Ideas to promote my business

[raalltheway]

I run a small business which sells money clips online (http://silvermoneyclip.co.uk/ if you're interested). Its about a year old now and I need to really start marketing it.

I have done the usual adwords and I have social media accounts but I really need something thats going to give me loads of exposure. Any ideas?? (anything that would not get me jailed is optimal... but not necessarily overlooked)

 

[paradoxical3]

Your problem is that you sell moneyclips. A billion people sell moneyclips. Why should I buy yours? I've never heard of your company, have no idea of the quality, and the pictures on the website aren't the greatest. You can tell they have been edited by an amateur (aliasing around the edges of photoshopped backgrounds).

I'm not trying to be mean here - I own a business myself and I know what you're going through. You need to look at the core of what you do - answer the questions above and then the course of action will be more clear.

I think even if you manage to get people to your website, one problem is the "feel" of it. In my limited knowledge, it would seem that there are two markets for moneyclips - moneyclips as a novelty item, and moneyclips as an upscale luxury accessory. Your website goes after neither effectively - you have an advertisement for an "executive sterling silver" money clip right next to a cutsey picture of a corporate golf gift desktop thingy. The 90 day money back guarantee badge looks kind of cheesy; the site doesn't feel "upscale." If you think of iconic moneyclip manufacturers, like Tiffany, they have a certain panache associated with both the brand and the website. That is important, and it CAN be created just by a website! You might want to check out Shopify for a backend - I'm currently developing our website using them and it's been easy and pretty effective so far.

While the website isn't upmarket enough to capture premium customers, it also doesn't feel "fun" enough to go after novelty moneyclips if that's what you're trying to do.

I could be reading entirely too much into this - I know nothing about your business - but just from the website, it seems you don't know exactly what you're trying to be. And even if you do, the consumer doesn't know it, which is a problem.

One last thing - I don't know how important the other items you sell are, but I would never even realize you sell things besides moneyclips without a couple of clicks through your website. Perhaps a name change? You can always keep the URL and have it redirect to your new page so you don't lose your SEO work. Silver Money Clip sounds pretty generic.

Again, I know that it probably hurts to hear this - my business is my baby! And also, this is just my opinion - others may disagree. But don't be afraid to change things up; Steve Jobs redisigned the entire Apple Store after it was already completed just to get it right. Sure, it was a hit to his ego and it pushed him behind schedule, but his redesigned store changed the face of consumer electronic retailing.

EDIT: One last thing! I promise! Here's a good example of what I'm talking about. Here's a random product page:

http://silvermoneyclip.co.uk/onyx-square-cufflinks/

There's nothing there! Just a picture of cufflinks, a pretty cheap price for them, and info about shipping. There is nothing that would make me want to buy them. You should have something like this:

Two rhodium-plated cufflinks in classic square geometric pattern, with diamond detailing on each edge. Precious ink-black onyx inlay offsets the brilliant metal, while lending depth and beauty to the design.

I'm not a copywriter, so don't nitpick about what I wrote - my point is that you have to make me want to buy your product! And that's something you can do for free that will drastically help your business.

Check out hanger project - it's a business that I think is somewhat comparable to yours. It's a small startup owned by someone here on styleforum that sells hangers and other accessories. But check out how he presents the products - he sells them to you. You need to do the same thing:

http://www.hangerproject.com/closet/wooden-suit-hangers.html

 

[CYstyle]



Your problem is that you sell moneyclips.  A billion people sell moneyclips.  Why should I buy yours?  I've never heard of your company, have no idea of the quality, and the pictures on the website aren't the greatest.  You can tell they have been edited by an amateur (aliasing around the edges of photoshopped backgrounds).

I'm not trying to be mean here - I own a business myself and I know what you're going through.  You need to look at the core of what you do - answer the questions above and then the course of action will be more clear. 

I think even if you manage to get people to your website, one problem is the "feel" of it.  In my limited knowledge, it would seem that there are two markets for moneyclips - moneyclips as a novelty item, and moneyclips as an upscale luxury accessory.  Your website goes after neither effectively - you have an advertisement for an "executive sterling silver" money clip right next to a cutsey picture of a corporate golf gift desktop thingy.  The 90 day money back guarantee badge looks kind of cheesy; the site doesn't feel "upscale."  If you think of iconic moneyclip manufacturers, like Tiffany, they have a certain panache associated with both the brand and the website.  That is important, and it CAN be created just by a website!  You might want to check out Shopify for a backend - I'm currently developing our website using them and it's been easy and pretty effective so far.

While the website isn't upmarket enough to capture premium customers, it also doesn't feel "fun" enough to go after novelty moneyclips if that's what you're trying to do.  

I could be reading entirely too much into this - I know nothing about your business - but just from the website, it seems you don't know exactly what you're trying to be.  And even if you do, the consumer doesn't know it, which is a problem.

One last thing - I don't know how important the other items you sell are, but I would never even realize you sell things besides moneyclips without a couple of clicks through your website.  Perhaps a name change?  You can always keep the URL and have it redirect to your new page so you don't lose your SEO work.  Silver Money Clip sounds pretty generic.

Again, I know that it probably hurts to hear this - my business is my baby!  And also, this is just my opinion - others may disagree.  But don't be afraid to change things up; Steve Jobs redisigned the entire Apple Store after it was already completed just to get it right.  Sure, it was a hit to his ego and it pushed him behind schedule, but his redesigned store changed the face of consumer electronic retailing.

EDIT:  One last thing!  I promise!  Here's a good example of what I'm talking about.  Here's a random product page:

http://silvermoneyclip.co.uk/onyx-square-cufflinks/

There's nothing there! Just a picture of cufflinks, a pretty cheap price for them, and info about shipping.  There is nothing that would make me want to buy them.  You should have something like this:

Two rhodium-plated cufflinks in classic square geometric pattern, with diamond detailing on each edge.  Precious ink-black onyx inlay offsets the brilliant metal, while lending depth and beauty to the design.  

I'm not a copywriter, so don't nitpick about what I wrote - my point is that you have to make me want to buy your product! And that's something you can do for free that will drastically help your business.  

Check out hanger project - it's a business that I think is somewhat comparable to yours.  It's a small startup owned by someone here on styleforum that sells hangers and other accessories.  But check out how he presents the products - he sells them to you.  You need to do the same thing:

http://www.hangerproject.com/closet/wooden-suit-hangers.html

+1 couldn't really have said it any better.

Also don't put how many of each you have in stock. by browsing a couple products, and seeing single digits of instock items, i get a feel for how small your business is and the lack of traffic.

 

[raalltheway]

Really useful feedback. I appreciate it thanks. Its tough to get an honest opinion. I have asked so many people but often people close to you don't want to hurt your feelings and people in the industry just critique from there own angles with there own agenda.

I will start a redesign project and try to make it more upmarket and correct the issues I currently have. Hopefully this will improve my conversions (which is actually about 2% atm which isnt too bad). Thanks!

 

[GreenNYC]

@ paradoxical3 - excellent critique and spot on.

I'd just add that it is very helpful to have the email opt-in above the fold. You're spending money to drive traffic....capture as many emails as possible to monetize over time. Also, send samples to fashiob/style blogs....they're always looking for content.