Website Design

[Pokes_Rock]

The wife started making cakes. Just kind of something fun to do while she was home. It got to the point that she is now making wedding cakes, birthday cakes, etc. People want to see pictures, so she decided that she needed a website.

So...we get a domain registered and hosting secured, now we just need the site. While I was layed up from knee surgery, I did some looking, but finally decided to use Publisher to create the site. I got it together and out for the viewing public back in early November. We have added a few pictures since then.

On the way home from Stillwater tonight, I find out that she is really not very happy with the site because it doesn't look professional. I told her in the beginning that I am not a professional nor am I using the best software, but she said it was okay for the start.

So now, do I look for better software, or would we be better off paying someone to build it for us? If software, what recommendations do you have? If paying someone else, who do you recommend and what kind of dollars would we be looking at?


Here is my simple attempt just so you can see where we started. (http://www.lovetobakecakes.com/)

[MemphisPoke]

Pokes Rock:

As a start, and with no experience, I think you did fairly well.

If I had a criticism of the web site it is that the pictures are not very well done. They don't show the detail that a shopper might want to see in selecting a cake, they have no common background and in some cases they were taken on exactly the wrong background (3 layer chocolate cake pic taken on an oak table makes the whole thing look washed out). You can go to a professional (Godaddy.com, etc) and get a better website but without better pictures you are probably not going to get any better results.

Could I suggest that you investigate the picture aspect before you jump out and get a new website. Make a spot where all pictures will be taken/displayed. White background for dark cakes. Black background for white or light colored cakes. All Pictures taken at the same angle and definitely better lighting. On intricate cakes take an overall shot and a closer more defining shot.

A brief description (as you have done on some) of what the cake is might help also. Do this on each and every cake. Entice those looking at the website to want to know more. Emphasize the custom aspect of her abilities more.

Just some suggestions.

[OSU_Fan_In_KS]

I agree with Memphis, I thought you did an excellent job for your first web page.

I also agree with Memphis on the photos. I think if you improve the quality of the photos it will make your page much better. Memphis had some good points and no need for me to rehash.

You might consider talking to a local photographer in Enid, they should have all the gear necessary to get you the quality photos you will need.

Keep playing around with it, find some sites you and your wife like and try to add features to yours.

[Pokes_Rock]

One problem we will have with the pictures is that a lot of times, the cake is finished at 1 in the morning, after the girls go to bed, and then it is delivered the next morning. We have a very good camera (Nikon D100) but don't have any additional equipment. The flash is the pop up flash built into the camera, so we might be able to make some improvements in that area. We started trying to use different backgrounds later on, but I don't think we always chose the right background for the cake, so we will have to continue working on that.

[rodbakeriii]

I too think that's a GREAT effort...and agree about the pictures. People want to SEE what they're getting.

If you would like to do a reciprocal link, hit me up on my site:

www.okcparties.com (http://www.okcparties.com)

The site is going to get an overhaul in the next month or so, but the dfwparties version does VERY well for booking events.

I'm doing some events in the OKC metro area now, and would like to feature a couple of vendors on my page. I'm also looking for a good event photographer to trade links with as well, if anyone knows somebody.

You also need to advertise the page. I use google adwords, and the results have been astounding. I spend about $5/day in DFW, and it brings in a pretty good amount of leads, and a pretty good percentage of them end up booking me.

We can talk about trading leads, I'm always looking for wedding and event vendors to trade leads with.

[Pokes_Rock]

She's still trying to decide how busy she wants to be. She chose not to particpate in a Bridal fair in January after hearing that another cake vendor booked her entire summer on that one day.

Like I said in my first post, this started as a hobby and has grown to something bigger. If the girls were older and were gone to school all day, she would be more willing to take on more business, especially in the larger cake area. As it is now, most of the work cannot be done until after 9pm when the girls go to bed, and she is not much of a night owl. She is willing to do larger cakes, but really wants to have them spaced out so she has time to keep up with other demands.

[rodbakeriii]

For 19 years, I've DJ'd on the side. Last year, when the real estate market was slowing down, I stepped it up out of survival instinct. The business has taken off SO MUCH I'd say 2008's income is probably going to be at least 50% DJ business. I am even toying with the idea of some capital investments in equipment purchases that I can rent to corporations for seminars, meetings, etc. I am also possibly purchasing a dance floor for rent (you'd be amazed at what those cost to rent). Just keep it in mind for when the girls get older. The quality is there, and that will get you as much business as you want.

And any time she does a wedding, have her ask, "have you booked your DJ yet?" If I book a referral, I'll pay you guys a referral fee.

[Ostate]

I think you did a good job for your first time. I just have a few things that hasn't come up yet.

1) remove your address, phone number and email information. You need a contact us form for customers to fill out. posting that info is not safe to do now days. Spam robots will have a day with that info.

2) if you just want a site that will show off the cakes then you just need a page like you have with a gallery of cakes. If you can find frontpage 2003 on ebay then that woulld be a great program for you to use. I know some hate FP but its great for a person to learn on and this has a nice gallery that you can use. and there are 100s of free templates

To get your site on google and other sites then use http://www.submitexpress.com they have some great tools and generators.

If you know the fields that you need to collect from users then i can build a contact form that no spam bot can use your site to send spam or steal emails from.

[Pokes_Rock]

I'm not sure what the standard information is, but I would say that it is name, phone number, email, and a brief message box.

That is basically the plan, show off the cakes (just have to get some better pictures to do so). But I learned last night that she is wanting different galleries, instead of one big one. She wants a wedding cake gallery, birthday cake, fun cakes, pies, etc.

[Ostate]

I'm not sure what the standard information is, but I would say that it is name, phone number, email, and a brief message box.

That is basically the plan, show off the cakes (just have to get some better pictures to do so). But I learned last night that she is wanting different galleries, instead of one big one. She wants a wedding cake gallery, birthday cake, fun cakes, pies, etc.

yes, you need to get the standard info. but you need to collect other stuff too. such as cake type number of people to feed. I am sure you wife can give you a list of items she would want to know from customers.

As for the gallery you can look for a css wedding cake or cake template gallery.

[rodbakeriii]

One word of advice on the form, if you can put some boxes in there that require them to get specific, it will let you know how serious they are.

I've noticed if they take the time to fill out all the blanks (I don't require them to), they're VERY serious about doing business with you.

Also, turnaround time on responding is crucial. I've got it to where it forwards to my cellphone as a text message. Most of the time, I can respond within 15 minutes. When that happens, I close most of them. If it goes over an hour, the closing ratio goes WAY down. If I'm unavailable, and it's the next day, I usually lose it.