[COMMENT PLEASE] I'm start building a list! :)

[minisite911]

Dear fellow Warriors

I just start building my list (better late then never! lol)

please take a look at my site :
Cheap Mini Site Design | Mini Site Graphics

see at the left side, and you'll see the opt-in box.
Could you please give inputs, what do you think about the opt-in box in a whole (the design and the copy)?
I mean, will you, as a new visitor, be interested in joining my list by looking at the box?

Any comments would be appriciated, thanks!

- Oki Trice

[kenj]

Hi Oki

I think your site looks good. Professional and on topic.

I would have the optin above the navigation if that is more important to you.

If you want your visitors to navigate to your links then leave it as it is. I assume that to get to your website a visitor will have been looking for how to set up minisites. You have set up PPC or keywords this way.

If that is the case then the page should convert quite well. But if I was to arrive at the page "cold" then it would make me click away because it does not make me want to have what you are offering

[Mike Hill]

Originally Posted by minisite911

Dear fellow Warriors

I just start building my list (better late then never! lol)

please take a look at my site :
Cheap Mini Site Design | Mini Site Graphics

see at the left side, and you'll see the opt-in box.
Could you please give inputs, what do you think about the opt-in box in a whole (the design and the copy)?
I mean, will you, as a new visitor, be interested in joining my list by looking at the box?

Any comments would be appriciated, thanks!

- Oki Trice

Wow, great looking graphics. I bookmarked your URL for future reference

Mike Hill

[Jared Alberghini]

My Honest Opinions:

I was more drawn towards the graphics displayed to the right of your Opt-In box.

I would locate your opt-in 'above the fold' (before you have to scroll down) and I'm sure you would see an increase of opt-ins.

The perfect place in my opinion would be Right Underneath your main header, right below: an Extremely Low Price, right above the rest of your main content & samples

- Jared

[ezinesRus]

Hi Oki,

I just visited your site and think it looks fantastic! You could play with different options for an opt-in box as well, such as a peelaway ad, floating ad, etc.

Over all though... very nicely done! Congrats

Jules

[dt1968]

I think your site looks great, I love your work.

As far as the opt-in box, you might want to try
putting an opt-in box right below your headline
instead of in the left menu...it would be much
more noticeable and would probably get you a
lot more opt-ins.

It's not bad where it is and the yellow arrow
draws attention to it, but if you put it where
there's no way your visitors can miss it = more
opt-ins.

Cheers,
Dr. Daniel

[Rachel Embry]

Definitly move the opt-in above the fold. I LOVE your graphic version of yourself holding the opt-in box. Can you do that for others?? I'd love to have one done of me...would be very cool...I'm PMing you about it now.

On your opt-in though...above the fold...try it on the top right...or do a peel away or a pop-up...and I'd make your offer a little more prominent so I can see that I'm really getting some FREE stuff

[Danielle_B]

Oki,

Awesome page! I love it. It's bright and clean and the graphics rock. I thought your opt in box was in a good place, not obtrusive at all, but still noticeable with the big arrow over it. It said "Lookit me" without being obnoxious.

But then again, I'm new to IM'ing, so what do I know. LOL.

In any case, you get 3 thumbs up from me and just based on your page, I'd opt-in.

~D.

[AskJesusLeon]

Looks good, I would experiment with placing your opt in box in different locations. Maybe having more than one even, one above the fold, one below etc.

[GeorgeWhitaker]

Your site looks top-notch, I really like the design. The opt-on box looks a little out of place though. If I were you, I would try placing the opt-in box somewhere in the middle of your site, below a couple of copy text.

[Bill Farnham]

Hi Oki,

I signed up on your list and got your 3 free templates.

I know everbody has different tastes, but I think these are very good starter templates.

The header and footer graphics are exactly the look I had in mind for a few trial sites I'm putting together.

I love this stuff!

Thank you very much.

KJ

[omnisin]

The site looks great.

My opinions on the opt in...

Where is your traffic coming from? Do you have other products you are trying to sell to people on your list? What is the general point of your list?

If you are pushing traffic via something like PPC I would just have a squeeze page with an opt in box. The gift you are giving away seems like it would be pretty enticing to your target audience.

As far as the gift, I would make sure it is good but not to good. Some nice site templates that do not offer all of the functionality as those that you actually sell. Then I would hammer them with all the functionality that they can get from actually purchasing your product.

Another great thing to send to your list would be conversion rates. "Johnny had a 2% conversion rate for his website, but after he put up the professional uniquely designed website we made for him his conversion rates more than doubled to 4.3%. He paid for his purchase price in just a few days and then it was all gravy the rest of the way!"

Give them ideas and tips on web and graphic design mixed in with these, along with any other product sales, and I am sure they will love it.

As far as the actual sales page I would definitely move the opt in box above the fold. I didn't even notice it when I first went to your page, and I was looking for it!

The easiest way to take care of this with your current layout would obviously be to move it above the navigation panel.

Another way that you may want to consider is putting it on the right side near the top. I have read studies that the eye is drawn to the right side for some reason. I have no clue why, but the evidence I have seem has been compelling to me.

If you were to do this, the way that I personally would do it is, have it appear to be a 'layer' above your main column. What I mean by this is take your current style opt in box and have sit it so it is overlapping from the right column into the center. This will stand out and be very eye catching. Another idea would be to mix in a little more yellow as that works with your current color scheme and pops from the page.

Either way, I would test a few different styles and see what happens. You honestly can't know 100% for sure what will be the best until you test it.

Hope that helps,
Will

[warner444]

Oki

3 minisites is a nice offer to get on your list, it worked for me, just signed up. You do sharp graphics work.

I recommend you participate as a contributor in JV Giveaways. There are lots of them all the time.

Home
Giveaway Announcer
The IM Joint Venture Social Network

Some people say you only get freebie seekers and it is not worth the time but I feel it is up to me to provide value to draw them into becoming customers.

Do a graphics WSO also and participate at webmaster type forums with a link to a landing / squeeze page with the 3 free minisites.

[AndrewStark]

Would you be able to create a 2nd red sidebar on the RHS, and put the opt-in at the top of this?

You could also look at putting it into something like a floating ad button so that it floats in after 10 or 15 seconds.

If you really want to build a list then you should think about creating a butterfly type site - here's a great example http://www.freemarketinggraphics.com

[minisite911]

hi all,
thanks for the comments and critique, I really appriciate it!

yes, I have thought to put the opt-in box above the fold (above the left menu), but when I think again, i'd prefer to keep it low down there. As Danielle said, that's why I put the bright big arrow there, to attract visitors to scroll in (if they have low screen resolution).

Also, the list are not exactly my primary purpose. i.e I'd rather visitors to click on the ORDER button, rather than getting the free templates and go away for good. lol. All of my customer will be automatically registered in the list anyways.

thanks again everyone, I really appriciate it! I do

[minisite911]

Thanks for signing up KJ
glad to know that you like the templates too!
Yes, it's suitable for those who are running trial sites, but like to have that different look, other than just a plain white box, lol.

Originally Posted by Killer Joe

Hi Oki,

I signed up on your list and got your 3 free templates.

I know everbody has different tastes, but I think these are very good starter templates.

The header and footer graphics are exactly the look I had in mind for a few trial sites I'm putting together.

I love this stuff!

Thank you very much.

KJ

[NewbiesDiary]

top looking site - I just signed up to your newsletter, thanks for the free templates.

Just a minor thing - usually I wouldnt tell someone about a typo on their site - but this one is in the main first paragraph on all your sample / portfolio sites. "catch" has 2 c's.

As I say - not being piccy - its just really REALLY noticable.

[Wan Muslim]

What I wanted to say already being said. Just wanna let you know that I already opt-in to your list!

[Greg Cooksley]

Hey Oki,

Very, very nice site....well done!!!

I signed up and your free minisites are excellent....

Regards

Greg

[ivana]

I would go with right corner. In your post you said you had an opt in, and I had to search for it and I found it after the second scan. So for sure, the right top corner. Or middle above the fold

[lgibbon]

Well I have to be brutally honest Oki,
I've visited your site twice before but never noticed
your optin box. Maybe the bright red is a distraction.
Or maybe you need one of those java script pop ins.

[naruq]

Like Jared said your graphics caught my attention. You might want to relocate your opt-in box above the fold.

[ivana]

Oki, your site is great, I LOVE the design, Shoot I might even hire you for a design but the thing is, your opt in is still below the fold, move it up! It is a must. Preference right corner.

also, your main header text, welcome etc. should be changed to the "Leader In the Professional Mini Sites Design etc... Or something like that... Welcome should not be there...

Ivana

[Lance K]

I'd make the opt-in box more prominant and focus on building the list. Or at least make some sort of exit popup. You can always make an offer on your download page of your freebie. Try a 50% discount for first time customers. Just think of it as a customer acquisition cost. The repeat business you generate will make this initial offer pay off in spades.

Originally Posted by minisite911

Also, the list are not exactly my primary purpose. i.e I'd rather visitors to click on the ORDER button, rather than getting the free templates and go away for good.