My First Time

[JulesLuke]

Hello everyone.

I am completerly new to website affiliate marketing and I am about to launch my very first attempt. It is an online shopping directory that concentrates on UK High Street stores.

www.theshoppingarcade.co.uk

Any comments/suggestions would be much appreciated.

Jules Lukaweckyj

[drivetowin]

On the plus side - it's nicely designed and navigation is logical

On the minus side, it's a shopping portal which has been done to death millions of times already so adds nothing new - I wish you luck with it but as a) it is far from unique and b) each page has almost zero textual content, unless you're going to promote it using ppc your chance of making any money with it is practically zero.

[Lee_Owen]

A great site, stick with it, I'm about to tackle one of my old shopping directories, I've been putting it off for months, there's at least 400 new programs that can be listed these days.

As it's your first foray into AF, as today seems like my first still although knowledge base far greater, continue with that, keep the menu etc as it's a decent looking site, you've got to the section linking and simply listing merchants, your next step might be to add a manual feed (content unit), they're not the simplest things to use infact most networks are a bloody nightmare.

But next up try adding content units, then you can learn datafeeds (still aint done that myself) the above is a start and it looks great, you do need text though unless you're just driving traffic to it.

Main Page > Section > Category > End Link (current)

Main Page > Section > Category > Retailer > Product Catagory > Individual Products > End Link

Main Page > Section > Category > Product Category > Individual Products > End Link

Add search. Add reviews of merchant or products.

Shopping directories have moved on, I don't half need to update mine, three years and counting.

[JulesLuke]

Thanks for your comments KBudden.

I agree there are a lot of shopping portals out there. I have yet to find a portal that's easy to navigate, paging down can go on forever and generally very difficult to locate the stores I want... try finding Jaeger on one as an example. So, 'is there a simple/easy to use shopping site out there' - there is now. My feedback has been pretty good with comments lilke 'it's one of the easiest sites to use'.

With Xmas coming up I'll soon find out.

Many thanks again, and I'll let you know how things turn out in a few months
Jules

[JulesLuke]

Thanks Lee

Your comments are much appreciated and very valid. As the build up to Xmas starts I will be adding some deeplinking to products - perhaps in the form Top 10's (DVD, CD, Toys, mp3's etc. etc.)

However, I am trying to create a site for people to go and shop. It is based on the High Street and people generally know where they want to shop. I want people to be able to access the site, go where they want to go, make their purchase and job done.

Perhaps I am wrong here but I think there is too much information being added to sites for the sake of it... it would be different if it was an informative site. I think addition of a Shopping Forum (which could include site reviews) and some recommendation should just about bring it up to speed.

What's the address of your old directory?

Cheers
Jules

[zinc]

Nice site Jules. However I do agree with the comments. You NEED to get some text on there for the search engines otherwise this will get lost in the universe that is shopping portals.

Unless you are considering running an agressive adwords campaign of course...

Good Job!

-Ben

[t4tom4]

Yeh - I'd have to agree, the layout and presentation is good and with Xmas coming up, it's prob a good time to take a punt! Good Luck with it!

[1BIZLIST]

Firstly I like the look of the site, but also have to agree with the comments already made.

By JulesLuke It is based on the High Street and people generally know where they want to shop.

This is the exact reason why you might want to add some extra content, why would someone buy from Argos through your site and not just go straight to Argos' site, otherwise?

By JulesLuke Perhaps I am wrong here but I think there is too much information being added to sites for the sake of it...

With more and more affiliate sites being added to the SERPS everyday I guess there is more and more reason to add unique content.

All of the above is irrelevant if you are looking to use PPC only as stated already.

But you definately have a great user interface there, very nice indeed.

Mark.

[JulesLuke]

Thanks Guys. You've given me a lot to think about.