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m400
Joined: Nov 08, 2007
# Posts: 5
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Posted: 11/08/2007 02:08 am
Name of Site/Business: going-prague.com
Site's Main Purpose: Ecommerce/Sales
Please Review the following:
Does the home page sufficiently convince people to go further into the site?
Does/can the site achieve its main purpose?
Search engine marketing. Can the pages be reasonably well indexed by search engines?
Additional Comments/Notes
This is new website-launched on 8/07 and we will appreciate any help or suggestions.
Thank you.
M.
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ClickIt
Joined: Jul 31, 2000
# Posts: 731
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Posted: 11/08/2007 05:13 pm
I'm not overly impressed with the URL. Personally, I don't care for any hyphenated domain names. And in this case, the name in not grammatically correct. I am concerned that the URL will give you an extra burden for your branding purposes. Will people remember your non-grammatic hyphanated name? Maybe. Maybe not.
If at all possible, I'd try to get a better URL; buy it in the secondary market if you have to do so.
The site looks fine - but not super. Not to be harsh, but it looks like a template site. What's unique about this site, as opposed to the 4 million other travel Web sites? What's super special about THIS site?
OK, now that I have done nothing but say harsh things to you, do keep up the good work. Prague is a wonderful city, and you do have a viable market to tap into.
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Quadrille
Insider
Joined: Nov 15, 2000
# Posts: 985
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Posted: 11/08/2007 05:46 pm
I don't think a hyphenated name will do you any harm at all, and it does have certain advantages (very small, but every bit helps).
As the site is established, to rebuild now with a new name would be suicidal; you'd be starting from nothing all over again. And lets face it, the travel industry is not exactly famous for 'grammatically correct' domain names; we all know what you mean, and few will be typing that name, most will be clicking in Google, is my guess!
I'm guessing your site is an affiliate (please say if I'm wrong, and accept my apologies!), in which case you need to build unique descriptions. Your English is not perfect, but that might actually help as it can give you individuality and uniquity - with no real problems of understanding.
I do believe the site needs to be clearer about its target audience; you don't want visitors going "Whoops, this site isn't meant for me". It's an English language site that deals in Euro and Koruna, but not GB pounds. That isn't a death sentence, but it does need explaining if you are aiming at a UK readership.
"Credit Cards are not accepted, payment in cash required." Huh? Are you asking people to send used notes in the post? Korunas? From England? I don't think so.
You don't need me to tell you it's a crowded market with cut throat competition ... how are you doing so far?
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m400
Joined: Nov 08, 2007
# Posts: 5
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Posted: 11/08/2007 10:15 pm
Thank you ClickIt,
I know, that domain name is not grammatically correct - it was a purpose. And you are right - it is a template site.
I'm not saying, that our site is the BEST ... basically, it's a baby and we are working on it, that's why I was asking about some critique, so thank you 
M.
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m400
Joined: Nov 08, 2007
# Posts: 5
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Posted: 11/08/2007 10:31 pm
And thank you, Quadrille ....
you are wrong (sorry) - this is definitely NOT affiliate site, but please tell me, how did you get this impression - this makes me quite nervous, as this is truly OUR site.So far, half of our descriptions are unique and we are working on it.
We actually deal with CZK, EUR, GBP and USD ...as CZK is still our official currency, we have to use CZK as main currency, but prices are re-calculated in other currencies as well.
Some apartments owner, can't accept Credit Cards, so they do require payment in cash, upon arrival of the guests ( we don't charge any deposit in advance, so no- we don't ask anybody to send cash in advance ). Actually, you are right about that sentence - we should make it more clearer and we will do so.(Thank you).
How we are doing so far? You just said it - this is crowded market nad we are up since August, so nothing much is happening - that's why we re-writing our descriptions and working on unique content of our site.
Any other hints are much appreciated.Thank you.
Martina
But be nice: we are two girls - we don't have any team behind our backs and all SEO work is done by us
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Quadrille
Insider
Joined: Nov 15, 2000
# Posts: 985
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Posted: 11/09/2007 03:05 am
I did a few text searches, and came up with other sites having the same stuff; I only did a few, so it was just luck that produced over half; but keep going; extra text and unique text - compared to the competition - is one of the best ways to help your site in the search results.
You do need to match your message with your target audience, and you do need to be clear who they are.
This may mean separate sections in different languages, but it definitelty means sorting out the currency business.
You'll never do well asking the English for Koruna when your rivals ask for pounds: sorry, but that's the way it is.
And I think you need to sort out the credit card business; maybe take a deposit? But asking for credit card details while saying they'll be paying cash at the hotel is - to the English mind - weird; and doesn't give any security to the hotel, either.
I don't doubt your integrity and honesty - but if people visit two sites; one is complex and a little weird, one is simple and straightforward, they'll go for simple. And with travel, visiting several sites before buying is very common.
Good Luck; enjoy your Staropramen!
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treat_cancer_nl
Joined: Aug 28, 2007
# Posts: 33
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Posted: 11/09/2007 05:51 am
Wow it looks great! Yes it really convinces me to take a better look at the site. There is one thing tought... maybe you should add more pictures of prague. Because the site looks a littlebit empty, it contains very little nice pictures of prague.
How about making the background picture a typical cosy prague market. With prague people walking around. You should place the background picture behind
Praha, Prague, Praga, Prag – there are many names for this city of „Thousands Spines“ – capital of Czech Republic.
Perhaps create a table there with background image.
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m400
Joined: Nov 08, 2007
# Posts: 5
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Posted: 11/12/2007 02:32 am
Thanks Quadrille - content is king, right ? We are using Copyscape and I believe, that our content will be unique - it's going slowly, but I think, that we are getting there.
I'm taking your point with Credit Cards - I thought, that we are quite clear, that we don't ask to pay any deposit, but of course, that we need to keep records of cards, just in case, that our guest will cancel later, than stated in our cancellation policy. I guess, that's our only "catch" - if we can call it like that, however I think, that putting our cancellation policy on each page is quite clear.
You are definitely right about being more clearer regarding payment options and I'll work on it ... not sure how - you are more than welcome to help meStaropramen is on me!
We are quite aware about our better competition, but I honestly don't consider our site as "weird" .. it's autumn - do you really want to make me even more depressed? Just kidding ...
Thank you again for taking your time to review our site - much appreciated.
Martina
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m400
Joined: Nov 08, 2007
# Posts: 5
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Posted: 11/12/2007 02:37 am
Hello Steven,
thank you so much - brilliant idea. I'm actually about to buy more pictures and put them on our site, as you are right - it's quite empty.
Not sure about background picture so far, but we will try that as well.
Thank you ...
Martina
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