Critique my lens rental site

Ryan Patrick O'Hara

Ryan Patrick O'Hara

Veteran
I'd like input on this website I just built. Posted it less than 24 hours ago and am still figuring how to make it better. I built it in less than 48 hours, so it's simple and rushed.

I bought a brand new Cine-Lens package and thought I'd rent them out for productions when I'm not using them. The website's PRIMARY function is to help inform and provide an explanation, stats, and my point of view of the lens set. I'm happy to have created a website I can simply send a producer or DP interested in the lenses, without having to explain myself everytime. The secondary goal is to simply attract business, although I see myself simply renting mainly to other DP's I personally know, and not so much cold call business.

Therefore the website is really just a single page of fluff with many links near the bottom that go into the specs pages and reviews. It's more like an information hub outside of the offical website by Cooke, and features rental information of my lenses.

What do you guys think? I'm going for simple and easy, but feel like I've only accomplished simple.

I'll shut up now and let the critiques roll in.

http://www.panchros.com/
 
Looks good but your email addresses aren't clickable, and you can't copy them either. Only the bottom one works.
A small but useful feature to have.
 
Do you mind telling me where you got the code for the auto-scrolling list of videos? I'm looking for something similar for a project I'm working on...
 
Ryan is there any reason there's no contact number on there? Overall Id say its pretty straight forward. Tells you what you need to know, as in why choose these lenses etc. BUT, when someone is searching lenses - are they going to be directly searching for cooke panchros?

One thing, how many companies rent cooke panchros in LA? Why rent from you? Can you add something to fill that?
 
Yes, I should probably explain such things.... hotlinking the contact email and perhaps adding a phone number is a good idea. I didn't put a phone number as I still use my Ohio number out here in LA and I was just avoiding the confusion of a 330 number.

Also, as of now, I'm the only person I know of who has the lenses on the West Coast. I think there is just one other private owner out here. That's a good reason to rent from me. :)
I really don't have any numbers out there to compete with as of now. None of the major rental houses have them on the website yet... although I think Kesslow Camera has a set...

As of now, Otto, Clairmont, Keslow, HD rentals, the camera house, indie rentals, birns and sawyer, etc don't have the lenses listed... but most have S4's and 5/i's listed at much more expensive prices.
 
Thanks!

I've decided to not link my email address, because I've been reading up on it, and I guess it's a spammers paradise. Anyone know if this is true? Does this apply to images that click? I think perhaps text links to email can be detected by spam bots, but how about in code? I'll do it if some people here tell me it's important enough. I doubt if you're looking to rent lenses, the extra step is too much... or is it?

My only big concern is it's vague... because I don't have a company name and such... hence it lacks 'personality' which gives it a sketchy feel... you think I should call it 'Ryan's LA Rentals' (i'll think of something better) or similar to make people comfortable? Maybe I'm over thinking it, but since there really isn't a company (perhaps in the future) and it's rentals from an individual, I just don't know how to brand it.

Thanks for the feedback!

PS: on the next upload, there will be phone number listed
 
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Hi Ryan.

The site looks nice! But, unfortunately, all the content on your site are images which means none of the text can be gathered by web crawlers (Google bot, etc.) to use for search engine placement. You need the text/descriptions to be real text, not images. You can use css formatting to make the text look just the way you want it to look. Then search engines will be able to crawl your site and gather keywords within the content. Right now your site has no content that is crawlable so your site looks virtually empty to web crawlers.

Just a suggestion. Good luck!
 
Now correct me if Im wrong because I am by no means qualified to give you good feedback but I will try anyway. I get a weird vibe from the site it seems like their is to much focus on saying how close Panchros are to the S4s. I think you should leave that one quote from Les Zellen and then don't touch the subject again. You are renting Panchros and it seems like you are trying to justify a problem that doesn't really exist by talking about how close they are to S4s. Just my 2 cents.
 
Hahaha, you are qualified enough to have an opinion Steve. :)

I hope you'll see my logic and comment on it.

I see what you are saying... But the S4's are industry standard now, being around for about 10 years... they are established and well loved by vet DP's and envied by indie/low budget Dp's. The thing is, the Panchros are new. Brand new. No track record... yet they behave and produce images on par with the S4's... they were made to. I'm trying to say "hey look. You know those lenses that you really like? These give the same look and performance but at a smaller price!" Price is the only 'real' advantage. And I'm not going after people who can afford S4's, as they should probably get S4's. I'm going after those who want but cannot afford, or want to save.

Panchros are smaller, lighter, and most importantly mine are about $200-300 less to rent per day.... and I'm giving discounts for monthly and probably weekly in the future. Take a look at a typical rental house: http://www.keslowcamera.com/cooke-s4-primes-t2-2/ ... 780/day... my set will be the exact same focal lengths when the 18mm arrives in August. I'll rent those around 450/day most likely. Prices may change to 5set-350 6 set 400 depending on market reception. That would be nearly half. We'll see.

Point is. I am trying to use a popular lens reputation to establish trust in the new... and rightfully so. However this is not to persuade S4 users, but those who are budget conscious, or simply can't afford S4's yet desire the Cooke Look... that is the market I want.
 
Nice clean look to the page, nearly B&W with the only color being the yellow lens markings.

If you want a name, what about your initials? RPO Rentals, RPO Lens Rental, RPO Panchro Rentals, etc.

Good luck! (especially in deciding who to rent to!)
 
The keywords you have put at the bottom will be of much more use when placed in the header. For example, this page does that like this:
Code: 
<meta name="keywords" content=" Critique my lens rental site, DVX100, DVXuser.com, DVXuser battery, RED Digitial Cinema, RED camera, HVX200, DVXuser, DVX100a, DVX100b" />

Yours could be:

Code: 
<meta name="keywords" content=" Los Angeles , Cooke Panchro , Cooke Panchros , etc" />

Same thing for adding:
Code: 
  <meta content="Your Name" name="author" />
 
 <meta content="The description that will be shown in the searchresults" name="description" />

Good luck!

Groetjes,
Jasper
 
Ryan Patrick O'Hara said:
Hahaha, you are qualified enough to have an opinion Steve. :)

I hope you'll see my logic and comment on it.

I see what you are saying... But the S4's are industry standard now, being around for about 10 years... they are established and well loved by vet DP's and envied by indie/low budget Dp's. The thing is, the Panchros are new. Brand new. No track record... yet they behave and produce images on par with the S4's... they were made to. I'm trying to say "hey look. You know those lenses that you really like? These give the same look and performance but at a smaller price!" Price is the only 'real' advantage. And I'm not going after people who can afford S4's, as they should probably get S4's. I'm going after those who want but cannot afford, or want to save.
Click to expand...

I meant un qualified because i have no knowledge at all on lenses outside of Zeiss and RED primes. But yeah I see your point hopefully they will get used more on bigger productions they seem like a good option.
 
thanks for the replies. I never thought of keywords in the header! The site is not set in stone. I am very open and eager to hear suggestions. Give it a go!

thanks thus far. The newer site I'll post soon will have many improvements thanks to you guys.
 
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