Name of your website?Roksport Surf
Your name?
Phil Croucher
Your Location (city, etc)
Carmarthenshire
When did you start your website and why?
We started this website in February 2007. We have been running a rugby specialist website over the last few years http://www.roksport.com and have decided to make the surfwear items from our high street shops available on the internet.
Please give us a short summary of your website, business model, etc
Our website is split into mens and ladies sections with different site designs for each section. The site can be searched by brand or category and has a dedicated sale page. We aim to provide detailed images of our products so our customers can get a very good feel for the product before making a purchase.
What has been the most difficult part of creating and running your website?
Getting all the products from the store photographed and added to the website prior to launch was the most challenging and time consuming activity.
What has been the easist part of operating your website?
Handling orders and stock management has worked very well, the software we are using has a very streamlined process for handling all aspects of the online business and ensures we can offer high quality customer service.
What was your biggest mistake?
Setting up google ads for highly competitive terms.
Who maintains your website and why?
The website development and technical issues are maintained by myself. Order processing and customer service are maintained by various trained staff.
Tell us how your business has benefitted from your website?
We have expanded our customer base to an international audience and have built up good relationships with our customers via a quality service and regular newsletter offers and updates.
What are your views on ecommerce and the future of the internet?
I feel that ecommerce and the future of the internet will continue to grow as more people gain access to computers and begin to feel more confident ordering online.
What are your views on Search Engine Optimization (SEO)?
I feel that SEO is an essential part of building a website and must not be ignored if you wish to attract a suitable targetted audience via a generic search. You must however be careful that your efforts to optimise your website for search engines does not have a negative effect to the usabiity of your website.
What are your views on Search Engines? Have they helped or hindered your website?
Search engines are key to getting targetted traffic to our website. Google offers many web master tools and information about how to gain good listings within its results and about avoiding being blacklisted.
What method has been most successful for promoting your website?
Search Engine Optimisation and Web Promotion have provided the best Return On Investment.
What method has been least successful for promoting your website?
Initial google adwords on generic terms has offered the lowest ROI.
What would you like to see change with respect to the internet?
I would like to see less scams, junk emails, hacking and generally antisocial behaviour on the internet.
What is your website address?
Roksport Surf