Grind your Beans Review...

[scole]

Hi everyone (Hi Ross!),

Can I get an opinion on my site? I've been working on it for over a month now.

During the infant stages of the site I don't expect to have a lot of original content to post. As the site grows, I'm hoping to be able to start buying and personally reviewing products.

As for money, I've made $2.46 in affiliate commissions so far and a few pennies from adsense. Not bad I guess for a new site with little traffic in a very competitive market!

www . grindyourbeans . com

Thanks,
Shannon

[BradleyD.Haslam]

Hi Shannon,

Only a month or so?
You got a knack for content obviously.
That's going to be a HUGE attribute.

I think the site looks great!
I only have a couple things to say.
And they are simple things.
I think you've done really well.

I'd change the right sidebar a bit,
considering the crowd your targeting.

Your newsletter:
Sell it more, what's in it for them?
Right up top, get rid of "Syndication (RSS)",
and say something like
"wake up with our freshly brewed coffee talk"
or
"coffee connoisseurs daily/weekly grind"
Then lay a line of "benefits" for subscribing
in a sub-headline or bullet list.

Next, lose the calender, you don't need it.
Sometimes there is a reason, but not for your crowd.
That will bring the categories up into view,
and that's what you want.
Keep them interested in your content,
that's the site's hook.

And about your categories.
They are alphabetized, is that your choice?
See if you can find the code doing that,
and remove it.
It's not working.

The first category is "Awesome deals",
it says "hype me up and sell me something".
Lose it.

Make the categories interesting,
so people will be curious.

If you didn't have SO many,
it might be easier to organize them,
and each would have more posts.
(you have enough to appear well versed in your field)

Each category should be specific.
"coffee" is too vague.
And too many that start with "coffee".
If you just had "in the news",
they would still know it's news about coffee.
Plus, this might help you control the order.
If it has to be alphabetized,
you can name them accordingly.

Combine as many categories as possible.
ie: "gift cards and great gift ideas"
And lose ones like "my posts" and "other".

I think your crowd is one that will have to be "interested",
and things like "Denny's" and "McDonalds",
or even "thumbs up" -vs- "thumbs down"
will interest them and make your site 'stickier'.
Getting them subscribed has to be your goal.
And they need proof that you can pull
more than just a bunch of things to sell
out of a subject as specific as 'coffee'.

Be funny, knowledgeable, and interesting.
That's your hook.
With that, your site will do fine.
You REALLY did good on that

Sorry if I sound critical at all, k?
I haven't had my coffee yet this morning

Keep us posted!!
Brad.

[scole]