Well done game2012, good luck with your website.

With the problems Game and Game Station have had this year you are well placed to benefit. Gamers are no longer going to their high street shops to buy consoles and games, the future is on-line. If you look at their community pages, they are still having problems with their customer service. Think the problem is the company has been taken over by 'suits' who don't know their market and customers, yet. This is your opportunity.

You can become the gaming website owned by gamers for gamers. You have an advantage of understanding your customers and their needs. The new owners of Game will learn about the market and bring in new managers but this will take time. They will also have to work at rebuilding their reputation with disgruntled customers so now is the time for you to build your own reputation while they are sorting themselves out.

Set-up a community page of your own on your site as soon as possible, with a blog, reviews, competitions, etc. Let users contribute their own reviews of games they have bought recently. Gamers are more likely to buy consoles and games if they are recommended by people like themselves.

The best advertising is referrals and recommendations. Build a reputation amongst gamers as 'the' website to visit for news, reviews, to buy hardware and software. Focus on your customer service, get feedback from your customers, ask them if they are happy with your service and if they can recommend any areas for improvement or suggestions to make your website better. Get feedback with every sale.

Well done and good luck.

Regards

Gordon
www.astonaccounting.co.uk

Hello game2012,

It's always nice to see small businesses going into the market and not leaving it all to the giants like Amazon and Play.com even though you are using Amazon to supply the games at least you are making a profit and getting people to your site instead of straight to Amazon. I wish you all the luck with this service.

I do have one concern. You mention the simplicity of using the website, I went on your site to have a look around and do not feel this simplicity that you speak of. I do not wish to be insulting or tell you that you have a mediocre product, this is not my intention neither is my intention to try and sell you my service.

I only wish that my comments are considered (whether agreed with or not). The site seems very 90's and as gamers are usually encompassed by the latest of graphics and effects when playing the games you sell, it would be nice to be able to encompass them when using your site. This would create longer lasting customers and people would return to your website instead of Amazon or Play to buy games as your service is created to suit them.

Once again, this is not necessarily promotion for me, I just feel that it is important to support other startups as I have recently taken the plunge into owning my own business after getting tired of looking for job.

If you wish to get in touch please do so on paul.attard@wearegoat.com

I take my hat to to anybody who takes the plunge and starts their own online business. I can certainly share empathy with you here in regard to applying for hundreds of jobs. I too have become so fed up with employers not replying that I have now taken the plunge and started my own online business in the form of a horror movie store at www.horrormovies4u.co.uk. However, I am now in a somewhat difficult situation, as I know that it will take time for my store to take off and start selling movies via Amazon links, so what I want to know is this: if I become self employed and register for Tax Credits, what proof would I need to show them that I am working on my online shop 30hrs pwk? And could I sign off the dole and still get help getting my business off the ground?

Hi Game2012,

First thing to say is well done for having a go. Too many people do not believe in themselves enough to have a go.

I wish you every success for the future.

Russell Conneely
www.newbizexpress.co.uk