Any Comments-Suggestions On New Site Greatly Appreciated

Preston55 · Joined: 14 Dec 2005 Posts: 8

I just pulled my first affiliate site together using XSitePro. I'm still struggling getting the look I want (but then have lots of problems with Dreamweaver formatting - obviously, not a web designer).

At any rate, would love to get feedback on my new site (comments on the look, feel, navigation, content, and products would all be appreciated) ... lots of you have experience I just don't have and I really value your expertise.

The URL is http://www.PersuasionToolbox.com

I'm about to add a focus generator note pop-up to highlight the newsletter (and I'll be doing more in the body of the home page to also highlight the newsletter which won't be the typical newsletter, but will have lots of multimedia).

Thanks in advance for any comments!

PipSqueak · Joined: 27 Dec 2005 Posts: 11

Hi Preston,

What a well targeted niche site!

I'd suggest a spell check "My top three prodcut picks", you bolded that one so I noticed instantly. I'm using firefox and for some reason, there's a huge gap between "the science of influence" and "magnetic persuasion" on the front page.

Besides the technical stuff, your website has a great design (it's easy to navigate and read) and I think your sales copy is pretty good. Great going!

Preston55 · Joined: 14 Dec 2005 Posts: 8

Thanks for the feedback - I'll fix that spelling error. I had spell checked, but then made updates (I'm one of those people who sees it the way I want it, not the way I write it ... ah well)..

Thanks again1

Rosalind Gardner · Posted: Wed Dec 28, 2005 8:58 pm Post subject:

Hi Preston,

I really like the look and feel of your site - very powerful, persuasive and influential! Smile

Just a few things you might want to consider...

The left navigation links don't stand out quite as well as the Adsense links. I'd probably want emphasis on my higher paying affiliate links than on Adsense.

Too, I always recommend that Adsense should be left off the homepage,
'cause you want folks to take a look at your offerings before they're given a way to exit the site.

On the Kevin Hogan course, I see "If I had to recommend one course, this would be it." Hmmm... I'm not feeling very persuaded. Smile

How about "HIGHLY recommended" or "I HIGHLY recommend this course".

I'd like to see more of YOU in the content. More personal comments on what you really like about these courses and why your visitors should consider spending their hard-earned money.

Hope that helps!

Cheers,
Ros

Preston55 · Joined: 14 Dec 2005 Posts: 8

Hi Ros!

Thanks for the fantastic feedback.

I see what you're saying on the adsense ads on the home page possibly taking people off the page.

I'm still trying to figure out how to edit just one page (right and left sections) using XSitePro so haven't been able to tailor just the home page.

Having read your course, I'm hoping that I'm not making a mistake putting nav links on the left.

I've noticed (as you suggest) many of the best affiliate sites put only a right hand column on the page. I know this should spider faster unless the left column has really good "spider food."

Thanks much ... I'll be making a lot of updates and will post it for another look when it is in better shape (it will have stronger copy and more my personal thoughts on products).

Thanks again!

Preston

Rosalind Gardner · Posted: Fri Dec 30, 2005 2:36 pm Post subject:

Hi Preston,

My pleasure... always happy to be of help.

Regarding right-hand navigation. I went to right-hand navigation a couple months (if I recall correctly) after I started my first site, only to be different than everyone else. Now everyone does it , but for SEO(?) reasons. Smile

I actually prefer right-hand navigation for the simple reason that the scroll bar is on the right, therefore I don't have to travel too far with my mouse to visit another section of the site... LAZY affiliate, LAZY surfer. LOL.

Cheers,
Ros

PipSqueak · Joined: 27 Dec 2005 Posts: 11

Hi Ros,

I read from Joel Comm's adsense secrets that putting adsense on the right of your page does wonders coz most of us are right handed. Guess lazy affiliates making their sites for lazy surfers, doesn't hurt after all Wink

sellportal · Joined: 18 Nov 2005 Posts: 58 Location: Sweden

Hi,

I with Ros on the navigation links. Even though they are well contrasted, the black color does not really indicate links (not saying that links always have to be blue). But it looks more like some generic text and it left me looking for the menu elsewhere.

Maybe a box around them ...

I also have to agree with Ros on the adsense positioning (not looking to pick a fight with Joel) but there is no doubt where the best positioning of adsense ads are.

Even google got that right Smile

Take alook here,

https://www.google.com/support/adsense/bin/answer.py?answer=17954&ctx=en:search&query=heatmap&topic=0&type=f

Remember that the most common way of reading a webpage is from top left - into the center. And in western culture the dead center is the most prominent placing of important stuff. This is based on real live testing and eye-movment studies of people surfing and watching web pages.

There are cases when it works better with a different placing due to color schemes, ads and content but going for the center, just below the top banner is out performing any other place with miles.

This may steal to much of your content space if your content is prio 1 and not the ads. Then the left side is the best place (also going with Ros with the right hand navigation for SEO purposes and to leave the left hand free for ads).

Kenth

PipSqueak · Joined: 27 Dec 2005 Posts: 11

Preston,

Regarding the adsense on the right side, if you don't want to move the navigation around for the moment. Why not change the borders, background and link colours to the same colour as your site so that it's not so outstanding?

Rosalind Gardner · Posted: Mon Jan 02, 2006 11:57 am Post subject:

Hi all,

Before you put Adsense in the middle of your page, please consider the consequences.

What does Adsense do but take your visitors off your site and make you a few pennies in the process?

When you put it above your content, you risk losing your visitors before they get to your merchant offerings, which in most cases will earn much more than an Adsense click.

I'm still of the opinion that on real affiliate sites, (those that are in business to sell or pre-sell products) Adsense should be a last resort. ie. the visitor has looked all over the site content, finds nothing they're interested in and uses Adsense to exit.

Just a thought...

Cheers,
Ros

sellportal · Joined: 18 Nov 2005 Posts: 58 Location: Sweden

>This may steal to much of your content space if your content is prio 1 and >not the ads.

As Ros said, decide what the purpose of the site (page) is first and build it accordingly.

==> What is the desired response of the visitor?

Multiple responses won't work, even though one would wish for it.

So decide if you are going to promote a product, service, go for a sign up or just monetize the page from people leaving the page via ads.

Here you get back to the boring, but oh so important "customer value".

I see a lot of people adding adsense ads all over pages and sites (loosing the few affiliate sales they had), and then go all depressed when adsense only pay $0.02-0.05 per click. Leaving each day with little or no profit.

Adsense is business as any other affiliate marketing. Adding them should be a business decision and not a fill out empty space one.

It is also important to remember that adsense will not bring you traffic, only give visitors a new way of leaving your sites, so make sure it pays if you use it!

Kenth