What do YOU the Customer want in a Web Site or Help Me desing my new site

W

Will Leavitt

Joined
Jul 28, 2006
Messages
3,953
Okay, I've got a domain name, host and all that stuff. I'm doing a new and improved website. What do customers want to see in a knifemaker's site? I'm asking you guys to help me design my site so if you don't like it I can blame you :D

Here are the pages I already have made up:

Welcome-greetings and salutations and thanks for coming to see me

About me- little bio, why I started and continue to make knives

My Philosphy- my thought, theories (right or wrong lol) and why I do what I do :foot:

On the bench- pictures of knives during contruction, not sure if this should be updated or kinda made into a photo tutorial of the various knives I make

Gallery

For sale

Contact page

Links

Is there anything you would like added or subtracted from that list? I know that picture quality is paramount. What do you want from a knifemaker's website?? :confused:
 
Hi Will

How bout some testimonials and quotes about your knives from some of your customers, or peers. I'd think that would be interesting.

All the best.
 
I really like a "click to enlarge" feature on the pics.

Definitely something about what you're doing currently. There may be a reason I'm not aware of, but I always wonder why makers don't post what they take to shows.
 
Minimize the text. I went overboard.

Clear photos. Click to enlarge as was asked.

A clear and smiling photo of yourself. I'm not kidding. You want to show the internet audience a real person, not just talk about him.

Don't talk to the viewer in the third person: eg. 'Will builds the quality in each and every knife. When you order a knife from Will Leavitt knives you will be guaranteed satisfaction." Why website writers do this so often is beyond me.

Links on every page to take you back. Two click to get anywhere on the site.

Coop
 
Prices -- of both the for sale and the sold. collectors like to have a clue as to what cost they can either expect from you the maker or on secondary market purchase.

as Coop said -- quality images showing all aspects of the knives in gallery and for sale. If you don't do multiple images such as Coop, then check out the Bladegallery.com site and see how Dan O'Malley presents the knives he has available.
 
SharpByCoop said:
Minimize the text. I went overboard.

Clear photos. Click to enlarge as was asked.

A clear and smiling photo of yourself. I'm not kidding. You want to show the internet audience a real person, not just talk about him.

Don't talk to the viewer in the third person: eg. 'Will builds the quality in each and every knife. When you order a knife from Will Leavitt knives you will be guaranteed satisfaction." Why website writers do this so often is beyond me.

Links on every page to take you back. Two click to get anywhere on the site.

Coop
Click to expand...

Excellent advice. I agree on everything except the clear smiling photo of yourself. You're selling knives - not furniture or used cars. Let the knives speak for themselves and avoid the pitfall of making the site too much about you. The personal touch will show through in your philosophy and your work. Clear, properly lit photos are a no-brainer but you see sloppy pictures all the time. ... oh, and keep it tasteful - you know, have a bikini model holding up each knife ;) --ok, i'm kidding there.:foot:
 
SplittinHairs said:
Excellent advice. I agree on everything except the clear smiling photo of yourself. You're selling knives - not furniture or used cars.
Click to expand...
Wrong, wrong, wrong. If you have been following threads in this forum for the past year, by every measure you are selling yourself. We can disagree, but I want to make this super clear and unmistaken.

A handmade or custom knife is priced substantially more than a production knife, because we are willing to pay more for a single-maker process. Show them who that maker is, they are 'investing' in.

You are also selling yourself, through your knives.

Coop
 
Soooooo a clear picture of me smiling in a bikini?? :barf: :D

I plan on using click to enlarge thumbnails. I like those and they help load pages faster.

The Will doesn't understand why people write in the third person. Will was taught to write using the active voice but Will tends to write in Japanese redneckedness.

Thanks, this is a lot of help.
 
Will,
In-process photos and shop tours are also cool - they give the customer a glimpse into what goes into the construction of a custom knife.
 
Will, where are you in Alabama ? I am up around Gadsden.

Does this from your profile .... Occupation: Crash Test Dummy for Hyundai ..... imply you are from around Montgomery somewhere ??? :D
 
A picture of yourself is a good idea. It puts a face on the name and conects the buyer to the maker and the knife. A picture of you doing what you enjoy would be nice whether hunting, fishing or whatever.


Mitch
 
FAQ and some techn. info .. like why you selected the steel or materials you are using.
 
i have bought 9 custom knives in the last 6 months directly from the knife makers. i really appreciate a picture of the person i am dealing with. the process always involves email and usually telephone conversation. i do not consider that i am just buying a knife, but developing a relationship with the knife maker that may well lead me to buying more knives from that maker. a custom knife is more than just another knife. it also contains,embodies the vision, artistry,work, efforts and care of the maker. to see a decent picture of the maker helps me feel more connected to that maker. but not a picture of the maker in a bikini. rather one with things that are important to that individual, like maybe with their children or dog, home or workshop in the background. it all helps me round out my overall impression of the person who made the knife and makes the knife even more special. perhaps even having such a picture on your business card to include with the knife.
one knife maker includes this as well as a paper with my name on it, picture of knife and its specifications and purchase price. very nice to keep just in case there is a future insurance claim for loss by fire or theft. a very professional "finishing" touch. roland
 
On my last site I thought maybe I had too many pictures of my children and friends. Had a whole page devoted to my son and his best friend's attempts to make knives and sheaths.

My children will be helping me with my website as an educational tool and also to let them be involved without getting dirty. I keep trying to convince them to become sheathmakers but no luck there :rolleyes:

Roland, those are very good ideas. I'm not good with names but I'm great with remembering faces, I guess it's a holdover from my days as a bouncer but I remember people's faces in categories. I'm not sure most printing company's workman's comp insurance will cover them having to look at my face but I think that's a great idea.

Thanks guys, if you have any more suggestions please let me know.
 
Prices. Prices. Prices. (or at least a "range" - eg. "This knife costs $350 to $600, depending on materials requested.")

Thumbnails that you can "Click to enlarge!" - with one caveat: PLEASE make sure the enlargement is at least 30% or so larger than the thumbnail! It infuriates me to click on a thumbnail only to get an "enlargement" that is the same size as the thumbnail! I run into this all the time! :mad:
 
Hi there

Regarding the knives, pics first, size and for sure prices if you don't want ton
of @mail asking you your prices ranges.

Pics of you also may help to have a beeter feeling to the knifemaker.
 
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