Sophy, first I would like to say Welcome to the AP forums. I think you will find this an entertaining and educational forum, and may someday even join in the addiction some of us here exhibit toward this place. (I am truly speaking from experience here! LOL)
Now, as far as your site goes. I was impressed with your writing style, easy to follow, and understand, it was almost like having your voice in my head talking to me. That's very hard to accomplish for most people.
I think you have the right idea, and your affiliate program should work well once you get the word out.
It can take months to get into the major engines, so don't be discouraged. I would recommend however, you offer more in the way of content to the open part of your site if you want free search engines to index and rank you well. There are quite a few tips in the Search Engine Optimization Topic that will help you there.
I like your logo, and it works well with your domain. There are only a couple things I didn't like about your site.
Since you are selling a product of your own, I think your phone number is essential to establish trust with your audience. Even an answering service is better than no number at all. People who are looking to buy want to know you can be reached by phone, even if they never call you. Just being able to leave a message, and know they are reaching the person, helps here.
I found the site layout good, but the sheer number of colors used in the sidebar, header, logo, domain, give an "all over the place - no coherence feeling" to me. Add to that the various font colors, font sizes, font styles, and I feel uncomfortable.
Consistency with font styles permits the occasional use of color and varying sizes to make your point. Your site colors and graphics should complement each other, not fight each other for attention. They should also help lead your viewer to the real MWR of your site ... to sell that book. My feeling is they should be subtle, support the message.
As I said, the layout is good, maybe reduce some of the colors in the design, get more consistency in your font styles, and don't use so many different sizes. That is very hard on the eyes.
Ok, one last thing I noticed some of your links to other pages in your site, open a new window. Visitors expect to stay within the window they are in, unless you send them off your site. Also, you want to be consistent in your presentation and not pop surprises. One thing most internet users know, and that's the back button on their browser. When you take that away, either by scripting or opening new windows, you run the risk of confusing them.
Hope this helps,
Debs _________________ Learn how to turn keyphrases into quality, well-targeted articles your visitors and SE's will love with Gary Antosh's new ebook "Web Content Made Easy!"
Just one thing to add, for anyone thinking of interefering with client brower features without consent...
Debs wrote:
One thing most internet users know, and that's the back button on their browser. When you take that away, either by scripting or opening new windows, you run the risk of confusing them.
...Or making them very angry.
I compare it with going into a real shop...
If the owner locked the door once you were inside (preventing you from leaving the way you came in), forcing you to go round the shop and eventually smash your way out through a window (just because he didn't want you to leave), what would you think of the shop and the owner?
Hope this helps,
Charlie. _________________ "Before I speak, I have something important to say."
- Groucho Marx
Joined: 03 Aug 2003 Posts: 27 Location: Southern Arizona
Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2003 10:37 pm Post subject:
Hi Sophy...Welcome
Congratulations! Not only did you muster the courage to put your website up, you willingly share your personal triumph over obesity with the world. That must have taken a great deal of courage.
I am certainly no expert, but I would like to offer a few comments about your site, so here goes?
The concept of your site is good -- many people struggle with weight-gain and yo-yo dieting. Your site has an easy, personal tone that visitors should find very non-threatening. The before and after photos of you and your friend lend credence to your claims?visitors can see for themselves that you have achieved good results following the steps you outline in your book, and that they are doable. As your site evolves, it will be helpful to have before and after photos from readers who followed the methods in your e-book, too.
Your writing style is warm and personal and has a positive, upbeat tone?a huge plus, IMHO. You cover some important health issues and define specific imminent health problems associated with being overweight.
The price of your book seems reasonable enough, and offering an affiliate program should help boost sales. You might consider contacting other website owners directly to see if this book would be a good fit for their audience. Using Alexa is an excellent tool to help you locate websites with a similar audience as yours.
I would also like to see you tell your story?create an ?about you? page. You briefly touch this on your home page, but providing more personal detail about you and your weight loss would give you even more credibility. This would also be a good place to add your phone number.
Since you feature photos of your friend, Jarrod, why not include his story?
I agree with Debs and Charlie about opening new pages when you click on a link. Unless you?re sending your visitor to a completely different website, there really isn?t any reason to do so. You?ve put a navigation bar on the left side of all of your pages which makes it easy to move around the site without opening up a bunch of windows that are likely to annoy your visitors.
Also, with regard to navigation, it?s a good idea to use your keywords here. It will help with the search engines. And it wouldn?t hurt to add a horizontal nav bar at the bottom of your pages, too.
You?re off to a good start, Sophy; continue adding more theme-based content which can only help your SE ranking?and establish you as an authority on this subject. You might also consider submitting articles you?ve written, or even your personal story, to other e-zines and newsletters. It?s a good way to get your name out there.
This also seems like a good site to add a forum so that people can share their stories with one another, offer tips and advise, and bolster one another.
Hope this helps a bit?good luck
Kerri
_________________ Kerri Mackenzie http://www.Small-Biz-Ideas.com
Small business ideas to help you succeed
beyond your wildest dreams?a realistic
guide that actually works!
Posted: Tue Oct 14, 2003 2:17 pm Post subject: Re: Thanks for your help!
sopshn wrote:
I can't thank you enough for your suggestions, this is the only place I can get honest opinions about my site.
That's OK, Sophy.
You might get some more good ideas from various other threads in this forum, too. Ideas are like that - they come from funny places, for no particular reason - or at least mine do!
All thes best,
Charlie. _________________ "Before I speak, I have something important to say."
- Groucho Marx
The change is unbelievable with the font. I found it much more cohesive, easier to read, and felt your image colors more in tune. It's amazing what a small change can do!
Nice job,
Debs _________________ Learn how to turn keyphrases into quality, well-targeted articles your visitors and SE's will love with Gary Antosh's new ebook "Web Content Made Easy!"
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I noticed some of your links to other pages in your site, open a new window. Visitors expect to stay within the window they are in, unless you send them off your site. Also, you want to be consistent in your presentation and not pop surprises. One thing most internet users know, and that's the back button on their browser. When you take that away, either by scripting or opening new windows, you run the risk of confusing them.
