Need content suggestions for my business site
I’m redesigning this site: <snip>link deleted</snip>[URL=“http://www.myairportsedan.com”] Please don’t view the source code, it will hurt your eyes.
I’m trashing this current site and creating a new one that’s better for the user and search engines.
I’m looking for advice/suggestions. I’ve begun my new design. I want to keep it very simple and professional looking.
I created another design but I didn’t like it so much so I’m starting over again.
I want to ask you guys these specific questions:
If you were a customer looking for luxury limo or sedan transportation, what would you search for in google (or your fav search engine) to find a service like this.
Also, once you find the site in the search results, what would you expect to see on the site, the home page, the nav links, etc.
If a person struggles with contextual issues on a website, it may be said they do not understand their business model. Without doubt the most informed people who produce website content are the people who own a business or strongly associated with it.
Sorry, I’ve deleted your links because they’re completely unnecessary in this case.
You don’t need content suggestions for your site… what you need is a usability test.
And I agree with [B][COLOR=#0071d8]peteark[/COLOR][/B] in that you don’t have your business model very clear, or not enough input from your customers, since you don’t know exactly what they’re looking for.
Oh, I know that you will tell me that they want a great car and great service but what I mean is that you don’t know why they choose you and what’s your difference with other competitors.
So the first question you should ask yourself is: “how can I make their life easier?” I suspect an easy and hassle-free booking is what they want so that’s something that should go really big in your home page.
Still, it is better that you ask your own customers (2-4 well chosen question with a yes or no answer should be enough… or simply ask directly “what would you like to see on our website?”)
Another good source is to check the big names in the business. It is quite likely that they’ve done a bit of market research when they built their own sites and that can give you an idea.
Something else that you can do is to take 2-3 friends and show them a page from your competitors (without telling them more than they want their opinions on a particular website, but nothing else) and ask them to think allow and use it, while they tell you what they link about the site and what don’t, and what they would have expected to see. That will also give you a good hint of what you need to do with your own.
Regarding the terms that people use to look for luxury limos, again, ask yourself first, and then ask people around your area. The reason that I’m saying this is because we don’t use limos in my country so my list would mean nothing to you and very probably drive you in the wrong direction.
Then check the results with Google Keyword tool which will give you more tips on the terms searched for limos and all that. You can go straight to Google keyowrd tools, of course
I already know what my customers are looking for but since I do web design as a hobby, I’d like to get views from web desiginers instead of my customers. And your suggestion of allowing 2-3 friends to use the site and then ask them those questions is basically what I’m doing here. I’m asking the sitepoint forum to help me out. I already know the main keywords and key-phrases that people search up, but I asked the sitepoint forum to maybe find out one or two more that I’ve missed.
But I guess non of that is going to happen since you’ve removed my links. Thanks, I’ll just ask some other forum now which I’m sure with help me out.
I apologise if I have upset you in any way and I didn’t mean to imply that you didn’t do your homework and I’m sure that you’ve put a lot effort into it. But then, your question was not properly directed. I’m trying to help you.
If I had the wrong idea about what you wanted, then I’m sorry but if you read the following you may find not only the answer to your posts but maybe you may understand why I got the wrong conclusion.
1) I didn’t mean to imply that you didn’t know your customers but I do have the impression by your words that you don’t understand their expectations in relation to your site. Why do I say this? because you said it yourself. You titled your own thread “need ideas for content on my site”. If you don’t have it clear is because you don’t understand their expectations.
2) If you want the point of view of other designers, you’re going to get their input in relation to your design… that’s what we call a website review and needs to go in the appropriate forum: website review forum. There people will tell you if your design is correct, if the content is well placed, if the colors should be stronger or softer and the little details a designer needs to think of. Do remember that if you want your site review, you need to properly review 3 others before requesting yours.
note: Regarding the links, again I apologize if I have upset you but if you remember when you read the guidelines you know that linking to your own site is not allowed except in rare occasions (such as a website review). The rules are there for everyone and that includes myself
You may include a link to your site in your signature now that you’ve around for a while but not in your posts.
end of note
3) You did what it looked like a very nice intro about how you were remaking your site but when you really asked something, it was which terms we would use to search for luxury limos. If that’s your real question then I did you a favor and you didn’t know it
You don’t have to thank me Yet You may be wondering why.
If people looked into your designs then they would instantly be affected by what they were looking at and any feedback they could give would be biased. The result very possibly include key phrases that you already found in Google keywords because they were being suggested by your texts, pictures and motto.
Summary:
Your thread title say that you need content but you don’t talk about content at all in your posts
Your question in your first posts is related to search terms
By the way you answered in your second posts, it looks that what you want is to have your site reviewed. There’s a whole specific area for that.
I hope that this information will be of use for you
edit: one more thing
I don’t know the kind of questions you asked your friends but if you simply asked them “look at my site and tell me what you think” then we’re not talking about the same thing. It is nice feedback but not the same thing.
First of all, because you’re friends could very well biased (again) since they know you and know your business (I think that I can assume safely that the site is yours). You don’t want that. You want people that will not start thinking “what does he want to hear? what is my friend expecting from me?”. The kind of people you need may use (or not) limo services but they don’t even want them to know what they will see until they see it. You want their very first impressions and they will rarely give it if they know that the site is yours.
Second, because a proper test needs you to sit by their side and ask them every single question “What do you think this site is about? what do you think they do? what do you think you can do in this site? where would you click next and why?”.
This kind of test tells you if you really placed your content well and if you made it easy for your customers to use and to find what it is really important. Don’t be surprised to find out that what you think it is important isn’t… and people consider more important other stuff.
Well thanks for explaining everything. Now I understand why you said that. I was in a hurry while posting this and I guess it didn’t come out right. I posted it in the wrong section too. Is there anyway you could move this thread for me in the website reviews section? I would really appreciate it, thanks.
I would probably search “limo services X” - “X” being the location for which I am located.
Once I found the site, I would expect to see navigation links that might be something like the following:
Home
About Us
Limos (the types/models of vehicles)
Services (the kinds of various packages for the event Ex: prom, wedding, etc.- prices)
Policy (description of your terms)
Contact us
Does this help? I would want the site to be professional, innovative, sleek, and not too busy. As a consumer, you want to retrieve your desired information easily. Thus, the design should be clean and sharp, without confusion.
Yet You may be wondering why.