This week we’ll be starting a new “mini-series” of posts about YOUR web site, and whether it’s doing the best job to
get shoppers into your actual, physical, bricks-&-mortar, REAL store.
This is an aspect of web design that is not usually talked about online… because, well because everyone who’s online thinks everyone’s online! But getting Internet surfers to actually step away from the computer/iPad/iPhone and come shopping? A topic WE need to know more about.
Then, of course, there’s the all-important search engine ranking. It’s great to optimize our web sites to draw shoppers into our business. But first,
they have to FIND us.
And that’s where we really have to roll up our sleeves, because we’re competing with the big boys: the local shopping review sites, from Google Places for Business to Yelp. When sites like these fill the search results, how can your shop compete? Well, it isn’t easy… but it IS easy to edit your web site so searchers will find you!
So: We’ll be looking at a handful of consignment or resale shops who have (bravely!) volunteered their sites for appraisal this week, and at the end of the week, we’ll post a “ranking” sheet you can use to analyze your site and plan the changes you may want to make.
Now: This will not be a technical analysis because, well, because we aren’t. Not you, not me. And, our target audience isn’t either. Yes, I will use techie terms like metatags and above the fold, but not to worry. You’ll get it.
You might, first, want to brush up on a few things. First, check out the newest section on TGtbT.com, where I’ve posted my handout from my latest workshop, What? ME blog? which is closely related to optimizing your web site.
We also did a mini-series called The Internet: It’s free, but do you get FULL VALUE? here on the blog last fall which starts here.
Then get ready for a wild ride through
Optimizing your Web Site for Resale Shoppers!
See you tomorrow….
Photo altered from an original by savannahnow.com
Auntie Kate The Resale Expert 
I’d love to have my website assessed.
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That would be fun, wouldn’t it? But complicated as well! Any assessment would have to include all the social media presence of the business as well (since it all forms the branding of the business) and then we’d have to take into account the business’s goals too. Online vs B&M, partially online, most B&M, and all the permutations inherent in THAT! Maybe TGtbT should start a service for that!
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[…] this article (and the articles it links to) and our series on web sites for consignment, resale and thrift shops here on the blog and the TGtbT.com guide to […]
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[…] how to optimize your web site here on Auntie Kate the Blog. […]
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[…] a series of posts here on Auntie Kate the Blog to give you some […]
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[…] am a real NUT when it comes to using your website to get customers in your shop. Choose one color. And one color only. Ah, the good old […]
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Hi Kate! Ive been out of the loop for a bit. My hubby had a heart attack and we were living at the hospital for several weeks. We’re home now and I’m trying to catch up. Are you still looking for sites to critique? If so, please feel free to use ours http://www.sproutresale.com We’d love any input on how we can improve. Thanks for ALL you do!!!
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Kelley, Best wishes for your husband’s rapid and complete recovery!
As you’ve probably read thru the week’s posts, you’ve probably already seen that I have even prepared a Website Ranking Quiz which everyone’s welcome to download for free, to help them examine whether their website’s getting people actually IN to their shops.
The free PDF is on http://tgtbt.com/blog/ and I’d love to hear, when you get a chance, what you think about it, and if you’ve decided to make some changes in your site!
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Anyone care to critique ours? http://www.niftyvintage.com
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[…] Why this mini-series is necessary […]
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I’d love to improve my website and get more traffic in my store. I’d be grateful to hear anyone’s suggestions or advice re my website (especially Auntie Kate). Thanks! http://www.thefashionsafari.com
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Be happy to add you to our list of guinea pigs! An aside, that harkens back to what I talked about re blogs (see my workshop handout, free, at http://TGtbT.com/blog ): Three times the response to my single call for volunteers here, than on my Facebook pages, where I posted two or three different times asking for volunteers. Does that tell you anything about the need to have a “mother ship”, your blog, backing up your other social media?
But I digress. Let’s get into your web site and how it can motivate real people to come into your shop with real money, and I’ll badger you all about blogs another time.
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Hi Aunt Kate- I have been addicted to your advice since I began my endeavor into Resale (leaving the law field) 3 years ago. I now have 2 stores: Divine Consign (furniture) and Trends (clothing). We have grown from 1 to 20 employee in three years. Online marketing has always been huge for us and our website is the main hub of our online activity. We are ALWAYS seeking to improve and drive more customers into our store. We would be privileged to have a non-technical analysis (or any analysis at all) that could help our business grow. We would be honored if you would consider us to appraise. Our websites are divineconsignoakpark.com and trendsoakpark.com
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Great, Kellie, many thanks. I’ve noticed your sites before, and appreciate your willingness to take part in this week! Hope that, by the end, you’ve learned something, and might even join in our efforts to raise the visibility and public image of our resale industry by participating in the Clickable Directory and Zoomable Map at our sister, consumer-oriented site, http://HowToConsign.com, which perhaps you have seen reference to over the years.
At the end of the week, everyone, we’ll have a little “quiz”, where you can rate your own site (or your competitor’s!) based on what we’ll be looking at all week. I hope that each reader will take a look at her/his own site, and hopefully then post their “results” and what they plan to change in the last day’s comments section.
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Kate,
I also think this is a great tpoic and look forward to learning more. This is an area that I lack in knowledge. Feel free to use my site as well, http://www.picklejuicestl.com. I am open to suggestions from anyone. Thank you.
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Kate,
Great topic! Sure everyone is interested in what is coming. If you are looking for more volunteers, you can use carouselkidsstl.com.
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Thanks Connie, will do!
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Thanks Terri! That’s ONE HUNDRED PERCENT PARTICIPATION FROM THE GREAT STATE OF MISSOURI! http://howtoconsign.com/find.htm#Missouri You guys are great!
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