Why is this site beating mine? I can't work it out!

[KempRugeLawGroup]

I remember reading a post by either Rand or Dr. Peter (can't remember which) that said they did a poll of top SEO's and speed was around 10%. However, if I were you, I'd pay more attention to the points EGOL made.

Best,

Ruben

[mark_baird]

I see where you're coming from but no I avoid site like that at every turn. It may just be me but i find the style crass and the site ugly. but then again my taste is not what im selling so im happy to take your comments on board.

On that note what would you change on my own site?

i like the email and phone number at the top however our site is responsive and putting them in the header causes spacing issues on smaller screens. I could just drop them on mobile etc.

[EGOL]

I see where you're coming from but no I avoid site like that at every turn.

I think that you should try what you don't like about the competitor's site and see what happens.

[mark_baird]

Other than the constant sale and the title tag we have most of the same components just in a different style. Sale info, Free Delivery are all on our site. I think the sale could be more in your face. Is it just the more subdued style on my site that you think is letting it down?

On another note this is the top 3 for the term Horse Rugs, who would you say is the best and why? Other than the fact that the top rank is always the best.

1st - http://www.derbyhouse.co.uk/Equestrian/Horse/Horse+Rugs/

2nd - http://www.rideaway.co.uk/horses-rugs/

3rd - http://www.robinsonsequestrian.com/horse-clothing/rugs.html

I find it very interesting trying to work out why each site wins for a specific term. I don't know enough yet to be able to pin point what I think its causing what. Really enjoying learning though.

[EGOL]

I'll be honest and say that I spend zero time on this type of analysis for my own sites.  Why?  To understand why they are ranking you have to look at an awful lot of factors.  Too much time.  Not worth the return.   I am out to beat people with informative content and then entice the huge traffic produced into Adsense or to sales pages on my own site that compete with adsense because they are promoted with house ads on the Google DoubleClick ad server.

I looked at the top three that you listed.  If I was going to pick any site to run as my own, based simply on the design of the horse rugs page my choice would be ..... Fast Track Direct.  I am betting that site converts like crazy.

[mark_baird]

Its not a thing I spend many work hours on, its more just a thing that interests me.

Interesting answer.

As myself and the other top 3 sell quality big name brands (big in the UK horse world anyway) we can't really do the SALE SALE SALE selling style as you will get dropped as a stockist if you do. But then again just because you sell the good stuff doesn't mean you are making more money.

[EGOL]

I understand what you are saying.

One of my retail sites sells a line of products that range in price from $79 to $279.  I sell them with little or no discount.  I sell the quality brands.

But Amazon and a couple other e-retailers sell a cheap, plastic, model for $49 that breaks right away that I would not think of selling to my customers.

They outrank me.  They probably sell more.  But that does not change my mind.  I am not selling that crap because I don't want the phone ringing.   Does not bother them to sell it because you can't call them on the phone.  It's really hard to get in touch with them.

[ChristopherGlaeser]

As myself and the other top 3 sell quality big name brands (big in the UK horse world anyway) we can't really do the SALE SALE SALE selling style ...

Why can't your supplier provide an MSRP and MAP structure that allows for sale prices?

[mark_baird]

They do but as with all retail.

But if you are for instance an Apple reseller and you buy and iPhone for say £100 and they sell them for £500, you will get away with say 10% variation on MSRP but if you think im happy making £50 profit ill sell them for £150 and make a killing it will not take long for Apple to get shot of you as you are devaluing the brand it for everyone else.

Thats why its good practice to compete on price but not go nuts as if you do its just a race to see who is out of business first. A sale in my opinion should only be when the new version comes out or you need to cash the dead stock up. The problem these days is in the tough times that we are in, people are desperate and will sell things with very low margin just to survive. Its more like a game of last man standing, if you can pay your staff less and run a mega lean business you can win.

[EGOL]

Thats why its good practice to compete on price but not go nuts as if you do its just a race to see who is out of business first,

I agree.  Lots of these people can not do math.  They don't know what their profit margin is.