Internet Business Fail!!

[itsmefolks]

We have a website that has been running for over 18 months now! We have attracted new custom to the shop from this, but are failing to attract online sales! We have only taken 2 orders via our website in the past year and feel there must be something fundamentally wrong with the site or the online order system.
It would be of great interest if there is anyone out there that may be able to help us with this problem. We have spoke to our web manager who seems to thing “It`s normal”
Anyway thanks in advance anyone who knows better.

Our website is Burnleyhomebrew.co.uk.

Cheers!!
Media URL: http://www.burnleyhomebrew.co.uk/
Description:

[hc4361]

Good website but it is probably your prices that deter online buyers.

There is another online seller cheaper than you, also offering free delivery for goods over £40

[EcclesCake]

As a novice winemaker and having no idea where the nearest home brew shop is I am reliant on the web. Because I am a novice I will favour websites that will offer webchat to answer my questions and give advice.

I suspect that if your offering isn't competitively priced the old hands will stick to who/what they know.

[chrisgel]

I think you need to improve your search engine ranking. I tried searching "Home brew Manchester area" and you didn't feature. "Home brew Burnley" brings you to the top.
Read a couple of sites like these to get tips on how to improve your ranking.

http://www.thesitewizard.com/archive/google.shtml

[mccfluff]

do you pay to have your site bumped up internet search engines?

[DJHawkes]

well i did a google search for home brew supplies and can't see your page come up, I live in the west penines
https://www.google.co.uk/#gs_rn=21&gs_ri=psy-ab&tok=KhSx1tCFQWtLG7rDkCzLtg&pq=home%20brew%20supplies&cp=13&;gs_id=c4&xhr=t&q=home+bargains&es_nrs=true&pf=p&output=search&sclient=psy-ab&;oq=home+bargains&;gs_l=&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_cp.r_qf.&bvm=bv.49478099,d.d2k&fp=533a3e46d4cda24b&biw=1280&bih=580&bs=1

[mccfluff]

if you stick home brew in google, you don't appear in the first few pages

if you're on fb get your page moving, offer an incentive to people to share you page

eg - free kit worth X when you get X amount of likes to go to random person who liked and shared your page

[DJHawkes]

no i didn;t lol i searched for home bargains doh
https://www.google.co.uk/#gs_rn=21&gs_ri=psy-ab&tok=xVlBbsy0oJFISlqprSl6bA&cp=14&gs_id=4k&xhr=t&;q=home+brew+supplies&es_nrs=true&pf=p&output=search&sclient=psy-ab&oq=home+brew+supp&gs_l=&;pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_cp.r_qf.&bvm=bv.49478099,d.d2k&;fp=533a3e46d4cda24b&biw=1280&bih=580

[mccfluff]

speak to your local paper, they will have a digital advertising section, you can get ad's in the paper and online

[plowter]

Do some market research.

Ask customers why they go to the shop rather than the website.
Maybe customers prefer coming to the shop to speak to fellow beer makers.
Where do your shop customers come from - local area or national?
After customers have bought stuff in your shop is the website cheaper or more convenient than the shop?
Do you offer any discount codes for existing customers to use the website?

Three comments on the website.
1. The piccies of the shop look really inviting. If I was a newbie I'd feel happy to come along to your shop for advice.
2. There are no articles on your website. Perhaps add a 'how to get started' section with recommended starter kits. Perhaps include a blog on 'what we're making now'.
3. Poor search engine ranking.

[DJHawkes]

it seems like if you are googling home brew supplies and you are logged in to google then it lists local suppliers. most people will do that, this means that your customers will mainly get to your website who live in your area, you need to then do a search yourself and see who is your competition, compare their product and prices, then perhaps do some research into how popular home brewing is these days, it's perhos a seasonal hobby? my OH used to do his towards autumn ready for Christmas

[itsmefolks]

Cheers guys! It seems we have a lot of work to do!! Many thanks for all the input.

Best regards to all.