Name of your website?HorseXpress Horse Supplies
Your name?
Nick Bromley
Your Location (city, etc)
Thetford
Please give us a short summary of your website?
HorseXpress is the one-stop-shop for all your equine supplies. We sell everything from saddles and blankets, to horse shampoo and feed supplements - all at great prices.
What inspired you to launch your own website?
Expansion of an existing business into the online environment
When did you launch your first website, and what was it?
January 2007 - www.horsexpress.co.uk
How did you decide on a name for your website?
The named is derived from the words 'horse' and 'express'. We sell equine supplies and equestrian equipment, and we provide a fast and efficient service.
What makes your website different from other, similar offerings?
Our fantastic range means you only have to visit one site to get everything you need, and our prices are great.
What is your eventual goal? (To sell it, keep it for income, secure a book or other mainstream media deal?)
To continue to grow the business, and reinvest in a bigger better website, with more functionality and services for customers.
How does your investment of time and money balance against your success?
Setting up a website can be an expensive and time consuming exercise, but we are encouraged by the response and the business continues to grow.
If you had an unlimited development budget for development, how would you change your site?
Brand new bespoke design of the website, more original content and editorial, shoot original product images rather than manufacturer images, additional functionality such as newsfeeds, invest unlimited cash in advertising and search engine optimisation.
If your site got really big, really quickly, would you be able to keep up with the demand?
The website is the online arm of a larger business that has been trading for over 30 years. We have the people and infrastructure in place to deal with as much business as comes our way.
What unexpected costs and headaches have you had to deal with?
Some bugs with the website, such as no search facility for a while.
What has been your biggest challenge?
Ensuring we are visible to potential customers. There are thousands of other sites out there competing for space.
What method has been most successful for promoting your website?
Pay per click advertising has been relatively successful, but the longer term strategy is to improve our return through organic search results.
How has running your website differed from your expectations?
There are so many tricks and tips for improving your website, and in particular improving the chance that customers will find your website. There is no one-off solution, and the rules of the game are constantly evolving.
How long have you run the site already, and how long will you continue to keep it up if you don't enjoy big gains in traffic, income or popularity?
About 15 months, and we'll continue as long as customers keep visiting.
What is your website address?
HorseXpress Horse Supplies
