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by Michael Motley
20 replies
I just put together a little niche site for mortgage information. Pretty much just a PPC (PPA in the near future) site with click bank stuff thrown in. Took about a day to build, another day to trim out.

I'd like some input if you dont mind. Something just doesnt look right to me. Maybe its the graphics for the affiliate stuff on the right, i think they may need more punch. I plan on using this template for the layout on a string of sites so i'd like to get the first one buttoned down good before i start creating the blog army

www.mortgagehelpinfo.com

thanks for the input
#opinions #site
  • Profile picture of the author Kris Turner
    If it was me, I'd have one big ad instead of the little four. They're fighting for the same clicks and likely to get none. I think you'd get many more click throughs if you had one big ad there, with an image in it and a solid call to action.

    I'd probably have a banner ad up the top instead of Google Ads too.
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  • Profile picture of the author DrewG
    Not too shabby, but one big ad with a call-to-action might work better. i.e. a button that says "Stop Foreclosure Now" or something.
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    • Profile picture of the author Steve Sanchez
      It's too bland. It doesn't come across as an established professional business.
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    • Profile picture of the author reynald2790
      It should be more about your mortgage info so that it would be a high traffic.
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      Hi! I am Reynald Laque Logan | Reynald Logan Dreams, 22 years old. Living in Dumaguete City “The City of Gentle People.” I am a pure Filipino Citizen. I am a Freelance Provider preferably working at oDesk.

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    • Profile picture of the author Michael Motley
      Originally Posted by Pattaya-Addict View Post

      i would put some more graphics in there mate
      like stock imagery of houses...people doing office work kind of graphics?






      thanks for the input so far everyone, very helpful.
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      • Profile picture of the author Killer Joe
        Hi Michael,

        Congrats on taking some action. Most people never even get that far.

        Trust me, I'm not trying to rain on your parade, but you need to rethink your strategy here. The type of site you just built is exactly the type of site the search engines don't want to see on the internet. Niether do surfers.

        There are enough 'back button specials' on the web that you should consider building something that provides value instead of just clutter. Is that harsh? No, just reality.

        Your costs for a site in this niche using PPC will be outrageous. In fact, your landing page quality score won't permit you to run an affordable campaign if they allow you to try it at all.

        Here's what I want you to take away from this reply...it takes only a little bit more work to create a site that adds value than it does to create one that is just 'noise'. The hardest part is the decision to take action. You've already done that, so you are ahead of the game.

        Now you just need to refocus your energies, set your sights a little higher, and you're good to go.

        The reason I'm telling you this is that if you stay on the path you're headed down you will get no traffic, a 100% bounce rate if you do get visitors, and get deindexed from the serps if you ever do get indexed.

        So if you are going to make a template for a successful internet presence perhaps you should do some reaserch on the kind of sites that not only pull visitors in, but also pull in a little cash as well.

        Either way you will spend the time, might as well make it count.

        KJ
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  • Profile picture of the author nickj224
    I'd say to throw in a quick graphic for each post... to break up the text.... its pretty overwhelming.
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  • Profile picture of the author eMarketing_Tips
    Great work! Keep it up
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  • Profile picture of the author Logan_5
    I think it needs some kind of introduction. You only have a few seconds to capture a visitors attention before they move on. Make a state in a large font. Say something that will connect with your visitors and make an impact. Also, I would include a large graphic. Checkout the sites of your sponsors for inspiration. Also, the sponsored ads, I would put those in s single column and change their graphics to look a bit more like theirs sites. As it is now, the 4 have the same flavor and at first, gave me the impression that it was all one sponsor.
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  • Profile picture of the author Andy1750
    Hi Michael,

    Well done for getting this up and running. In terms of constructive criticism I would say brighten it up , include more images and, most importantly of all, make it very clear in the front page what the site's about and what the benefits are. Also make post titles much bigger so that they stand out. I think that you need to promote the sponsors a bit bitter. They don't actually look like clickable links at the moment.

    Best of luck,

    Andy
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    Not trying to sell you anything :-)

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  • Profile picture of the author Michael Motley
    Ok, I took all the input and made changes to the site last night. Please give me your opinions on its current looks.

    Thanks all.
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  • Profile picture of the author Matt Guerrero
    Banned
    [DELETED]
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    • Profile picture of the author dragan
      you accidentally misspelled defense in your "foreclosure defence" ad
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      • Profile picture of the author Michael Motley
        Originally Posted by dragan View Post

        you accidentally misspelled defense in your "foreclosure defence" ad
        yeah, noticed that, getting fixed.
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        • Profile picture of the author Kevin AKA Hubcap
          Michael

          Here's what I would do.

          1.Make the first page of the site a static page. On that page create a title and text that tells people what the site is about and how it can help them. If possible use emotions in your writing to connect with readers.

          For the other pages

          2. Get rid of the adsense header and replace it with one for an affiliate product.

          3. Your not capturing e-mail addresses. Get an opt in box up and offer a free report/guide/audio,

          4. Get rid of the adsense blocks and calendar on the right side of the page as well as the four small (125x125) affiliate ads.

          5. Replace those ads with larger ones (250x250). One product per square. Run the four squares down the right side of the page and make sure each one has a unique call to action.
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          • Profile picture of the author Michael Motley
            Originally Posted by Kevin AKA Hubcap View Post

            Michael

            Here's what I would do.

            1.Make the first page of the site a static page. On that page create a title and text that tells people what the site is about and how it can help them. If possible use emotions in your writing to connect with readers.

            For the other pages

            2. Get rid of the adsense header and replace it with one for an affiliate product.

            3. Your not capturing e-mail addresses. Get an opt in box up and offer a free report/guide/audio,

            4. Get rid of the adsense blocks and calendar on the right side of the page as well as the four small (125x125) affiliate ads.

            5. Replace those ads with larger ones (250x250). One product per square. Run the four squares down the right side of the page and make sure each one has a unique call to action.
            1. I would think that fresh content would be better than a static page to pull in visitors and search engine spiders

            2. I'd like to do something with the white banner, but i cant locate its source file in the wp theme.

            3. i have an exit popup from aweber on the site that offers an ebook. maybe i should stick one inline on the header where the adsense ad is as well

            4/5 good suggestions
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            • Profile picture of the author adriant
              Good design, but there is nothing that makes the visitor
              to keep reading the information
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            • Profile picture of the author Kevin AKA Hubcap
              Originally Posted by Michael Motley View Post

              1. I would think that fresh content would be better than a static page to pull in visitors and search engine spiders
              You will have fresh content. Only the first page will be static.If you can' do that with the theme you're using check out this one. Flexibility Theme (it's free!)

              This allows you to give your readers a strong and consistent message telling them why this information is important to them. You're keeping the blog only changing the landing page.
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              • Profile picture of the author Michael Motley
                Originally Posted by Kevin AKA Hubcap View Post

                You will have fresh content. Only the first page will be static.If you can' do that with the theme you're using check out this one. Flexibility Theme (it's free!)

                This allows you to give your readers a strong and consistent message telling them why this information is important to them. You're keeping the blog only changing the landing page.
                I had thought about doing that before, making the main landing page the sales page. But i thought that if i made that page static, that whatever was on the page would be spidered as the index page and therefore the content would never change? is that wrong?
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  • Profile picture of the author jimbobo2779
    I quite like the template but yeah there is little urging me to click on one of the ads. Its a great start though, keep it up.

    Jim
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  • Profile picture of the author wymetto
    I would get rid of the calendar on the right - it's useless and taking up valuable real estate - no pun intended - perfect spot for a video on "how to use this site" -

    count it!
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