Lew Perdue has already taken Pepi to task for their website (article, website):
The Pepi site is quite possibly the worst winery web site ever.
But it's truly amazing to me that any professionally-managed web site has an internal link (i.e. one controlled by the winery itself) which generates a File Not Found (404) error.
So, I am amazed (as was Lew) to go to the Pepi site and get a 404 when I click on the Store Locator link. A link on the home page, not one hidden away somewhere. An important link if you want to actually buy some Pepi wine.
Jeez. You would think that checking for bad links is some sort of rocket science (Hint: it's not - Google's free Webmaster Tools will *tell* you if you have 404s on your site.)
Do you (or your Webmaster) run a regular check for bad links on your winery website?
If not, why?
(Looking at the Pepi News link on the site seems to indicate that the site hasn't been updated since 2009. So, not altogether surprising that it's broken. Anyone from Pepi out there want to comment?)
MIke, that is like the first thing you should do before launching is TEST, TEST, TEST...Yes it is tedious if you have a lot. I would definitely agree that this is so Amateur!
Posted by: Wineywomen | August 31, 2011 at 07:07 AM
Even *after* launching, since things can Go Bad. Just because your site worked today, does not automatically mean it will work tomorrow.
Posted by: Mike Duffy | August 31, 2011 at 07:13 AM
Many thanks for the folo on my post.
Posted by: Lewis Perdue | August 31, 2011 at 08:21 AM
"Looking at the Pepi News link on the site seems to indicate that the site hasn't been updated since 2009. "
BING BING BING. They don't care about the site if they've really not updated it. But heck... mouse over the bottles under the Shop link... the bottles aren't linked AT ALL. In the section of the site that is about buying wine.
I don't want to damn the design (even though I hate Flash) though, because trying for something new isn't bad - it's not well executed, but I do like seeing people do fun, innovative designs. The Pepi site seems odd in that I don;'t get the connection between a beach party and wine but.. meh, that's their branding message.
But this is just one of many many many small biz sites that no one is investing in (in time and effort more than money) and since it doesn't show ROI, they're not paying attention to it. I guarantee you they tossed this up there either expecting a big bump in business, didn't see that and then abandoned it OR they put something up because someone sold them on "you need a website" and they didn't every think about why they needed a site or what it could or should do for them.
Posted by: rick | September 01, 2011 at 11:48 AM
Mike, you know how webprojects go. Rick has it right - someone wanted "cool" and "edgy" without a thought as to conversions, sales funnels and the like and when it didn't pan out, lost interest.
Sounds like you found a perfect "here's what NOT to do" when talking to prospective clients. ;)
Posted by: VinoFama | September 01, 2011 at 02:08 PM