Progressive Logistics- Review my new site

**rogercbryan** · 08-24-2008 10:08 AM

Progressive Logistics Group

I'm not all that thrilled with the site right now... but I would appreciate some feedback to see if I'm being to hard on my developer.

What do you all think of having music on a site like this? This company is going to do $1M+ in sales next year... does it seem cheap (the music & design) for a company this size?

**MoneyMagnet** · 08-24-2008 01:55 PM

I really dislike having music on a website. The colors of the site don't match/flow in my opinion.

**flnazrael** · 08-24-2008 02:23 PM

Yeah, startup music is really annoying. I don't understand the point of the music on 99% of the websites that have it.

For some sites it's OK, like a church website. A workaround we're doing for a current project is to have a popup that visitors can request which contains an mp3 music player.

Also, it may be a $3000 custom job, but my immediate impression is that this is a modified Flash template from somewhere like Template Monster, however, most visitors won't have any idea of that so I guess in the end, it doesn't really matter.

**rogercbryan** · 08-24-2008 02:49 PM

I'm getting rid of the music... I hate working with developers... it seems that no matter how detailed your rfp is you still do not get what you envisioned.

**Inglesa** · 08-24-2008 06:16 PM

No, no, NO!!!

I took a good look round the site. Questions:

1. Who are your customers? Do you feel this site will instill confidence in them regarding the services you offer them? The site isn't for you. It doesn't matter whether it is exactly how YOU want it. The site is for your customers. Will THEY feel happy with it?

I'm presuming you work in the B2B area, in which case your clients will be looking for a strongly corporate feel to your image and marketing in order to feel 'safe' doing business with you.

This site, beautifully structured and pretty though its pastel-shaded palette is, smacks of a small company being run out of an upstairs back bedroom. If that is the image you wish to portray then, kudos, the design is perfect.

Personally, I'm a one-woman-band and I market myself as such - my clients enjoy working with someone who is kooky, chatty, and offers a 'personal touch' - just like them.

However, from my previous 17 years experience working on websites with large organisations and multi-nationals corps, I can say with confidence that this website would have struggled to make it into the top 3 list of Preferred Suppliers unless we had received a personal recommendation from another client/worker who knew what they were talking about. Shallow? Yes, undoubtedly. But there's a heck of a lot of competition out there and sometimes you genuinely only have time to judge on a company's image/marketing alone.

2. Respectfully, have you reviewed all of the text within the site? Clarity of language is important, even in the corporate world, and some of the text on the site does not really tell me anything. "We consult, advise mastermind and personally strategize your logistical breakthroughs." What does that actually mean?

The text at the bottom of the home page under the title 'Success' doesn't add to my knowledge of what you are offering, nor does it entice me to stay and read further. a) What exactly are you selling? b) What's in it for me? Those are the two questions every surfer will want to know instantly when they get to your site. You have 7 seconds to capture their attention. Be warned...

Article - not for your market, but the principles are the same.

3. Templates are great - as long as they are representative of your business. I love templates. They save time, and allow for quick development of ideas and concepts. But this one simply does not match the services you are offering (in my v. humble opinion anyway).

4. The music must go! Or at least be changed from the jazzy, lounge vibe to something more in keeping with your business image (whatever that might be). flnazrael is absolutely right - music works best with certain types of sites. I created a site for an RV park situated way out in the countryside. The owner says new clients say they chose her because they loved hearing the music on the website with the singing birds, the babbling brook and the distant pastoral panpipes. This would be horrid on any other website, but in this case - IT ACTUALLY BRINGS IN NEW CUSTOMERS!

Everything on your site must be geared towards doing precisely the same thing - bringing in the clients and their dollars...

I know it sounds as though I'm being mean here - I'm not at all. I'm hoping that you will accept my comments in the spirit of helpfulness with which it is given.

Good luck!