-tail link?

Do you guys find my menu easy to navigate and find what you are looking for ... are there any suggestions you have for me to make it easier to navigate?
 
Keep the Skype box. The 10 last purchased items is more usefull than the specials imo
 
SYNERGY said:
Keep the Skype box. The 10 last purchased items is more usefull than the specials imo
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What would you say if I took away the skype box, and added a link to chat via skype to my contact details ... or maybe I should put it in the header in like a square box or something.

Excuse my forum ignorance ... what is IMO ... I see it everywhere :P
 
Imo: In my opinion.
Should work, but the online/offline skype box adds more credibility.
With who are you hosted?
 
SYNERGY said:
Imo: In my opinion.
Should work, but the online/offline skype box adds more credibility.
With who are you hosted?
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Imbali Studio ... they're a really great host ... they give me good prices, although there are some cheaper options out there, they have great support services and customer care and the service is worth the premium in payment.
 
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