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my new web site have a look please!

updated tue 10 oct 06

 

Ingeborg on tue 3 oct 06


Hi clay people,

I finally have a web site. I've tried to muddle thru trying to build my =
own and finally gave up and decided to have one built for me. Our own =
Gail Phillips has built my site. Gail has done a good job in =
interpreting what I want. We both said it would be a work in progress =
and most likely will change and grow as time moves along. It isn't =
completely finished as Gail is waiting for more info from me. =20

I am wondering what all of you think and specifically what you think of =
the logo on top of each page? Is it too much clutter or does it add =
something? I am torn. Looking for inputs if you have time to take a =
look. Thanks to all of you

Sincerely,

Ingeborg


www.thepottersworkshop.com

Lynn Goodman Porcelain Pottery on wed 4 oct 06


Ingeborg,

I think it looks great! The logo is fine as is. The only thing I might
change is the organization of the pictures of your work--it feels a
tiny bit jumbled to me. Otherwise, beautiful.

Lynn


On Oct 3, 2006, at 10:39 PM, Ingeborg wrote:

> Hi clay people,
>
> I finally have a web site. I've tried to muddle thru trying to build
> my own and finally gave up and decided to have one built for me. Our
> own Gail Phillips has built my site. Gail has done a good job in
> interpreting what I want. We both said it would be a work in progress
> and most likely will change and grow as time moves along. It isn't
> completely finished as Gail is waiting for more info from me.
>
> I am wondering what all of you think and specifically what you think
> of the logo on top of each page? Is it too much clutter or does it
> add something? I am torn. Looking for inputs if you have time to
> take a look. Thanks to all of you
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Ingeborg



Lynn Goodman
Fine Porcelain Pottery
Cell 347-526-9805
www.lynngoodmanporcelain.com

Arnold Howard on wed 4 oct 06


From: "Ingeborg"
I finally have a web site. I've tried to muddle thru trying
to build my own and finally gave up and decided to have one
built for me. Our own Gail Phillips has built my site.
-------------

You have a very well designed website. The beautiful logo
enhances it. I especially like the extensive gallery and the
many photos of your studio.

My only suggestion is to lighten the photo of yourself.

Sincerely,

Arnold Howard
Paragon Industries, L.P., Mesquite, Texas USA
ahoward@paragonweb.com / www.paragonweb.com

Jeanette Harris on wed 4 oct 06


Hi, Igenborg,

The opening page certainly screams Florida, but I would like to see
the state added to the address, just to assure me of exactly where
you are........

Also, I like the fact that your page loads quickly and that the
gallery has nice sized full-page images and is not the
click-look-click-look-click-look aaaaaaaagh! variety.

Cheers,
Jeanette in Poulsbo WA


> clay people,
>
>I finally have a web site. I've tried to muddle thru trying to
>build my own and finally gave up and decided to have one built for
>me. Our own Gail Phillips has built my site. Gail has done a good
>job in interpreting what I want. We both said it would be a work in
>progress and most likely will change and grow as time moves along.
>It isn't completely finished as Gail is waiting for more info from
>me.
>
>I am wondering what all of you think and specifically what you think
>of the logo on top of each page? Is it too much clutter or does it
>add something? I am torn. Looking for inputs if you have time to
>take a look. Thanks to all of you
>
>Sincerely,
>
>Ingeborg
>
>
>www.thepottersworkshop.com
>
>______________________________________________________________________________
>Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
>You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
>settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
>Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
>melpots@pclink.com.

L. P. Skeen on wed 4 oct 06


INgeborg, Gail sent me the link several days ago, and I really like the =
page. I especially like how there are so many images to choose from on =
the gallery page, and that each one is linked to a larger image. :) =
Good job Gail!!!

L. P. Skeen, Summerfield NC
Get your 2007 Clay Lover's Calendar at =
http://www.living-tree.net/calendar.htm

----- Original Message -----=20
From: Arnold Howard=20
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG=20
Sent: Wednesday, October 04, 2006 2:16 PM
Subject: Re: My New Web Site Have a look please!


From: "Ingeborg"
I finally have a web site. I've tried to muddle thru trying
to build my own and finally gave up and decided to have one
built for me. Our own Gail Phillips has built my site.
-------------

You have a very well designed website. The beautiful logo
enhances it. I especially like the extensive gallery and the
many photos of your studio.

My only suggestion is to lighten the photo of yourself.

Sincerely,

Arnold Howard
Paragon Industries, L.P., Mesquite, Texas USA
ahoward@paragonweb.com / www.paragonweb.com

=
_________________________________________________________________________=
_____
Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org

You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/

Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at =
melpots@pclink.com.

Ingeborg on fri 6 oct 06


Lynn,

Thanks for your input. I appreciate your time. I will pass your
suggestions on to my web master Gail Phillips.

Ingeborg


---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Ingeborg,
>
> I think it looks great! The logo is fine as is. The only thing I might
> change is the organization of the pictures of your work--it feels a
> tiny bit jumbled to me. Otherwise, beautiful.
>
> Lynn
>
>
> On Oct 3, 2006, at 10:39 PM, Ingeborg wrote:
>
>> Hi clay people,
>>
>> I finally have a web site. I've tried to muddle thru trying to build
>> my own and finally gave up and decided to have one built for me. Our
>> own Gail Phillips has built my site. Gail has done a good job in
>> interpreting what I want. We both said it would be a work in progress
>> and most likely will change and grow as time moves along. It isn't
>> completely finished as Gail is waiting for more info from me.
>>
>> I am wondering what all of you think and specifically what you think
>> of the logo on top of each page? Is it too much clutter or does it
>> add something? I am torn. Looking for inputs if you have time to
>> take a look. Thanks to all of you
>>
>> Sincerely,
>>
>> Ingeborg
>
>
>
> Lynn Goodman
> Fine Porcelain Pottery
> Cell 347-526-9805
> www.lynngoodmanporcelain.com
>
> ______________________________________________________________________________
> Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
> settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
> melpots@pclink.com.
>

Tony Ferguson on sat 7 oct 06


Ingeborg,

Nice website. I would reorganize your images into pages that show no more than 10 to 20 on a page along with descriptions of the work, firing temperature, etc. Simply just having icons of your work up isn't enough. I would also reduce the size of the images to 640 x 480 and have multiple shots including details of the work--at least 4 images 6 is better. You want to just short of them actually holding your work in their hands, visually experience the work in almost nearly that way. You want to make their decision to buy work easy. Having more images of you work will also reduce the chance of returns.

All the best

Tony Ferguson





Tony Ferguson
315 N. Lake Ave. Apt 312
Duluth, MN 55806
...where the sky meets the lake...
Duluth, Minnesota
Artist, Educator, Web Meister
fergyart@yahoo.com
(218) 727-6339
http://www.tonyferguson.net
http://www.aquariusartgallery.com




---------------------------------
Get your email and more, right on the new Yahoo.com

Ingeborg on sun 8 oct 06


Hi Tony,

Thanks for your input. Since you build web sites, you obviously know what
you are talking about. I will pass the info on to Gail since I am not the
one who built the site. She is the expert at this stuff. Presently, she is
quite busy with a host of other things and I don't know if she is monitoring
clayart. I don't know if anyone will actually purchase from my site. I am,
however, hopeful. More than anything, I thought it would be helpful for my
existing customers who live out of state to be able to view and hopefully
purchase items prior to their migration south. Many of them don't come to
Florida until after Christmas. It will be interesting to see if and what
happens.

Thanks,

Ingeborg

www.thepotterworkshop.com





> Ingeborg,
>
> Nice website. I would reorganize your images into pages that show no
> more than 10 to 20 on a page along with descriptions of the work, firing
> temperature, etc. Simply just having icons of your work up isn't enough.
> I would also reduce the size of the images to 640 x 480 and have multiple
> shots including details of the work--at least 4 images 6 is better. You
> want to just short of them actually holding your work in their hands,
> visually experience the work in almost nearly that way. You want to make
> their decision to buy work easy. Having more images of you work will also
> reduce the chance of returns.
>
> All the best
>
> Tony Ferguson
>
>
>
>
>

Ingeborg on sun 8 oct 06


Tony Ferguson said,

I would reorganize your images into pages that show no more than 10 to 20 on
a page along with descriptions of the work, firing temperature, etc. >
>>

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tony,

I wanted to add one item to my previous post: in response to your comment.


I don't know who your customer base is and they may very well be different
from mine but my experience is that people quite frankly don't give a hoot
about firing temperature, glazes and all of that other information that
potters really want to know. They either like the color or they don't.
They care about the price and how it will fit in with their other things.

I sent away for the CD from Bruce....his last name now eludes me on how to
sell your work. One of the things he brings up is how potters bore people
about all of the glaze/firing info. His suggestion was to save it for other
potters that people just don't care. After listening to his tape I tried
some of the techniques and quite frankly people who come into my shop just
want something that appeals to them, fits whatever function they have in
mind and they don't care about the details so I have worked hard at NOT
boring them with the details. Not always easy when I am excited about a
new glaze or a new way to use an old glaze.

Sincerely,

Ingeborg
the Potter's Workshop & Gallery
www.thepottersworkshop.com

Jennifer Boyer on mon 9 oct 06


Hi Ingeborg,

This is SO true, in my experience as well. You are probably talking
about Bruce Baker - http://bbakerinc.com/ who has some great CD's on
selling and business practices for craftspeople. He lives near me in
Vermont so I have seen a bunch of his live talks. He is a jeweler and
his wife has worked in and owned craft galleries for decades so he
has a lot of hands on experience. I see a lot of web sites of
potters that focus on techie aspects of the work. This is great for
other potters, but I know that non-potting customers' eyes are
glazing over. There is so much to communicate to customers about the
work, from the potter's own creative vision to simple care and use
instructions! I think potters with new businesses are SO proud to
have mastered the huge learning curve it takes to start selling their
work that they tend to want to brag a bit about the techie stuff, but
they will learn that this is not a valuable part of the sales pitch
in the end..
Take Care
Jennifer
On Oct 8, 2006, at 9:58 PM, Ingeborg wrote:

> Tony Ferguson said,
>
> I would reorganize your images into pages that show no more than 10
> to 20 on
> a page along with descriptions of the work, firing temperature,
> etc. >
>>>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> --------------------------------------------------
> Tony,
>
> I wanted to add one item to my previous post: in response to your
> comment.
>
>
> I don't know who your customer base is and they may very well be
> different
> from mine but my experience is that people quite frankly don't give
> a hoot
> about firing temperature, glazes and all of that other information
> that
> potters really want to know. They either like the color or they
> don't.
> They care about the price and how it will fit in with their other
> things.
>

*****************************
Jennifer Boyer
Thistle Hill Pottery
Montpelier, VT
http://thistlehillpottery.com
*****************************

Maurice Weitman on mon 9 oct 06


Tony Ferguson said:
>I would reorganize your images into pages that show no more than 10
>to 20 on a page along with descriptions of the work, firing
>temperature, etc. >

to which Ingeborg replied:
>[...] I don't know who your customer base is and they may very well
>be different from mine

I think it's important to understand your customer base. Tony's is
obviously different than Ingeborg's.

At the same time, why limit your market to those to whom you now
sell? Or to those you perceive might be interested in your work? If
someone stumbles into your web site, why not seek to include those
who might appreciate additional information? It doesn't have to be
overwhelming... perhaps just a link to info on glazes, making, and
firing info.

Also, it appears that in some respects, Tony's site is geared to
promoting and selling his work and workshops, while Ingeborg's is, at
least in its present form, more of an informational site, a presence
on the web. Each is a valid use of the web.

Now I've got a question for Tony. First, your work is stunning and
its presentation on your site is impressive. I appreciate the
structure of your "Art Work Available" page, with its thumbnails
which I suppose are meant to be representative of the works the links
lead to. But they don't. For instance, the first link "Works 1-10,"
shows what looks like a teapot. But there's no teapot on the ensuing
page. And "Works 71-80" shows what appears to be pot (or should I
call it "Art Work"?) #12.

I hope these are errors, and you're not just using random images.

Also, the first linked image on the Past Work Samples page goes to
work141-150.htm which doesn't load for me.

And Tony, you say "You want to make their decision to buy work easy"
so why do you not have prices (and in some cases, sizes) on your
page? I'm sure you've thought about this and I'd love to understand
how you made your decision.

Regards,
Maurice

ps Bruce Baker is the man I believe Ingeborg refers to. I bought
his "selling" CD and learned and reaffirmed a lot from him and his
CD. I also took a two-day workshop of his that covered selling,
booth design, and jury slide presentation. He is, as should be
obvious from his promotional materials or CDs, a great salesman and
marketer (and self-promoter). And although he says he loves and
understands potters and pottery, he is/was a jeweler. Yes, they're
both 3-D, and possibly both gift items, but they are also quite
different.