Website for Review
http://www.abeautifulsecret.com

Additional Comments
Store has been 'live' for a little over a month now.

All criticism is  welcomed.

Hello Patti,

Thanks for coming to the site review forum. I don't have any criticism, just observations.
First impression, your header takes up one third of the page...could be reduced by half it's present size to make more room for your products which are your strong point.

Second impression, the coloring is very masculine...it wouldn't stop me from buying from you, but it might be something you want to reconsider playing with to make it more appealing to females, as they are your primary market.

The categories look well set up and the images are clear. I'm not sure that your opening statement is effective enough, but let's find out what some of the others have to say.

Elizabeth Richardson

In general, nice site, quick loading and consistent navigations.

I agree with ER's comments.

In addition,

Let me know why I should buy from you and not the next website in my search results. (pricing, availability, customer service, etc.etc.)

No "About Us" page, you have a link for it. Not good, Suggest you get one created.

A telephone number on the contact page could be beneficial. A lot of people would rather call to place an order as opposed to giving their information over the web. Also helps adds to your credibility.

Personally I like to have the option of creating a log-in account or just going straight to checkout.

You have the following code issues on the home page alone. Having valid code helps to insure your site will display in different browsers the way you want it to. Also helps to make your site more accessible.

Result: 59 errors / 6 warnings



line 59 column 10 - Error: end tag for element "li" which is not open

line 80 column 15 - Error: document type does not allow element "li" here; missing one of "ul", "ol", "menu", "dir" start-tag

line 81 column 14 - Error: end tag for "li" omitted, but OMITTAG NO was specified

line 79 column 6 - Info: start tag was here

line 161 column 440 - Warning: cannot generate system identifier for general entity "search_in_description"

line 161 column 440 - Error: general entity "search_in_description" not defined and no default entity

line 161 column 461 - Error: reference to entity "search_in_description" for which no system identifier could be generated

line 161 column 439 - Info: entity was defined here

line 161 column 464 - Warning: cannot generate system identifier for general entity "zenid"

line 161 column 464 - Error: general entity "zenid" not defined and no default entity

line 161 column 469 - Error: reference to entity "zenid" for which no system identifier could be generated

line 161 column 463 - Info: entity was defined here

line 161 column 503 - Warning: cannot generate system identifier for general entity "keyword"

line 161 column 503 - Error: general entity "keyword" not defined and no default entity

line 161 column 510 - Error: reference to entity "keyword" for which no system identifier could be generated

line 161 column 502 - Info: entity was defined here

line 161 column 617 - Warning: cannot generate system identifier for general entity "cPath"

line 161 column 617 - Error: general entity "cPath" not defined and no default entity

line 161 column 622 - Error: reference to entity "cPath" for which no system identifier could be generated

line 161 column 616 - Info: entity was defined here

line 161 column 631 - Error: reference to entity "zenid" for which no system identifier could be generated

line 161 column 463 - Info: entity was defined here

line 161 column 766 - Error: reference to entity "cPath" for which no system identifier could be generated

line 161 column 616 - Info: entity was defined here

line 161 column 775 - Error: reference to entity "zenid" for which no system identifier could be generated

line 161 column 463 - Info: entity was defined here

line 161 column 912 - Error: reference to entity "cPath" for which no system identifier could be generated

line 161 column 616 - Info: entity was defined here

line 161 column 921 - Error: reference to entity "zenid" for which no system identifier could be generated

line 161 column 463 - Info: entity was defined here

line 161 column 1063 - Error: reference to entity "cPath" for which no system identifier could be generated

line 161 column 616 - Info: entity was defined here

line 161 column 1072 - Error: reference to entity "zenid" for which no system identifier could be generated

line 161 column 463 - Info: entity was defined here

line 161 column 1195 - Error: reference to entity "cPath" for which no system identifier could be generated

line 161 column 616 - Info: entity was defined here

line 161 column 1204 - Error: reference to entity "zenid" for which no system identifier could be generated

line 161 column 463 - Info: entity was defined here

line 161 column 1324 - Error: reference to entity "cPath" for which no system identifier could be generated

line 161 column 616 - Info: entity was defined here

line 161 column 1333 - Error: reference to entity "zenid" for which no system identifier could be generated

line 161 column 463 - Info: entity was defined here

line 161 column 1453 - Error: reference to entity "cPath" for which no system identifier could be generated

line 161 column 616 - Info: entity was defined here

line 161 column 1462 - Error: reference to entity "zenid" for which no system identifier could be generated

line 161 column 463 - Info: entity was defined here

line 161 column 1593 - Error: reference to entity "cPath" for which no system identifier could be generated

line 161 column 616 - Info: entity was defined here

line 161 column 1602 - Error: reference to entity "zenid" for which no system identifier could be generated

line 161 column 463 - Info: entity was defined here

line 161 column 1724 - Error: reference to entity "cPath" for which no system identifier could be generated

line 161 column 616 - Info: entity was defined here

line 161 column 1736 - Error: reference to entity "zenid" for which no system identifier could be generated

line 161 column 463 - Info: entity was defined here

line 161 column 1895 - Warning: cannot generate system identifier for general entity "manufacturers_id"

line 161 column 1895 - Error: general entity "manufacturers_id" not defined and no default entity

line 161 column 1911 - Error: reference to entity "manufacturers_id" for which no system identifier could be generated

line 161 column 1894 - Info: entity was defined here

line 161 column 1920 - Error: reference to entity "zenid" for which no system identifier could be generated

line 161 column 463 - Info: entity was defined here

line 161 column 2047 - Error: reference to entity "manufacturers_id" for which no system identifier could be generated

line 161 column 1894 - Info: entity was defined here

line 161 column 2056 - Error: reference to entity "zenid" for which no system identifier could be generated

line 161 column 463 - Info: entity was defined here

line 161 column 2185 - Error: reference to entity "manufacturers_id" for which no system identifier could be generated

line 161 column 1894 - Info: entity was defined here

line 161 column 2194 - Error: reference to entity "zenid" for which no system identifier could be generated

line 161 column 463 - Info: entity was defined here

line 161 column 2336 - Error: reference to entity "manufacturers_id" for which no system identifier could be generated

line 161 column 1894 - Info: entity was defined here

line 161 column 2345 - Error: reference to entity "zenid" for which no system identifier could be generated

line 161 column 463 - Info: entity was defined here

line 161 column 2475 - Error: reference to entity "manufacturers_id" for which no system identifier could be generated

line 161 column 1894 - Info: entity was defined here

line 161 column 2484 - Error: reference to entity "zenid" for which no system identifier could be generated

line 161 column 463 - Info: entity was defined here

line 161 column 2606 - Warning: cannot generate system identifier for general entity "products_id"

line 161 column 2606 - Error: general entity "products_id" not defined and no default entity

line 161 column 2617 - Error: reference to entity "products_id" for which no system identifier could be generated

line 161 column 2605 - Info: entity was defined here

line 161 column 2627 - Error: reference to entity "zenid" for which no system identifier could be generated

line 161 column 463 - Info: entity was defined here

line 161 column 2761 - Error: reference to entity "manufacturers_id" for which no system identifier could be generated

line 161 column 1894 - Info: entity was defined here

line 161 column 2770 - Error: reference to entity "zenid" for which no system identifier could be generated

line 161 column 463 - Info: entity was defined here

line 161 column 2904 - Error: reference to entity "manufacturers_id" for which no system identifier could be generated

line 161 column 1894 - Info: entity was defined here

line 161 column 2913 - Error: reference to entity "zenid" for which no system identifier could be generated

line 161 column 463 - Info: entity was defined here

line 161 column 3047 - Error: reference to entity "manufacturers_id" for which no system identifier could be generated

line 161 column 1894 - Info: entity was defined here

line 161 column 3056 - Error: reference to entity "zenid" for which no system identifier could be generated

line 161 column 463 - Info: entity was defined here

line 161 column 3192 - Error: reference to entity "manufacturers_id" for which no system identifier could be generated

line 161 column 1894 - Info: entity was defined here

line 161 column 3201 - Error: reference to entity "zenid" for which no system identifier could be generated

line 161 column 463 - Info: entity was defined here

line 161 column 3334 - Error: reference to entity "manufacturers_id" for which no system identifier could be generated

line 161 column 1894 - Info: entity was defined here

line 161 column 3343 - Error: reference to entity "zenid" for which no system identifier could be generated

line 161 column 463 - Info: entity was defined here

line 161 column 3479 - Error: reference to entity "manufacturers_id" for which no system identifier could be generated

line 161 column 1894 - Info: entity was defined here

line 161 column 3488 - Error: reference to entity "zenid" for which no system identifier could be generated

line 161 column 463 - Info: entity was defined here

line 161 column 3744 - Error: delimiter "/" invalid: only S separators and TAGC allowed here

line 161 column 3744 - Error: end tag for element "font" which is not open

line 188 column 5 - Error: end tag for "tr" which is not finished

line 228 column 5 - Error: end tag for "tr" which is not finished

line 362 column 136 - Error: end tag for "br" omitted, but OMITTAG NO was specified

line 362 column 132 - Info: start tag was here

All ampersands should be coded as &
line 59 column 10 this closing tag should be the closing for the link on line 60
line 161 closing tags are mis-coded, they need to be closed in the opposite direction they are opened
line 161 column 3744 use of an xhtml closing inside a closing font tag
line 362 column 136 missing the closing slash

Hi,
I checked out your website this evening and it is very nice.  There are a couple of things that I would do.  I would add softer colors for a feminine touch on those type of products.  The other would be let people know what you can do better than your competitors. 

Hope this helps you.

Sandra Justice

Thank you for your comments.

I am in the process of working on an 'About Us' page. The original apparently didn't take.

The reason I do not list a phone number is because I am on dial up and people wouldn't be able to call anyway. Also I can not process credit cards, so my customers would have to order from the site regardless.

I am working on those coding problems on the landing page.

I am fond of the colors of the site. Since I offer a variety of items (not just for females) I wanted to shoot for a neutral color so everyone feels comfortable shopping there (and so far it has been working great - out of 8 buyers 4 have been males).

I like the fact that people need to create an account. People are more accurate with putting their correct information in so I do not have to contact them numerous times to mail a package out to them.

If anyone can give me some ideas as to the content I should have on the landing page it would be greatly appreciated.

~Patti~

Hey Patti.

IMO the colour scheme is just right, its neutral and appeals to both sexes. (Must do as my partner likes it too)

I love the header logo its very peacfull and keeps there (which is why i don't spend alot of time there or i will get no work done myself)

I must agree that you need to make your homepage text more descriptive and appealing to the user/potential customer.
You can change that by adding more wording in and full sentences like "Welcome to A Beautiful Secret where you will find..." and go into what you sell then make those 'keywords' linkable to the relevant products on your site for increased SEO and indexing.

Overall I like it.

Good luck with your site.

Julie

ABeautifulSecret wrote:

Website for Review
http://www.abeautifulsecret.com

Additional Comments
Store has been 'live' for a little over a month now.

All criticism is  welcomed.

Hi

I liked the colors , but Elizabeth may be correct and you should investigate other sites to see what is the norm for color.

I liked the picture even though it is very big. Its peaceful to look at.

But  the intro text is very weak. Dont take offense, you clearly wrote this yourself or perhaps a friend of yours did it for you. Basically the site looks very professional then the text gives away that this is a home busines and your address on the bottom left hand corner confirms it. (Perhaps it is not a residential address ?) Anyway take some to develop some stonger text and consider removing it compeltely .It seems to get in the way betwen the picture and the products.
best of luck!
Ronald

Hi, I love your website. I noticed that you went with ZenCart, how has your experience been with them? I'm not sure who I want to go with. Right now I've been using ecrater but I need just a little more flexibility & options.

How's business going? I know the candle business alone is huge especially this time of year. I was a contractor with Mia Bella once & although I no longer am I have had a passion for candles since Wishing you the best of success.

Thanks,
Dina

Hello.

Good concept.Dont like the scribbled out prices.Makes for huge consumer confusion.easily understandable and holds for potential.May look at a little more colour coordination.
Cattelogue little confuding in the sense that not everything is alligned.Bit like looking around in an unkempt wardrobe.Goodluck though .Regards Brian

a neatly presented site. It was soothing to see that the site is just about selling your stuff and it is successful in attracting attention to them.
The site is not messy... but still I would also recomend some colours to it...
Initially even my site was in grey tone... but you have to agree to the taste of people, now my site has every colour possible. try out some bright shades and if possible just drop the brown colour.
Use colour contrast softwares to use complimentary colours...
Hope that helps.

your site main menu content is not exposed much, you can make a better outline of menu and use light attractive colour to pages.

Site looks good very wel laed out (if not a little busy).  Also very nive to seea  good use a cascading styles sheets (something no website creator should neglect).  Your products look great as agin does the site good work.

Hello,

That's not bad at all!!! I like the picture on the banner, and being an e-commerce site, you do have to have a long products list, hence the need to scroll. Generally, it is very well laid out and informative. No additional info that would distract people from the main point. I like it!

Best,

i really liked your website, and when i saw your url, it make me wanting to explore and have a look at it.

interesting choice of products and it it would be really interesting tu try a couple - Handmade Chocolate Dipped Banana Soap - Palm Coconut Jojoba looks yummy

i agree with the first post however that you might want to try some lighter colours to appeal to the females, as i dont think many males would be interested in those items.

also, you might want to try a lower top picture. it looks good on larger monitors but it would take up almost half of the page on smaller monitors

also i would make the image a bit wider too, since on my 1152 resolution the picture ends and starts again - there are a lot of monitors using 1152 resolution, and widescreens, so make it wider to make the site look cleaner

Hi like the site - Little on the busy side with other ads and all - site feels it should be a bit self indugent, peasfull and so on.
You have 2 nav bars - one on top and one on the side  - wee bit overkill?

Like the graphic and cant decide if it should be smaller or same size - I am more for the same size

Colours are good for me - aliitle yellow, brownand green would give it an organic feel

Good luck

David

looks a stunning site but i found it to be very cramped with all the products and listings on the first page

Hi

I have had a look at your site and I was very impressed with your logo - it sends out exactly the right message. The front page though had too much information for me to process - my eye was wandering left to right and up and down everytime I scrolled as there was so much to see. From experience and feedback from others I have learned that less can be more.

Incidently, would it be worthwhile setting up a PayPal account to catch those credit card payments?

Margaret

Thank you for all your comments.

It's still a 'Work-in-progress' but everyday I get closer to my goal.

I've changed around the wording on the main page. I've cut down some of the categories on the side bar. I've taken away a lot of the product that was 'featured' on the front page and I've taken out some unnecessary items that were making the page look busy.

I am still working on my About Us page (also learning how to do things myself in Zen Cart - teaching myself about the CPanel and how to change things) and hopefully will have that all loaded up in a couple of days.

Thank you again for all your comments. And Happy Holidays to everyone.


~Patti~

i really liked your website, and i saw your url& it made me  have a look at it

Very nice site. i noticed that some mentioned too many products on both sides of first page. i disagree. i don't want to hunt for productws and I like them all in view. i can then drill down to what i am interested in. Banner is a little large and somewhat dwarfs the products but, other than that, I liked the layout.