VanessaBaird Posted March 22, 2021 Share Posted March 22, 2021 Site URL: https://www.essabaird.com/ Hi I would love for honest feedback on my Art + Art Commerce site EssaBaird.com. I have designed it entirely myself and still learning the best way to go about things. I'm especially interested in ways to improve my viewers average time on the website. Thanks in advance! Link to comment
ElizabethMacLean Posted March 22, 2021 Share Posted March 22, 2021 Hi, Vanessa! First off, congrats on building your own website. Here are a few thoughts for you to consider. On your home page, show off your most recent work (this can be one large image, or a series of images, but go for the *wow* factor). I think I'd use one really fabulous large image, and link it to the portfolio category that fits that work. This way, when you have new work, your site will look different, and that gives visitors a reason to return periodically to discover what's new. Same thing with the section that pertains to your online shop, so it's a "What's new" teaser to visit the shop. On the portfolio page, move the text under the images, since you want to show off your art. I'm not sure how I feel about the white overlay, since it. obscures your work. Give that some thought. Also, because you only have 4 categories, maybe tweak the design settings so you only display 2 images per line. On each of the portfolio pages, under the works, include images or links to another portfolio category, to keep visitors moving through your site. It's a teaser to check something else out. Change the name of "The Showroom" to "Shop" - that describes exactly what it is, and what you want visitors to do. I wasn't quite sure what to expect. Because your niche is Fine Art, I would remove "Home Decor" and instead include a few words (or brief sentences) that describe your fine art (it's also going to help the right audience find your site based on search words they might use). For example, keywords like "abstract painting and sculpture," "understated," "contemporary," etc. Within your shop, consider changing home decor to "art objects" or "sculpture" or something that reinforces the one-of-a- kind/bespoke nature of what you create, which is more consistent with the world of fine art. Home decor can be anything, and your work is anything but run-of-the-mill home decor. They are collectible. Use that language and encourage your visitors to think and behave like collectors. I hope this is helpful! Best of luck to you! Elizabeth. Link to comment
VanessaBaird Posted March 24, 2021 Author Share Posted March 24, 2021 Elizabeth, Thank you so much for your through response! This is such a big help. I've already made some changes and will continue to work/play with the design over the next few weeks. Again thank you! I really appreciate the time you spent on this! Link to comment
lespacecarre Posted March 29, 2021 Share Posted March 29, 2021 Hi Vanessa. I LOVE your art! The thing I see here is site map/content hierarchy. Your art is frankly awesome. Why hide it behind 4 big category pix. Most visitors don't know you, so breaking the flow in taking a decision right upfront is asking a leap of faith right away. I would put 12 to 16 products on the home page, THEN 4 blocks offering to "explore more" by categories. Doing so also allow you to switch Portfolio and Shop in the header. (Portfolio yet present another leap of faith.) And I would rename "shop" with something along the line of "Artworks" or "My work". That way, the site would present content in this way: 1 - Home: with a selection of your finest work. 2 - My Work: without clicking on it I understand there's more good stuff behind that button. 3 - Portfolio: ok, there's so much stuff here that there's a portfolio... even more good stuff to discover! A hero banner with something beautiful might work but do not make it so we have to scroll to see the first products row. My 2 1/4 cents. Link to comment
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