Do you understand my startup?

Well you don't have a compelling headline. So most prospects won't get beyond that, like me.

1. Not really. I get the general idea and if I spent a minute or 2 it would be clearer probably but it's too boring and awkwardly laid out to want to spent tha ttime.

2. No.

3. No.

Partly because you aren't speaking to me. For example, you say:

"Merchoo is a web application that allows any website to start selling custom merchandise without the worry of actually running a store. It's free, fun and profitable!"

You are using jargon (custom merchandise) and speaking in the 3rd person.

Rephrase it something like this:

Merchoo allows you to quickly and easily start selling custom merchandise such as x,y and z on y our website. You don't need your own storefront or any special technical knowledge...

This line is particularly bad:

"With just one line of code..."

As soon as you say 'code' you lose half of the small amount of people who might still be reading.

I am sorry to say it is quite bad and doomed to fail as is.

Thanks for taking the time guys. Back to the drawing board I go.

You essentially need 2 missing ingredients - really good copywriting (with attention grabbing headline) and design (use one of those themes that has a scrolling effect to keep with the times)

1) if I'm a fashion designer, I don't care about the code behind my website. I want my site to look stylish and present my designs in the most appealing light so I can sell. An easy selling platform certainly helps sway me, though. Likely by now, I've tried everything from Etsy to Bonanza to Ebay and beyond - and those platforms can be rather labor intensive and super saturated with competitors.

2) if I'm a fashion designer, and your site doesn't tell me it's about fashion designers until almost the bottom, I'm gone.

Refocus. It's not about your site's snappiness - that's just a bonus. It's about giving aspiring designers an easy selling platform from which they can launch their very own business and career in design.

A niche site like this has lots of potential if you do it right. Keep trying, and don't give up if these were not the reactions you were expecting.

Checked it out. Scanned John & Angies's comments...

Still don't get it.

Are you trying to sell a CafePress-style plugin? (i.e. I create the graphics/designs, upload them, install your plugin... and you process the orders?)

You've got a lot of work ahead of you brah. If I have to spend more than 10 seconds to figure out what the heck you are, you don't know WHAT you are.

Mark

Great feedback everyone!

What I offer is a web store for already existing websites. The store is a plugin that automatically creates a button on the left side of your website when anyone visits (requires no layout changes). When your visitors click on your store button, a screen slides out and displays your offerings. Your offerings include various garments (tshirts, sweatshirts, tote bags, etc) for each design you create.

Designs: eventually there will be an interactive design studio to allow my clients to add text and images but for now I only accept strict png files 3600px wide.

I really envision this company to be for any website, not just for fashion designers. Corporate sites can sell logo branded merch, blogs can sell apparel designed around their niche, forums, band sites, etc. For the site launch I plan on offering free designs to anyone who signs up.

I know what I am offering but I don't know how to explain it in few words. I also don't know who my audience will be beyond "any website" so I haven't niched down.

In a nutshell, I want to be adsense without the ads. I want to connect websites with their visitors in a way that merges the Internet and the physical world.

Not sure what the product is - is it a widget or is it the products being sold through the widget? Or both? If its actual physical products, does Merchoo make them? How is the sales revenue split?

I think you're on to something. You just need to refine your idea.

Took me several seconds to figure out what you're offering. Had to read the first paragraph though. Meaning, the headline didn't do its job. Most people would not have stuck around that long.

But it's #3 that's killing you. There are dozens of other companies offering this. I don't see how you're different....so why not go to one of them instead of taking a risk on a new brand?

You've also got no hook...no open loop created.

Meaning, you need something that makes them say:

"Wow, I never thought about it that way..."

I did find a decent benefit HIDDEN under the "benefit" tab...

"Instantly add an additional revenue stream to your website or business."

...how soon is "instant?" By tonight? Within one hour?

Answer that ^ question and you might have a headline.

I think it could use more clarification on what the store actually is. You sell T-shirts like Cafe Press? That wasn't clear until I actually looked at your merchandise. Also, being a new startup, you need to earn the trust of any potential users. Some sort of guarantee or something might add legitimacy to your business. Those are just my two cents.

it is too complex. the first thing you see is web application and yet it is for low tech ecoomerce onwers. I would change that right off hte bat.