Finally taken action and would really welcome some constructive criticism (3)
Finally taken action and would really welcome some constructive criticism
Apologies, I've accidently posted this in a Facebook thread and I can't seem to delete the original, so I'm reposting it here.
’ve dipped in and out of the forum for years and never taken action on one thing (tyre kicker, window shopper)! This year I decided that I was going to take action and try something at least. Ecommerce seemed to offer the lowest barrier to entry so I thought I’d start there
Here is the fruit (or is it fruits?) of my recent labour https://tenbyleather.com/ I’d love if I could get some feedback on it. I’ve been sending paid traffic (Google and Bing) for about a week, only gotten around 160 visits but no sales, have had a few add to carts. Haven’t tried Facebook yet as I’m still getting my head around it
If I’m honest this project was just to get me off my arse and try something, I’ve procrastinated for years and if it’s a failure my attitude is learn from it and move on. It doesn’t look as if I’m going to retire soon off the back of this, but if you can suggest and obvious improvements I’d really welcome the input.
I hope to be sticking around for a while, so I promise to write up a proper intro soon
Thanks
Marc
Hi Marc! Congratulations on finally taking some action!
Your site is a very good start! Taking some action first to get things rolling and THEN improving on it is a very good strategy - especially for perfectionists and people that tend to procrastinate due to any other reason. (I know because I have the same problem).
But next, let's see how we can improve on that - because that was why you made the post in the first place. 
I did 5 minutes of research: Apparently messenger bags has a decent level of demand, as can be seen from here:
(Reference: https://www.grandviewresearch.com/in...y-cases-market)
Overall speaking, the bags industry (not for messenger bags specifically, but all bags in general) is on a growth trend, which is great:
(Reference: https://www.statista.com/outlook/358...de#market-arpu)
The same page also shows stats by age and gender - too bad they're not for messenger bags but bags in general. But you should be reminded to look for age and gender trends when running campaigns on FB for example.
The same page also tells us what the top geos are, as well as % penetration:
Again, stats for for bags in general but can still be used as a guide. So if you're targeting the US, good job!
Here's another report that indicates the messenger bag market will be trending up from this year to year 2025:
(Reference: http://downeygazette.com/messenger-b...19-2025/20451/)
...although it doesn't tell us what the top geos are (will need to buy the report to find out - but we don't need such detailed information for initial testing - we've seen enough evidence to indicate that the US would be worth a shot, and with more testing we can find out if we could make it work).
The same page also shows the major players in this market. These will help us later on with advertising angles, product descriptions, etc.:
In the same screenshot are the major materials messenger bags are made from: Canvas and leather. And based on the products on your site, you're focusing on the higher-end leather bags.
So we know Samsonite is one of the top brands, so let's check them out:
https://shop.samsonite.com/bags/messenger-bags/
This one for example:
https://shop.samsonite.com/samsonite...bags-messenger
I bet you can adapt some of these benefits and features to YOUR site!
Next, we find customer testimonials. Amazon is usually the first place I look. (For certain goods, you can also look for niche forums. Sometimes I'd browse customer feedback on dropshipping sites like Aliexpress.)
On Amazon.com I do a search on "Samsonite messenger bags" and found a couple of products that have a ton of reviews:
https://www.amazon.com/Samsonite-Col...0397&s=gateway
https://www.amazon.com/Samsonite-Cla...g=spyonsite-20
What are we looking for exactly? Let's take the first product, the Samsonite Columbian Leather Flapover case.
-What do people LIKE about them? Read some of the 5-star reviews. Look for attributes YOUR bags also have, and make them into selling points!
e.g. Plenty of room inside
e.g. Style suitable for both professional and casual use so people aren't limited to using it for just work/play
-How are people benefiting from certain features?
e.g. "There are two zippered compartments which I like so that when the flap is open, people can't see everything your lugging around."
e.g. "It makes you to stand out as an organized person because of the advantage it offers you for having your pens, cords, and other accessories well kept in the existing compartments at its back. These are items, which you may otherwise carry in your trouser pockets and that is so untidy and bulky if you are looking for a chance of presenting a business look."
-What gripes do people have? Read some of the critical reviews (1 or 2 stars) to find out. Look for opportunities to say "this bag does NOT have this shortcoming" about your bags.
e.g. "Unfortunately two pieces of metal hardware broke apart in the last month"
e.g. "used it for half a year and now the strap is broken."
So you can say for example "zippers and strap are made to last and won't break easily" (only if it's true for your product of course - otherwise, be prepared for the requests for refunds).
-What questions are people asking? Browse through the "Customer questions & answers" section to pick relevant ones and built an "FAQ" section in your product description, to address questions your potential buyers will have before they order!
Another angle: Try using "Cheaper than Samsonite" in your ads - make sure it doesn't go against your local law or the terms of the traffic source where you're advertising though. This general angle has worked well for me on a plethora of products and services.
Also: In the product description, try to use bullet points and VERY short paragraphs as much as possible. People don't like reading walls of text or long sentences. Short points and lots of white space is the way to go. Rewrite everything several times to make sure you can't make things any shorter without making it confusing or hard-to-read.
And remember that all this research you do can also be worked into your ads! Not just for content on your site. (And for ads, brevity would be even MORE important.)
It would also be essential to have a UVP. Example: You're purchasing from the best suppliers in Asia to ensure good quality for cheap pricing - which allows you to sell for cheaper. Shipping for all products is free. (Also consider including tax in the product price - then you can say Great Quality + Cheap Pricing + Free Shipping + Tax Included which would be amazing to include in your ad.)
Don't be afraid to start an FB page for your site and start running some ads! You can just use static product images in the beginning - those would be more than good enough to do initial testing with. Test different headlines and ad text. Target men in all age groups to see which age groups convert the best.
If you see some promise in your ad campaign, build an individual site for your best product - if done correctly this can improve your conversion rate. You can even look for related products you can use as upsells and downsells.
One step at a time though. Definitely improve your site first - everything else can follow.
Amy
Wow! Thanks Amy that's a lot of feedback to work through, I really appreciate it
Home > eCommerce >