Hi,

I'm currently designing a website for Atomic Builds, a company that's going to be doing custom build computers. How do you find the site? Is it easy to naviagate and do you understand what's going on or do you have any suggestions.

Thanks, Ed

Edited September 24, 201114 yr by person287

I think if the slider is put in another position it'll be better to focus on what you're selling. And the name of the website I think it need to be larger and more attractive to easily catch your customer's eyes.

Good luck!

I like the font and the computer looks pretty cool but... Well... Just no...

I don't understand the website, why can't I configure the computer online? Just seems to be lacking that one finer point considering the entire business is built around custom computers.

 

Pictures don't take me to that computer Content is shabby and poor. It all needs a solid reworking.

Edited September 24, 201114 yr by pandadoodle

I don't understand the website, why can't I configure the computer online? Just seems to be lacking that one finer point considering the entire business is built around custom computers.

 

Pictures don't take me to that computer Content is shabby and poor. It all needs a solid reworking.

 

The computers can't be configured online because they're tailored to what you want, so we can't give you a solid price right then. We give estimates, but we'll ask later if you have any specific brands you want, they're estimates. What pictures of computers are there? They are cases and you can choose any of them to be bundled with your computer order, they aren't attached to any computer, they're cases.

I think if the slider is put in another position it'll be better to focus on what you're selling. And the name of the website I think it need to be larger and more attractive to easily catch your customer's eyes.

Good luck!

 

We've changed the page the slider is on now to make more clear that they're just cases, and we're going to replace it with example computer we've built. The logo will be changed very soon to be bigger...

I like the font and the computer looks pretty cool but... Well... Just no...

 

Well once we've got millions of pounds worth of sales you're always welcome buy a computer I promise we're not a scam.

Not eye catching enough, check other sites with atomic in the name, I expected a darker bg, and that logo needs some work too.

Not eye catching enough, check other sites with atomic in the name, I expected a darker bg, and that logo needs some work too.

 

We actually started off with another background, but from a few other sites we posted this on almost everybody said it needed to be lighter, and they liked the new one. The logo is being worked on at the moment, so that should be soon...

looks a right mess in IE.

 

And those T&Cs?! You're not exactly selling a great business model. "up to 2 months to build"?! "1 month warranty".

 

/o\

The computers can't be configured online because they're tailored to what you want, so we can't give you a solid price right then. We give estimates, but we'll ask later if you have any specific brands you want, they're estimates. What pictures of computers are there? They are cases and you can choose any of them to be bundled with your computer order, they aren't attached to any computer, they're cases.

 

So your telling me you can't list a set of components online so people can configure what they want there and then and get a real time quote and then order the system online? Like 100s of other companies do. Why let me rollover the images then and click it and it goes no where theres no where near enough information on the site to get any kind of consumer trust built up let alone "mail me for a quote, ill take your money and send you a computer in 2 months" that's a good business model to follow you think to make you millions?!

The main problem as far as I can see is this:-

 

You may be very good at building computers. You could be one of the best computer builders in the world for all I know..

 

The problem is that the website does not portray that to me. I do not get the feeling that you are experts or even good from that website. The website has failed in it's objective.

 

You may need to consider hiring a developer that can provide you a site that gives the operation more credibility and sells your services better?

 

In summary, the site lacks professionalism. Also look carefully at the terms and conditions as has already been pointed out.

Edited September 25, 201114 yr by oakleaves

The main problem as far as I can see is this:-

 

You may be very good at building computers. You could be one of the best computer builders in the world for all I know..

 

The problem is that the website does not portray that to me. I do not get the feeling that you are experts or even good from that website. The website has failed in it's objective.

 

You may need to consider hiring a developer that can provide you a site that gives the operation more credibility and sells your services better?

 

In summary, the site lacks professionalism. Also look carefully at the terms and conditions as has already been pointed out.

Agreed!!

looks a right mess in IE.

 

And those T&Cs?! You're not exactly selling a great business model. "up to 2 months to build"?! "1 month warranty".

 

/o\

 

I didn't write the Terms and Conditions, so I can't do anything about that. I just tried in an older version of IE and I see the problem you're talking about. It doesn't happen in any other browsers, but I think I've fixed it now.

Why let me rollover the images then and click it and it goes no where

 

Which page are you talking about and which browser because I didn't put in anywhere where you could?

"up to 2 months to build"?!

 

Actually I've just noticed from the stuff I've been given to paste in, the T&Cs say 2 months as you say but the questions say 'our products may take up to 3 weeks to deliver to you' so I'll follow that up. Thanks.

Well once we've got millions of pounds worth of sales you're always welcome buy a computer I promise we're not a scam.

 

I'm confused. Is this your business or are you purely the web designer?

I'm confused. Is this your business or are you purely the web designer?

 

I'm part of the business, the business is 4 people but I didn't write the Terms and Conditions and wasn't there because I had sports while they were in the computer rooms, so I just pasted in the content the person sent me. So basically tomorrow I'll check everything with them. We haven't actually started really selling computers online yet, just to friends, so the only people who have seen the site so far are just reviewers.

Edited September 25, 201114 yr by person287

I didn't write the Terms and Conditions, so I can't do anything about that. I just tried in an older version of IE and I see the problem you're talking about. It doesn't happen in any other browsers, but I think I've fixed it now.

 

Ok everybody has now agreed to change the warranty to 12 months.

I'm part of the business, the business is 4 people but I didn't write the Terms and Conditions and wasn't there because I had sports while they were in the computer rooms, so I just pasted in the content the person sent me.

 

ah, ok. cool.

 

We haven't actually started really selling computers online yet, just to friends

 

That's the thing I'm trying to put to you. It's a totally different affair when you try to sell to general members of the public. It's not a criticism.

 

Have you researched distance selling regulations for example? What are the laws regarding built systems like this? I would not know, but you definitely need to know this. Just examples. Make all these very clear on the website, including returns address, secure payment methods, maybe look at having a FAQ's page? Give people the reassurance they need to buy from you.

 

Think about the font you use on the T&C's page. The current choice is unprofessional. You would rarely use anything except Arial for T&C's

Edited September 25, 201114 yr by oakleaves

Have you researched distance selling regulations for example? What are the laws regarding built systems like this? I would not know, but you definitely need to know this. Just examples. Make all these very clear on the website, including returns address, secure payment methods, maybe look at having a FAQ's page? Give people the reassurance they need to buy from you.

 

That's part of the reason we aren't actually selling yet At the beginning it's going to be more we meet you, you're interested, we tell you to look at the website for all the specs, or we look at it with you to view the spec sheets, and we do everything face to face. That's one of the reasons you can't actually 'hand over money' on the website yet, once we've checked everything you will be able to.

Edited September 25, 201114 yr by person287

That's part of the reason we aren't actually selling yet At the beginning it's going to be more we meet you, you're interested, we tell you to look at the website for all the specs, or we look at it with you to view the spec sheets, and we do everything face to face. That's one of the reasons you can't actually 'hand over money' on the website yet, once we've checked everything you will be able to.

 

That's fine, so you intend to offer a localised, personal service. That may appeal.

 

Make it very clear that's what you offer on the homepage.

 

Currently all I get is this info on the 'about':-

 

Atomic Builds is based in Wimbledon, UK, but we deliver currently to anywhere in the UK via Royal Mail. We're very close to their depot, so most of the time we send computers out the same day they are built. No more massive wait times like some other manufacturers.

 

Anyway, all the best with the project.

Its a very nice site.. it has potential.

 

It has a good idea behind it. A good skill base for building PC's (from what ive read).

 

But, considering most of those PC's on your site are several hundred pounds. I would think twice before giving my details to you.

 

Based on the sites design alone of course.

 

Look at Dell, Apple, HP, Toshiba etc etc.. Try to take what's GOOD about their designs and try to inject some of it into yours.

 

At the moment, it's very, very bland.

I had sports while they were in the computer rooms

 

So you're all still in school?

 

Kudos for setting up your own business, but you may need to look into where you stand legally - if you're expanding your reach beyond your immediate geographical area (and moving away from doing face-to-face business) then you'll need to protect yourself as well as your clients.

 

Setting up a business properly costs thousands of pounds - registering the company alone costs over £200 if you get someone with experience to do it for you.

 

As far as the website goes - it's a valiant effort, but as others have said, it doesn't communicate expertise or trustworthiness. It's a technology site at its heart, so you'd be best to look at how other similar businesses have portrayed this. Personally, I'd go for straight edges, dark backgrounds and a bit of gloss (think Alienware or Apple). Also, careful with your choice of fonts for body copy: the one you've used really isn't suitable for large passages of text. Perfect for headlines, though.

Honestly, for the type of business and product/service you are selling it is not good enough. The amount of money you are charging people brings with it certain expectations about your business and those expectations have to be met on the website or people are going to instantly lose trust in you.

 

If you were selling £3 lanyards it would be one thing but you aren't. You are advertising a professional high cost service and to do that effectively you need to show people they can trust you. Not just trust that you can build a working computer but trust you make good decisions, trust you are responsible, trust you are serious, trust you will still be around in 6 months time.

 

What your website says to me is that you want me to hand over money in a professional service but you aren't willing to do it yourself for a web designer when it is arguably one of the most important aspects of your business.

 

Now, I understand you have put a lot of time and effort into making the site and that is very commendable, much more than most people would bother their arse with. But if you want to charge people several hundred quid for a product or service they are going to make the perfectly reasonable assumption that you are making a bit of money from doing that. They are then going to wonder why some of that money hasn't been fed back into the website.

 

If you are infact just focusing on local/call-out type service then feel free to ignore everything I have said because your website likely won't be your greatest lead generator. It can just be a flyer on the web (Although you should make that abundantly clear) and sometimes it is actually better that way.