Nick Baum, client services director at AdConnection, shares his view of good and bad sites.

Good site: Frenchconnection.com

French Connection

French Connection

This site offers its customers an entirely different and enhanced digital experience by successfully merging online with the high street. High-quality photography and illustrations feature throughout the site and serve to highlight current trends of the season. The simple six-stage navigation panel is user-friendly and the site features a number of consumer-minded sections. The social corner is first rate with links to all social media platforms and a blog with strong celebrity endorsement. This is an emotionally evocative site that draws in the user by telling an excellent brand story throughout.

Bad site: Karenmillen.com

Karen Millen

Karen Millen

Karen Millen’s site lacks the visual appeal of French Connection, and the opening page feels quite bland.

The online magazine in the ‘KM Uncovered’ section includes some high-quality photography but it is tricky to navigate. The site is also lacking an interactive section for users to engage with the brand. There is a good blog but unfortunately it isn’t featured on the home page and is tucked away in the Uncovered section. On a positive note, the personal styling section drives in-store footfall, harmonising online and high street. But ultimately the site fails to tell a brand story and lacks personality.