site review

Please visit www.navshack.com and tell me what you think. It's pretty new and would appreciate any suggestions or comments.

I think the site is looking good. It has a nice clean layout and nice color combination

Just try to make the font style uniform because you use two different font styles

Make sure you finish adding content to all of your categories. What you have so far is good. But, some of the categories are missing the content - clicking on the link simply takes me to a page of products.

Nice looking site and overall performed well and was easy to navigate. There were only a few things I would consider adjusting (and one bug):

1. Move the Email sign up toward the top of each page (above the Categories heading?). This will bring more attention to it.

2. If you enter an email address in the textbox for the email sign up (on the main page) then hit the submit button you get a page that says you are subscribed but it also goes to the page to enter your first name and email address. A bit confusing...

3. If you go to a category page (like Weather) then click on the Email sign up button you get a page cannot be displayed error.

4. If you do not enter anything in the first name and email address when signing up for your mailing list then hit the add to mailing list button you get no error message or indication of what inputs are required.

5. Lastly I would add a rollovers for your navigation and any hyperlinks on the site. Personally I think this helps your users know they are on a hyperlink and where they navigate to if the click on a navigation image.

I really appreciate the input and catching the problems. We'll address them right away. We're a little disappointed in the amount of traffic and just searching for anything that will help.

We made the suggested changes to www.navshack.com and addressed the problems pointed out. I would really appreciate a new assessment if you will. Any input is greatly appreciated.

The headers in left menu should be the same width as the menu. Using Firefox they look messed up. Also, where it says:

Stay Informed with technical articles, product support and special offers.
Click HERE to create your account.

I would change it so it says:
Stay Informed with technical articles, product support and special offers.

and make that one line link. I would also make it so it's underlined, so new visitors know to click it.

Thanks - We'll try and fix the menu but we don't have Firefox so may not be able to see what you see. Also will address the "Account" situation and get back to you when we're done. Anyone or anything else is appreciated.

There is a way to check, go to this page: http://browsershots.org/

Tip to make this work faster, or for just Firefox. Under the listing of all the browsers, click "None". That will remove all the pre-selected browsers. Then just check Firefox. I would try 3.5 and 3.6. Takes a few minutes to complete.

Thanks - Will do.

Navshack,

If at all possible, get Firefox and review all your pages with it before publishing them. I've found that if things look correct in Firefox, they look correct 99% of the time in almost all other browsers. Firefox has become my "proof reader". If you have the time and disk space, it's well worth the effort/time.

You can get it free here.

Your site looks clean and professional. I also have a marine site.
Also see our free guides to the left. I think your site needs a bit of content in your technical article pages. We could work something out where you could carry some of our technical articles. They are generating us about 2K hits a month right now. (run us on Alexa) and might do something similar for you.

Cheers
Scott

Thanks for the input Scott. Went to your site but didn't see that many technical articles. Most of what I saw were for sale. Maybe I missed them. We have quite a few more technical papers available. Under Tips and Info you can access our blog and there are more there. We're in the process of moving them to the website so they'll be available in both places. One of our primary goals is to provide tons of value content free to our visitors. Are you having success marketing your articles and books? I'm open for suggestions and/or sharing some content. Email me at [email protected] if you want to talk.

Hi Navshack,

If had a brief look at your site. Here's a few comments, hope they help:

Overall
My first impression of the site:
1. Good visual, stands out a 'business site'
2. I like the sites image quality and size
3. I noticed above he fold line, there was noting indicating what your business does, apart from the fish finder link in the left catalogue menu.
4. On your browser tab it says 'buy fururno electronics'?
5. I'm from Aus, huge sports fishing nation- $9.99 shipping? - might be worth indicating which country you can trade to. I tried the task of buying and got to drop down, no Australia shipping.
6. I found the 'about us' difficult to read. The text is dense and the paragraph indents unecessary. Also the information is written in third party, be proud, be all 'about us'... You seem to be talking around with industry quotes. I admire your truth and commitment, however you have a sub heading 'product selection', then indicate your main and only brand is Furuno (does this send a wrong message). I got the impression, "we know what's best, if you want choice you better go else where".

Recomendations
1. Put a tagline next to your logo giving a clear indication of type of business.
2. The aussie dollar is strong, people are buying overseas leisure goods (golf, fishing) research the market for wider shipping.
3. 'About us content'
a) Get rid of the indents - easier to read
b) Engage your audience, write using more personal pronouns (we, us, you...etc.) this connects with your visitors, makes them feel you have a personal touch with them.
c) You may want to rethink your sub headings and order. Get some postcards write meaningful sub headings and ask some friends how they would order these headings, as if they were a potential customers looking at your page. You may find the order is different to your page.
D) Avoid comparison statements with other online dealer, new customers may not realise there is so much competition, so they might shop around after being gven the nudge by you.
E) No time to be modest write about your successful history from 1982, list achievments and the great sales.

Conclusion
The site is well designed and has a great easy to use product database. the products are clearly labeele with good image quality. The site is user friendly, howver there is no clear indication of a clear business heading or welcome, this makes the site alittle inpersonal.

I had to go to the contacts page and subsequently the help page to realise, after trying to buy a product, you don't ship to Australia. This then led me to the 'about us page', as I was hoping to find out more about your company how big and if you will eventually ship globally. Saying that, the choosing and ordering levels were good.

The biggest let down was the content on the about us page. The information was good, but the structure and eadability was difficult to understand.

I like the site, it is basically a distributor for Furuno products. The downside is the marketing, the selling message is 'this what we have got, take it or leave it'.

The ordering system is great, but to benefit, the sales are needed - so how to sell? Whats your hook, quality at value? Or is it service, what makes you better than your competitors - this was the question i tried to answer when reviewing the site. As a knowlegeable customer, excellent site for picking a product and buying.

I hope this email has't gone overboard (oops pun). I found the site enjoyable to review.

Good luck guys, great looking business

Lot's of good input Micro and I really appreciate it. I need some time to address each of your points and then get back to you if you don't mind.