Bottom line.. how to make a sale?

funguru · 02-22-2004, 02:37 AM

Hi..
I have started a eshopping website from India , selling Gifts / handicrafts from India.. Although its just been 2 months, but i have been trying to promote the site liek crazy.. Its true i have not paid for advertising yet as i don't have the money for it but i have been actively creating links and trying to get my site listed everywhere i can. I am right now getting about 150 unique hits a day but none of them is converting, I dont know where i am going wrong. I would appreciate any help. I need to know, how should i do my marketing or low cost advertising or anything that make my products sell.

url of my website. http://www.ishopindia.com

Thanks
Prashant

compar · 02-22-2004, 07:09 AM

My first assumption when going to your site is that the items will all be shipped from India and that that will be very expensive.

I know you can look up the actual shipping cost, but maybe you need to handle these fears with a message about shipping on the home page.

Also I would like to know something about where these things are manufactured, or the quality of the items or something. You just arrive on a page that has no explanation of anything. There is no real invitation or reason to buy.

funguru · 02-22-2004, 07:48 AM

Thanks for the reply.. Its a good idea to mention something about shipping on the index page itself..i will work on that. To answer your second question.. I have written details about every product, when you click on a particluar product.

compar · 02-22-2004, 08:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by funguru

Thanks for the reply.. Its a good idea to mention something about shipping on the index page itself..i will work on that. To answer your second question.. I have written details about every product, when you click on a particluar product.

I see that, but I would still welcome some explanation about who you are as a business. Why -- besides trying to make money -- are you offering this line of products? Who should be most interest in it. Why is there a need in the market place.

I saw nothing on your site to make me feel welcome or like I was in the right place as it were.

Emancipator · 02-22-2004, 08:02 AM

Bob makes a really clear point on that. Most people are not going to buy something from India unless

a) they are in india or
b) they understand clearly how its getting to them and why they should buy it.

You certainly have some really unique stuff on your site.

funguru · 02-24-2004, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by compar

I see that, but I would still welcome some explanation about who you are as a business. Why -- besides trying to make money -- are you offering this line of products? Who should be most interest in it. Why is there a need in the market place.

I saw nothing on your site to make me feel welcome or like I was in the right place as it were.

I have made the following changes.. have added shipping information from the main page itself.. so that people have a fair idea. But i am not sure how to make them feel welcome.. Should i improvise on my About Us page, but then still it will not be on the index page.. please give me some idea on this

compar · 02-24-2004, 02:53 PM

Just a simple paragraph on the home page telling why you think it is important to bring these products to the world. Kind of like a mission statement.

Are these for Indian expatriates living in other countries? Do you think that Indian arts and crafts are so beautiful and unique that the whole world will welcome the opportunity to by them?

Whatever your rationale or marketing plan or target customer is, say so. Say so right up top on the front page, so that a visitor will feel welcome or know why they should stay on your site.

maxim · 03-14-2004, 07:19 AM

I like your products alot, looks really interesting. BUT (and im not being in any way rude, may intention is only to crticise constructively) you should take the poplarity bar away until some of the items have a better rating...so keep it active but invisable to users until the ratings are higher. then suddenly pull it out of the bag when the items have ratings that are worth showing off....

otherwise, well it looks like all items are unpopular

goodluck!

funguru · 03-14-2004, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maxim

you should take the poplarity bar away until some of the items have a better rating...so keep it active but invisable to users until the ratings are higher. then suddenly pull it out of the bag when the items have ratings that are worth showing off....

otherwise, well it looks like all items are unpopular

goodluck!

Hi thanks for the advice.. i have removed the popularity bar, hope this will save my products from getting the wrong impression of being un-popular.

. thanks again

maxim · 03-14-2004, 08:46 AM

nice! i think if the products really start flying out the door then bring it right back

and impress everybody but until then, having it invisible is a good idea. glad you agreed,

lorandm · 05-08-2004, 04:52 PM

Remember the punjab (or punjabi, can't recall) music bang in Europe? You should exploit that in your favour. As far as I know, that music was promoted by a british producer and had a really good response from the general public. I'm sure that your handycrafts will meet the same target...