Appearance Critique
When looking at arngren.net, it is overwhelming. There is a lot happening and a lot of scrolling, but not a lot of information that a customer is likely looking for.
There is no contact information available on the homepage or within a navigation bar that a person searching the site could easily find. Contact information should be listed in the footer especially if a customer and/or vendor has any questions. While this website was done objectively, it is not reaching its full potential.
The website's purpose is to sell various items. Although it appears to have a large inventory of items, the way the website is designed will detract buyers from making a purchase. One thing that should be kept in mind is that people like to look at websites with a grid system. Using a grid system for a website keeps your content aligned vertically (and in some cases, horizontally as well). This makes it not only attractive to people who come to your site, but it also is faster to download for some customers who may have older computers and/or monitors.
A structured website would utilize a grid system, navigation menu, responsive web design, accessibility, and if possible, multimedia. These can be implemented over time.
Pros
An effective tool used on the website is the photos of items. This conveys to the consumer exactly what they are getting. The site map is well-done. All the categories are laid out in alphabetical order. Contact information is found on the payment page and is visible.
Cons
The effectiveness of the website is lost on consumers who do visit. They will not know where to start or how to contact you if they do not want to purchase something. Moreover, encryption serv ices are not provided for any payments. Specifically, bank accounts should not be listed on a website nor should banking credentials be discussed via email.
In conclusion, keep the website design simple. Anything overcomplicated will ward off a potential customer and/or vendor. Make sure to have the necessary web site fundamentals such as grid system, simplicity, ease of navigation, responsive web design, accessibility, etc. Look into other ways of selling your items such as through eBay or Shopify as they both have encrypted ways for payment.
Link: Arngren