15 replies to this topic

[nedesign]

Hello,

I have been working hard with a friend of mine to get my website to rank in the top 10 for search words "rain barrel" and "rain barrels" in google. Up until a few weeks ago I was there until google dropped www.ne-design.net for ne-design.net (with no "www" and few backlinks) Result: Loss of top ten page position for the two search terms above. I now have a 301 redirect set so all requests default to www.ne-design.net in hopes that google forgets about ne-design.net. I consider it a major flaw in the google algorithm but what do I know!

Anyhow, my site is http://www.ne-design.net, my graphics are primitive, my code is very basic but it fits my character and seems to appeal to people. I have sold over 200 rain barrels this year.

ANY improvements in appearance would be appreciated but my main concern and interest is page position for the search terms "rain barrel" - "rain barrels" and "compost bins". I plan to add a few other creations soon.

Please take a look at the site and code.

Thanks in advance,

Aaron

[Jill]

Aaron, as per our guidelines, you'll need to answer all the questions posted here very thoroughly before you can get any reviews.

Thanks!

Jill

[nedesign]

Ok, thanks Jill.

General

Is this site completed or under construction?

Completed but I plan to add a few more pages for compost bins and vemicompost bins in the future.

SEO

Do you have incoming links?

Yes, I have been working on this and have several linking to www.ne-design.net NOT ne-design.net

What keywords are you targeting?

Do you want your code reviewed for errors or improvements?

Yes, I use macromedia and am not great at coding though I do run pages thru online validators from time to time.

Marketing

Who is your target audience? Think about:

Simple, people doing searches for "Rain Barrels" via google.

The more you tell us about your target audience, the better. We don't know them- you do!

Why is your site different from sites selling/offering similar info/goods/services? Why will someone want to do business you?

My rain barrels are made out 100% recycled materials. I also use my own words to describe my product. I believe this sells more.

How important is usability?

VERY important, I have been trying to make each items page look similar to the others. Before it was very confusing I believe. I want people to get the information quick.

What is the purpose of the site? (inform, sell, online community, support B&M business, contact info only, etc)

Sell, but I would also like to ad a garden tips page. I want to give pointers on composting and uses of worm castings. Will more pages on vermicomposting and regular composting lower my postion for rain barrels?
Design

Do you want design suggestions?

Yes, please be honest with me here, thanks!

[nedesign]

Come on now... Jill anyone?

[Peter]

As far as I am concerned, this site is pretty much optimized,..

But I would like to know what others think.

Regards,

Peter

[powerofeyes]

Hello nedesign,
Everything seem to be alright for your site and I think you got back your top 10 ranking for those 2 important keywords "rain barrel" and "rain barrels" so I dont think you need any more suggestions on this site,
vijay.

[Think Web]

The total page size of your home page is 132k, which would take 24+ seconds to load on a 56k dial-up modem. On one hand, you may be attracting traffic via the SE's, on the other hand you may lose a few impatient visitors.


You also need a sitemap and a custom 404 page.

Edited by Think Web, 10 November 2003 - 09:25 AM.

[nedesign]

The total page size of your home page is 132k, which would take 24+ seconds to load on a 56k dial-up modem. On one hand, you may be attracting traffic via the SE's, on the other hand you may lose a few impatient visitors.


You also need a sitemap and a custom 404 page.

How do you make a sitemap?

Do I have enough content for a site map?

Please explain.

Also is a 404 a page not found code? Is that for when a site might go down?

Thanks,

-Aaron

[don1]

The site map can be done different ways but I think that most folks here mean a site map made up of text. In other words a page that links to all of your pages on the site just using text links. Just use your template and then add each page title in text then turn them into links.

The custom 404... Your server automatically produces a a page when a screwy directory or file is called for by a user. You can create a nice looking customized page with links and then have it come up instead of the servers page. Depending on how your server is set up you may be able to modify the .htaccess (see here) on your own or make the changes in an administration area that your web host has provided for you. Is a custom page "needed". No, not really (IMO).

BTW do you know Marty from the other rain barrel company, not far from you?

[nedesign]

I just have the 404 pointing right back to my index page. Is there really any reason to make a page that says "The stuff you are looking for isn't there"?

Thanks,

-Aaron

[SEOCub]

Personally, I find that confusing. If I have clicked a link to a nonexistent page and I am redirected to the homepage, I wonder what I missed.

I find it easier to have a custom 404 page that says the page you're looking for does not exist - could be our error - please let us know - in the mean time, check out these links to help you find what you may have been looking for...and I provide a concise site map with links only to the improtant sections fo the web site.

I also include a js script that lets the user send me an email with the URlL of the page that 404'd in the Subject.

[bin79]

Website looks fine except for some design suggestions which might improve usabilty as well.

* use same font and size on left hand navigation button
* instead of making big image navigation botton, you can try making some fast loading navigation text inside a table which gives a look of button.
* home page is quite big in size due to lot of images. However, on the other hand people might be intrested in buying rain barrelfrom you looking at all that detail pictures.

[Scottie]

I just have the 404 pointing right back to my index page. Is there really any reason to make a page that says "The stuff you are looking for isn't there"?

Thanks,

-Aaron

That is really confusing to the user. They think they have clicked the wrong link and often back up and click it again, only to be redirected to the home page.

The JS to e-mail the error is a great idea, SEOCub! If people want to help you fix the error, make it easy for them!

[don1]

I also include a js script that lets the user send me an email with the URlL of the page that 404'd in the Subject.

Care to share it? Sounds like a great idea.

[csjavi]

My custom error page makes a log of all the missing pages. The script displays one of three possible error messages for 404 depending on the referrer. If the referring page is on my own site: "Page not found. The administrator has been notified." If the referring page is on another site: "Page not found. Notify the administrator of [lin to the referring page]." If there's no referrer: "Page not found. Check that you typed the address correctly."