Motorcart

I redesigned MotorCart’s confusing WordPress MVP into a three screen acid test that clarified the value proposition and boosted trust. The result, a 4x increase in conversion (from 4% to 16%) and a validated path to scale a full valuation-to-auction product.

Highlights

Bold Presence

Unique branding pulled together with large and obvious CTAs provide users with awareness, understanding, and conversion.

The Problem

MotorCart was gaining early traction but was built fast and loose on WordPress by the founder. Despite outperforming competitors in leads, the product was confusing, messy, and not designed with intent. They needed sharper branding, clearer user flows, and wanted better conversion.

WordPress MVP had no UX/UI design thinking behind it

WordPress MVP had no UX/UI design thinking behind it

Users were confused by layout and lacked confidence in the platform

Users were confused by layout and lacked confidence in the platform

Conversion rates for free valuations were stuck at 4%

Conversion rates for free valuations were stuck at 4%

MotorCart needed to compete visually and functionally with market leaders like Motorway

MotorCart needed to compete visually and functionally with market leaders like Motorway

Discovery

I ran a fast but deep discovery phase that combined competitive analysis with direct user behavior insights.

Stakeholder interviews to understand vision and pain points

Stakeholder interviews to understand vision and pain points

Hotjar recordings and clickmaps to spot friction zones

Hotjar recordings and clickmaps to spot friction zones

Competitor audits (Motorway, Carwow, WBAC, Cinch, Big Wants Your Car, Autotrader, etc)

Competitor audits (Motorway, Carwow, WBAC, Cinch, Big Wants Your Car, Autotrader, etc)

Industry design benchmarking – only Motorway showed class UX / UI

Industry design benchmarking – only Motorway showed class UX / UI

Strategy

We needed a minimal, testable, and visual product to prove clarity. The idea, build just three crystal-clear screens that nailed value proposition, interaction, and trust.

Where I focused

High-impact hero screen with key value messaging

High-impact hero screen with key value messaging

Simple “Value My Car” CTA to drive action

Simple “Value My Car” CTA to drive action

Clear auction-based proposition across all screens

Clear auction-based proposition across all screens

Interactive prototype tested with real users (verbal walk-throughs)

Interactive prototype tested with real users (verbal walk-throughs)

What I learned

Users instantly understood the product’s purpose

Users instantly understood the product’s purpose

The auction concept came across strongly

The auction concept came across strongly

Minor confusion due to prototype limitations (users tried to enter reg/mileage)

Minor confusion due to prototype limitations (users tried to enter reg/mileage)

Clarity was no longer the issue, flow was working

Clarity was no longer the issue, flow was working

The Solution

After validation, we rapidly pushed the tested design live and paired it with PPC traffic to measure conversion in the wild.

Features

A lightweight, production-ready version of the three screens

A lightweight, production-ready version of the three screens

Large "crass" inputs and ctas that have proven to drive conversion with previous experiance

Large "crass" inputs and ctas that have proven to drive conversion with previous experiance

2 Buttons "Start getting bids" & "Tell us more" both lead to the same screen but boost conversion due to commitment concerns

2 Buttons "Start getting bids" & "Tell us more" both lead to the same screen but boost conversion due to commitment concerns

PPC landing funnel to test with live audiences

PPC landing funnel to test with live audiences

Full brand refresh: sharp, bold, modern identity

Full brand refresh: sharp, bold, modern identity

Outcomes

The acid test worked. Motorcart’s conversion rate jumped from 4% to 16% on the valuation funnel. Users had clarity. The business had proof. I went on to scale the full journey into a quick valuation-to-auction flow.

Results

4x increase in free valuation conversions

4x increase in free valuation conversions

MVP validated product-market clarity in under a week

MVP validated product-market clarity in under a week

Full product journey built post-test with a clear design system

Full product journey built post-test with a clear design system

MotorCart is now visually and functionally ahead of most competitors

MotorCart is now visually and functionally ahead of most competitors