Please help me and review my site.

Rockin Ron · Joined: 07 Apr 2006 Posts: 3 Location: Canada

Hi everyone,

I have had my site up for a while now but still not getting much traffic to it. Also haven't had many people sign up for my newslatter. Feel free to make any suggestions that will increase my traffic and sign up rate.

Thanks

Mike · Joined: 29 Dec 2005 Posts: 118 Location: Ontario, Canada

Ron,

I first suggest to have a working link Smile

When I click the link i get: Server not found

-Mike

Rockin Ron · Joined: 07 Apr 2006 Posts: 3 Location: Canada

Hi Mike,

Sorry about the broken link. Typo error on my part. I have fixed it now and seems to be working okay. I would appreciate you visiting the site and giving any comments/suggestions you may have on improving it.

Mike · Joined: 29 Dec 2005 Posts: 118 Location: Ontario, Canada

The site is pretty good. The only thing I dislike about the site is the huge adsense ad right in the middle of the main article.

walker22 · Joined: 01 Apr 2006 Posts: 36 Location: Las Vegas

I like what you've got going on your site except for one thing I found very annoying. I barely have time to see the page and just start to read the content on your home page when I get my view blocked by your float-in sign up page.

Maybe this is just me but I'd like a chance to see what the site is about before I get interrupted by a new window wanting me to sign up. I haven't had enough time to see what it is, how would I know if I want to sign up?

My suggestion would be to have a timer (if it's possible) and have that sing-up offer appear after a couple minutes, instead of pushing em away immediately. Just my two cents worth....

Rockin Ron · Joined: 07 Apr 2006 Posts: 3 Location: Canada

Thanks for the suggestion Walker22.

I can change the delay for the pop-up to anything I want. I have increased it to 15 seconds since my site stats tell me most of my visitors stay for only 0-30 secs before leaving. I'll see if the 15 sec delay helps keep people around longer to sign up.

Thanks again,

worstcritic · Joined: 05 Jun 2006 Posts: 18

Rockin Ron,

You have a crisp clean design, I like it from a minimalist standpoint. I think you could spice up your logo and brand yourself a bit better. Get some stock photos involving photography and get them on your page. Do something about that pop-up... it bugs me. Maybe you could have a permanent sign-up form in your side bar with subtle blinking text, and make reference to your newsletter in your opening paragraph. And about that opening paragraph, break it up... I hardly had the patience to read it. Dust off your <strong> tags and use some bulleted lists so an impatient vistor has visual cues for jumping right to the information they want. Make sure you know what keywords are driving what traffic you have to your site, and be sure they appear on yor page standing out from the rest of your content.

And I hate to say it, but your domain name is regrettable. Don't feel bad about changing it if you have a flash of brilliance while laying in bed one night. I'm sure you've invested a bit of cash in it, but it is long and unsightly and I certainly won't be typing it into my address bar from memory. (by the way, get an "add to favorites" button on your page) Hyphens are no-nos, IMHO.

And one more thing, I always brow beat people for making fixed width sites. Your site is a perfect candidate for CSS wizardry. Make your content and side bar areas flexible. If I happen to have my browser window small so I can see my chat window too, I may not even see your side bar.

Ok.. I call myself worstcritic for a reason. I think your concept is sound, just focus on keywords and readability and return vistors. I really think some photos and a new domain name would help you. Your average web surfer is impatient and doesn't want to see a page full of monochromatic text that forces them to concentrate and read everything. You might break down your opening paragraph into its constituents... price categories, and categories of photography. Do these list style where a vistor can link to an article specifically for their interests, all while being subjected to Adsense ads they are more likely to respond to. Draw attention to these categorical lists with calls to action: "Pick your price range", "Shoot your style". Please be more creative than me.

Thats about it! Congrats on getting a site publised... you've done the hardest part, the way I see it. Its all tweaking and learning from your visitors now. Trying getting some feedback from the subscribers you do have... and stay inspired.

Good luck!

worstcritic · Joined: 05 Jun 2006 Posts: 18

My appologies. I just noticed your bookmark link right there in bold. Maybe the fact that I missed it could tell you something, or maybe I'm just a goober. Wink

cgehlhausen · Joined: 24 Jun 2006 Posts: 6

The Google ads are so large & prominent, in the same place on each page, that a person can't even read the first paragraph before running into them. They're like a big bumper sticker in the middle of the TV screen.

I clicked on different pages from your right-side menu, but it took me several page clicks to realize that anything changed! The Headline of each page needs to be bigger & more prominent - in my opinion only 1 line across the top. Then you can tell immediately that the page has changed.

WorstCritic has some good points, especially with adding pictures and catchy breakdowns. People are probably looking for a certain subject that they have in mind. If you get them there quickly and the page is easy on the eyes and easy to read, they'll probably stay on the site to finish reading the article.

That's where you should put your pop-up sign-in page, probably after 30 seconds. Earlier than that & they're probably not hooked on the article enough to feel they'll come back or even know that they want to be associated with your site.

I think that your pop-up may have been the reason why people were not staying past 30 seconds. Asking them to commit to something they don't know is like asking a girl to marry you right after the elevator door closes - and she's never seen you before in your life!

Not that signing up is a permanent commitment, but with all the spam I get I don't take any chances. I have to trust the site AND really want more information about the subject before I give out my e-mail address.

Just a couple thoughts....

Tino · Joined: 13 Jun 2006 Posts: 5

Hi Ron,

I agree with the others about the pop-up. I also find it anoying. Did you test having an exit pop insted? I alao feel the way the pop-up comes up prevents people from clicking your Adsense ads.

Also having a few more paragraph breaks in your article would not only make it easier to read it would also look easy to read at a glance.