Website Review and Suggestions

**codestrong** · 12-19-2008, 10:41 AM

Hi guys,

I run this small hosting company with a friend and after our latest re-design the sales went 80% down. I can't figure out what the problem is and what we messed up. Please help!

http://www.routhost.com

Thank you.

Anton

**Andy Pugh** · 12-19-2008, 10:48 AM

It's a hard question to answer if we aren't able to see your previous design to be honest, have you changed your payment options or anything?

**codestrong** · 12-19-2008, 10:54 AM

this is what it used to be...
http://web.archive.org/web/200608300....routhost.com/

however, this is a copy from 2006. in 2007 we changed our actual offer to what it is now.

we did not change payment methods or anything like that.

do you think our previous design looked better?

**Andy Pugh** · 12-19-2008, 11:00 AM

I think the design on the newer one is cleaner, however I would have been more drawn to make a purchase on the older one, not sure why, how strange

**codestrong** · 12-19-2008, 11:07 AM

yeah.... is it warmer colors on the old one? blurred edges on the new one? these are my two main suspects.

thank you for the feedback!

**andrei155** · 12-19-2008, 11:08 AM

Your new site looks like one of those ebook websites trying to convince you to buy. Looks like the design has everything to do with it.

Either that, or you're really beginning to feel the tough economic times.

**Mr. B** · 12-19-2008, 11:26 AM

Correlation != causation. Hosting is a very competitive market as there are countless companies which offer it. Additionally, bigger companies like my webhost offer over 1TB of space for $4.99 /month.

However, the font of "Affordable web hosting at its best" looks like a cheap banner ad. I would probably just remove it.

**andrei155** · 12-19-2008, 11:37 AM

Quote:

bigger companies like my webhost offer over 1TB of space for $4.99 /month.

Did you mean to say Oversell?

**codestrong** · 12-19-2008, 12:45 PM

i changed the first page... http://www.routhost.com/

**hartofalyon** · 01:26 AM

first, the main banner with the train, you need a background no repeat in your css - check the site in firefox.

there's a difference between a nice web design in terms of aesthetics and a nice web design in terms of marketability. your old site worked well because of how the site was laid out. you have modules, sections, everything was nicely divided up. also, your main 3 packages are above the fold and are clear to see. it makes people want to click to see more. your new site, there's nothing to attract the viewer. the "Faster Than a LOCOMOTIVE..." is taking up a lot of room as well as the banner with the train photo. it takes up room but is only offering one package. the rest of your content is displayed more like paragraphs rather than bullet points of your old site. your old site works because everything is compartmentalized nicely - from testimonials, packages, hosting features, and contact information. your new site forces the viewer to scroll and scroll in order to see more because your information is just one above another, unlike the modules of your old site. also, there's a lot of white space between everything and could be tightened up more.

**kingofsanda** · 12-20-2008, 09:05 AM

I agree with hartofalyon and I viewed the sites in firefox and I noticed an alignment issue with the new site the graphic with the train is not aligned correctly it's sticking out of the template and it's running off the page you should fix this asap.

**twiggy** · 12-20-2008, 10:16 AM

There is something about the new design I just don't like.

As mentioned before it looks like one of them dodgy e-book sites trying to sell you crap rather than a hosting website.

Would I buy hosting from you? No. Reason: It looks like your over selling your package.

**Decaf** · 12-20-2008, 10:35 AM

This is what i saw, and yes that would turn me off.

XP SP3 FireFox 3.0.5

**twiggy** · 12-20-2008, 10:53 AM

yeah the problem above is a firefox problem.

Considering firefox is now the most used browser I highly recommend you sort it.

**hartofalyon** · 12-20-2008, 12:41 PM

^ and opera, safari, any browser other than ie.

**fahim.md** · 12-20-2008, 01:31 PM

I personally like the old one better.
it has ads off different types of hosting deals.
the infos are provided on the main page and I think that's probably you had many sales.

**searchia** · 12-20-2008, 02:03 PM

The site is not setted good try to make it simpler, and don't make the site side scroll, is like you are hiding the price

**marioxiao** · 12-23-2008, 12:34 AM

The old one is better I think, you should fix the image under "Faster Than a Locomotive" I am browse your site with a 1024x800 and the other graphics is fine. only the image for a train that you need to fix.

**CrownCart** · 12-23-2008, 05:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by codestrong

Hi guys,

I run this small hosting company with a friend and after our latest re-design the sales went 80% down. I can't figure out what the problem is and what we messed up. Please help!

http://www.routhost.com

Thank you.

Anton

Here is my personal opinion. First of all the site has lots of errors and by looks I give it a 3 out of a 10. It also took me a couple of minutes to get the motive of your website which is selling hosting. If you are not very good at web designing I highly recommend buying a ready-made template. Here are some I found that are nice looking:

http://www.templatemonster.com/flash...tes/13666.html
http://www.templatemonster.com/websi...tes/10361.html
http://www.templatemonster.com/flash...ates/8576.html
http://www.templatemonster.com/websi...tes/11410.html

They have hundreds of others to pick from also and they are super cheap.

One thing I have learned from all my ecommerce websites is "You never get a second chance to give a good first impression." Hope I was able to help.

**Wumbus** · 06:09 AM

As it's been pointed out, from the looks of it you've got some CSS and design errors.

http://www.grabup.com/uploads/132ad3...5b7099dde8.png

It may be killing some of the professional mood and confidence if your products as a result.