Critique on website please

[newmoorbarn]

Hi everyone
I hope its ok to post this here. I am currently trying to make my website as user friendly as possible (although I am using 1 and 1 as a provider so it is a bit limiting) I would really appreciate any feedback on its ease of use and design from crafters.
Anything from speed, layout, picture quality, information, anything at all.
If you do have a minute to look at it ANY feedback is appreciated good and bad as I really want people to feel get as much info as possible on our items and want to improve it.
Thanks for your time.

Amanda

[MTRuth]

newmoorbarn.co.uk/

This is it, right? I think the menu is very distracting as you have so many choices. Is it possible to have only 5-6 main choices and then put the other headings under those main listings? Or possibly put the choices on a menu bar down the side so there isn't so much to look at right at the top?

Also, on the individual pages, I think it would be great if I saw photos on the top part of the page instead of words. I have to scroll down to see almost any of the photos. People like photos. I would also have a photo on your home page that shows the farm or general animal photos.

You said your provider was a bit limiting so I don't know what your options are. But I do think that your site is very readable and I like the colors. I didn't try out the functionality of everything but everything seemed to work that I clicked on. It also loads quickly for me which is important. Hope that helps.

[newmoorbarn]

Than you so much for having a look, i too agree that there are way too many tabs at the top, I am looking into a way of reducing these(drop down option not available unfortunately!) Pictures hitting you first at the top of the page excellent thought, I shall look at my layout. Thanks again Amanda

[lyn]

Hello Amanda
I think Ruth's advice is sound.

I like the white background as it makes it look fresh, but the first thing I see (under the green headings) is a massive block of text and it's not instantly obvious what it's about - could make the reader give up too early - so Ruth's idea of a photo to give a clue to the text is a good one.
I think the quotes (good though they are) detract from the site - it puzzles the reader as to what is going to follow.
As for photos, I know how hard it is to get a decent photograph of fibre, but some of your photos could do with re-shooting as they look 'grainy' - although the indication of colour is very good.

You have a lot of lovely stuff to offer for sale, so tweak away at the website until you're happy with it.

[Shepherdess]

I agree with needing pictures at the top and then used to break up the writing would be good. some of the quotes are a bit confusing but with picture redistribution thins should be fine. pictures on your workshop page would be a good idea. what they will make or pictures of people taking workshops having a good time.

[zed]

Please don't be offended by my long list of suggestions. I didn't want to be half arsed about it once I started looking.

My first impression is, it's all too big, the text is too big, the photos for each item and that makes for a lot of scrolling.

I'd have photos of the animals on the main page and the 'About us' underneath or even a bit less and add 'read more about us' and link to a specific page and put more info.

Also, aligning the text to the left will be better for people with vision problems, centred like that it creates white spaces which drag the eyes in and out and is tiring.

Don't capitalise 'ALL THESE PRODUCTS ARE MADE BY HAND USING ETHICALLY SOURCED FIBRES' I'm sure it wasn't your intention, but it implies we didn't read it properly the first time.

I'm vegetarian and what a lot of people would call an animal rights nut, but constantly repeating the ethical treatment thing on every page can come across as a bit accusatory and a bit extremist. Explain this once, properly on the 'About us' page, explain how your angora goats are reared and treated, how you source your other fibre and that everything on the site is ethically sourced. Put a few pics at the top of each page instead.

Less choices on the main page, You can still have the separate pages, but group things together for the main page, like finished items to buy 'Clothing, art, accessories' (wall hangings, clothing, bags, soap), and fibre products, etc. So people click 'wool and animal fibres' and there is a page with simple links to 'natural wools', 'dyed wools' , 'Reborn and doll hair' 'handspun yarn', 'Know your fibre'.

Group kits and workshops together and put the Newmoor Arts info there.

I'd keep the raw and washed fibre together, and maybe even all 'natural' fibres. I like the photos you have, it'd be nice to see a photo of the sheep/animal for each breed then prices/pics for raw, washed, and tops.
If you do a dyed version, maybe a link at the end of each one to go straight to that particular dyed wool. If that's not do-able a link at the bottom like you have

I'd simplify the dyed wool section, remove all the natural stuff, it's confusing.

Remove all thos adverts for hangings, kits, looms etc. put small links at the bottom of the page to other sections if you want.

The photos need to all be the same size if you're going to use the same design. And try to be consistent with the text size, it looks compressed on some photos, choose the longest word, work out the size for that, then stick to that for the others.

And I'd have to agree that some could do with retaking. I know it's hard to get decent photos of wool/fibre, I always expect to take a lot for one decent shot.

Also, I never noticed the white background, which is a good thing, it definitely works. Keep things clear and spaced evenly.
Your information is great, and your products look excellent, you really need to make the most of them, especially the natural stuff, it looks gorgeous

[newmoorbarn]

Thanks Zed, I'm not offended you have provided lots of valid points which I shall be going through. I realy appreciate you taking the time. Thank you

[billieanne]

I agree, lose the quotes, they may be your favorites but don't add to the page. Do not center the text, it makes it hard to read. Using capital letters is SHOUTING online; there's enough shouting in real life without trying to shop online and being shouted at too.
 
Spelling errors: Now I know there are differences because I'm in the US but....There are Devon & Cornwall long wool lambs with "fin" and "stong" fleece. Isn't an "Ethiopian Satchal" an "Ethiopian Satchel"?  On "Know your Fibre" page (and other pages), "practises", "intrest", "unpleasent" and why would you want anyone coming to your site to look at unpleasant images. I can appreciate taking a stand for what you believe in but your badgering people. Is your site to sell your product or agitate? You do say "agitate". I'm new to felting and didn't know about the merino dispute. I appreciate being educated but will walk away and not shop when I'm beat over the head. Say it once and move on.

Sentence composition, "where our fleece comes giving us". Some of the pages have too many hands....on the wool tops page your use hand 10 times in the description. You may want a friend to take a critical eye to read and edit.

You really have some nice products, love the birdhouses and "sof enough" soap.

[zed]

Jun 11, 2013 14:46:04 GMT newmoorbarn said:

Thanks Zed, I'm not offended you have provided lots of valid points which I shall be going through. I realy appreciate you taking the time. Thank you

I don't think I would have been so honest if I actually thought you would be offended really

I do think you have a lot of great products, probably the best selection of raw wools and animal fibres I've seen in one place and very reasonable prices too.

And I do think the ethical treatment is a good selling point too, but just explained once.
Is there a group you belong to that supports ethical treatment of animals or something? I was thinking a small logo/icon at the bottom of each page if you do want a constant reminder and it could link to the group for more info.

[mrsplop]

My husband's a web designer, I'm going to ask him to take a look at your site. But just quickly. I disagree with one thing that has been mentioned, I think it's right and good to mention your ethical standpoint on all of your pages. This is a big part of your USP, and as people may land on random pages via google, they may miss it if you take it off the pages. Back later after I've chatted to my OH x

[jufergu]

Say as much as you can in the least amount of words. More pictures. Bigger pictures.

[newmoorbarn]

Thanks guys I have been making some changes to the site, hopefully for the better but we will see, I will keep trying...

[zed]

We have a promote your fibre day on Facebook LINK feltandfiberstudio.proboards.com/thread/918/market-day-on-facebook-page LINK
you should post on there if you have a Facebook profile thingie

We sometimes do a 'meet the artist' thing on the studio site too, maybe we could do a 'meet the seller' or something if you're interested, and you can talk about ethical wool and fibre?

Me and my girlfriend were looking at your reborn section last night, we watched the preparation video the other night, those locks are gorgeous! and the kids we ended up looking at some weird gothic newborns on flickr

[newmoorbarn]

Thanks Zed its amazing once you start to look into things where it can take you and the reborn world certainly has some very unusual (and skilled) artists out there! I do have afacebook thingy so check out the promote your fibre day and would be interested in doing a 'meet the seller' item, anything to promote ethical fibre would be excellent. Thanks for looking.
Amanda
ps. I must admit oour kid goats are gorgeous!!!!

[zed]

As soon as I've finished this fimo tutorial, I'll work out some questions, so get thinking about things you want to say and any photos you want to use
That video with the goat nuzzling you is the cutest thing