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2
Don't create a video. Show real examples of what people are buying and selling on the site. If you don't have any or enough users selling stuff on the site right now, then bug your friends... Get them to sell stuff. If you can't convince your friends, then ask them a ton of questions to figure out what it would take for them to sell something through Celeritos.com. Do whatever it takes to get them to sell something. Then figure out how to get someone else to buy it.
Don't worry so much about the site and the technology right now. Focus on facilitating relationships - one by one - between sellers and buyers. Set a goal to complete 5 sales using either your existing site or any other means necessary (including offline from your site). Learn first hand what people want and need when they are buying and selling goods. Design your business around these needs. That will put you far ahead of worrying about whether to integrate Facebook Connect in your site.
This may sound like a BS answer, but I don't think your issue is technology right now. I think the issue is understanding the user need that you're going to fill with this business. This isn't an easy thing to do... I know from my experience with Whinot.
If that's not the type of advice you're looking for and you're focused on changing something about your site... #2 is absolutely positively an issue. Any traffic that you can possibly get to the home page is going to immediately bounce when you ask them to create a user name and password before they can even see what to buy or sell on the site.
Don't worry so much about the site and the technology right now. Focus on facilitating relationships - one by one - between sellers and buyers. Set a goal to complete 5 sales using either your existing site or any other means necessary (including offline from your site). Learn first hand what people want and need when they are buying and selling goods. Design your business around these needs. That will put you far ahead of worrying about whether to integrate Facebook Connect in your site.
This may sound like a BS answer, but I don't think your issue is technology right now. I think the issue is understanding the user need that you're going to fill with this business. This isn't an easy thing to do... I know from my experience with Whinot.
If that's not the type of advice you're looking for and you're focused on changing something about your site... #2 is absolutely positively an issue. Any traffic that you can possibly get to the home page is going to immediately bounce when you ask them to create a user name and password before they can even see what to buy or sell on the site.
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Kyle is right.
I would also add that you need a unique selling point (USP) as people need to understand what is so different/better in your approach. On the side note I would like to stress out that being different and better is usually not enough to make people move from one network (where they are already invested) to a completely new one. The thing which makes some people move is a magic mixture of all the elements which make your site - USP and it's clear presentation, it's simplicity, addressing users needs in much better way. In most cases in a saturated market new sites get popular because they concentrate on a single core element which users really need and getting rid of all other elements which complicate the experience.
At the moment you can't get traction because in a nutshell you are not explaining what you do, you require visitors to sign-up first, the look and feel hurts website's credibility. All the things you suspect to be harmful (point 1-4) are of a secondary nature.
Shall you need more in-depth analisys covering your actual situation and solutions to it feel free to drop me a line at michael@webcardinals.com
I would also add that you need a unique selling point (USP) as people need to understand what is so different/better in your approach. On the side note I would like to stress out that being different and better is usually not enough to make people move from one network (where they are already invested) to a completely new one. The thing which makes some people move is a magic mixture of all the elements which make your site - USP and it's clear presentation, it's simplicity, addressing users needs in much better way. In most cases in a saturated market new sites get popular because they concentrate on a single core element which users really need and getting rid of all other elements which complicate the experience.
At the moment you can't get traction because in a nutshell you are not explaining what you do, you require visitors to sign-up first, the look and feel hurts website's credibility. All the things you suspect to be harmful (point 1-4) are of a secondary nature.
Shall you need more in-depth analisys covering your actual situation and solutions to it feel free to drop me a line at michael@webcardinals.com
s...@hotmail.com commented on 05 Apr 2012
Thanks a lot Michael, I have sent you a follow up email ont he matter.
I am also going to re-look our USP.
"The thing which makes some people move is a magic mixture of all the elements which make your site - USP and it's clear presentation, it's simplicity, addressing users needs in much better way." - We have heard positive reviews from users who are actually in the site.. but not many are converting beyond the home page.
The key for us would be to get hot products in there, and retailers aren't responding that well. A friend of mine suggested doing a Press Release and getting some free press. He said it worked for his startup.
Thanks a lot Michael, I have sent you a follow up email ont he matter.
I am also going to re-look our USP.
"The thing which makes some people move is a magic mixture of all the elements which make your site - USP and it's clear presentation, it's simplicity, addressing users needs in much better way." - We have heard positive reviews from users who are actually in the site.. but not many are converting beyond the home page.
The key for us would be to get hot products in there, and retailers aren't responding that well. A friend of mine suggested doing a Press Release and getting some free press. He said it worked for his startup.
0
I think #2 and #3 are the key things. I can't really understand why I would use your site without creating a login. What value do you offer folks, especially sellers who you need to get buyers. You have to click to the about us at the bottom just to get a little bit more, but even then I only found text. Show a video or something that really brings to life what you offer.
Once you have a place where you can really make your case, then you would need to start getting some attention or driving traffic. Not sure how much traffic you have now, but I doubt they are converting.
Integrating with facebook or another tool couldn't hurt either, depending on what type of sellers would get the most out of your tool (or the best to focus on for early adoption).
Once you have a place where you can really make your case, then you would need to start getting some attention or driving traffic. Not sure how much traffic you have now, but I doubt they are converting.
Integrating with facebook or another tool couldn't hurt either, depending on what type of sellers would get the most out of your tool (or the best to focus on for early adoption).
s...@hotmail.com commented on 03 Apr 2012
Hi,
Should we then replace one of the 4 boxes with a video? Would it look weid and out of place?
Hi,
Should we then replace one of the 4 boxes with a video? Would it look weid and out of place?
Stephen Davis commented on 04 Apr 2012
Kyle makes good points below... Work hard to bring in sellers. Start with your networks and get a few things sold. That will help get more referrals from both buyers and sellers.
A video could be the answer if done well, but something that brings the home page to life without requiring a login. Ideally you could search and see what the site was like without registering. Registration is the first step to a conversion, but you won't get it until they have an idea of why registering is valuable.
Kyle makes good points below... Work hard to bring in sellers. Start with your networks and get a few things sold. That will help get more referrals from both buyers and sellers.
A video could be the answer if done well, but something that brings the home page to life without requiring a login. Ideally you could search and see what the site was like without registering. Registration is the first step to a conversion, but you won't get it until they have an idea of why registering is valuable.
s...@hotmail.com commented on 04 Apr 2012
Ah I see, that is really awesome advise. May I ask for your take on good ideas to bring in sellers? We have been cold calling like crazy, and have seen minimal success.
And, I guess we should focus on getting the snowball moving by getting some stuff on the site sold huh? Makes a ton of sense. Hm kk.
Ah I see, that is really awesome advise. May I ask for your take on good ideas to bring in sellers? We have been cold calling like crazy, and have seen minimal success.
And, I guess we should focus on getting the snowball moving by getting some stuff on the site sold huh? Makes a ton of sense. Hm kk.
Stephen Davis commented on 04 Apr 2012
Cold calling can be tough. Be sure you ask for feedback from those you talk to who aren't interested but do engage. Find out why they aren't interested and what would make them interested. Offer free opportunities to early sellers if necessary to get them in the door. The feedback you get should help you either improve what you offer or your pitch offering it. Rinse and repeat.
If you're not already, really work your own networks of potential sellers. Ask favors, etc.
Until there is something to buy on the site, nothing is happening. Find a startup business looking to get exposure. Or on the less fun side, find someone going out of business with products to get rid of. What you do to get going might not be where you end up. But it's easier to improve things and/or change focus after you're market is functioning.
Cold calling can be tough. Be sure you ask for feedback from those you talk to who aren't interested but do engage. Find out why they aren't interested and what would make them interested. Offer free opportunities to early sellers if necessary to get them in the door. The feedback you get should help you either improve what you offer or your pitch offering it. Rinse and repeat.
If you're not already, really work your own networks of potential sellers. Ask favors, etc.
Until there is something to buy on the site, nothing is happening. Find a startup business looking to get exposure. Or on the less fun side, find someone going out of business with products to get rid of. What you do to get going might not be where you end up. But it's easier to improve things and/or change focus after you're market is functioning.
s...@hotmail.com commented on 04 Apr 2012
May I ask what do you mean by 'offer free opportunities to early sellers if necessary to get them in the dollar' - The site is already free, with zero transactional costs.
Should we subsidize stores intending to coming in?
May I ask what do you mean by 'offer free opportunities to early sellers if necessary to get them in the dollar' - The site is already free, with zero transactional costs.
Should we subsidize stores intending to coming in?
Most recent advice
1
Michael ANDRE advised about 1 year ago
Kyle is right.
I would also add that you need a unique sel...
Kyle is right.
I would also add that you need a unique sel...
2
0
Stephen Davis advised about 1 year ago
I think #2 and #3 are the key things. I can't really unders...
I think #2 and #3 are the key things. I can't really unders...
Hi Kyle,
That's a great answer. The thing is, we have spoken to many users and they have said that they like to buy stuff but there are too little sellers on board right now.
So I think the crux is getting more sellers, which we can by allowing users to sell without having to use paypal.
How many sellers do you have ready to go but can't because you don't have PayPal?
At a start, probably 30-40.
Btw, thanks for the insights.