27 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}
27 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}

Trouble getting subscribers

by DermotByrne1
22 replies
Hey guys.
I wonder can anybody help with this one cos I'm tearing my hair out.
I started a new blog in September,

This is my site

I have an opt-in form on the home page, a subscribe page, an exit pop-up, all offering a free ebook which I've changed 3 times.
In the past couple of weeks my traffic has jumped to around average 250 per day with a current total of 5,600 visitors (I use flag counter). I have received 650 comments saying how much they like my site, "great information", "I'll add you to my bookmarks", I'll tell my MySpace/facebook/twitter friends about your site etc. etc. Yet not one single subscriber.
Does anyone have any tips I can use please?????
Thank you in advance
#subscribers #trouble
  • Profile picture of the author Matthew Jones
    The text block for your opt-in needs to be simplified and its looks ugly. Have a graphic arrow, or animated arrow pointing to your opt-in form, or better yet, have an easy and accessible hyperlink to your opt-in form at the bottom of each article.

    Have you ever thought about a squeeze page? with a video about your product and directing your traffic there? Be bold and in front of people's faces!

    Hope that helps!

    (btw, this was a critique NOT criticism! I think you're going great!)
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7431784].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author DermotByrne1
      Thanks Matthew.
      I am working on a squeeze page & I thought myself that the theme needs to be worked on.
      Re; This is a critique not a criticism.
      Totally understood. This is all new to me, I'm on a steep learning curve so all help gracefully accepted.

      Also, I do have an exit pop-up, which I had on a 10 second timer. it is currently set to open on exit.
      Signature
      Master one of THE most powerful marketing tools on the internet?
      http://tinyurl.com/EmailEssentials
      FREE Ebook download
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7432291].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author PerformanceMan
    While we're at it: pick a different theme for your WordPress. That one is way too common.
    Signature
    Free Special Report on Mindset - Level Up with Positive Thinking
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7431791].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Matthew Jones
      Agreed. Definitely change the theme. The banner graphic has nothing to do with your blog. There's thousands, upon thousands of wordpress themes out there. Check out the "Weaver" theme. I like it. I'm sure there's a lot of others out there people will recommend though

      Also, I'd recommend a timed or upon-page-close pop up window with your opt-in in the window. These are annoying, but the fact is - they work!

      Hope that helps
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7431799].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author erwin78
    Hi everyone,

    your site has in my opinion not a good theme.
    But at the begining it is hard to get subscribers just out your blog.

    The best way to get subscribers is to buy solo ads.

    And then you can advertise your blog to your list because it is hard to get subscribers just from your blog alone.

    I wish you luck.

    Erwin.
    Signature

    My blog http://erwinmentel.com
    Or http://stabilitate.com/wealthandhealth

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7431853].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author MarkSalmon
      I agree with the others - change up the Theme or at least create a decent banner image. You need a picture cover of your ebook by your optin form. The call to action or ebook title on your optin form needs to be more compelling in my opinion.

      How can you make the offer more irresistible?

      Hope this helps

      Mark Salmon
      Signature

      You can follow what I am doing to grow my business at http://mark-salmon.com I've been self-employed for 13 years as a business consultant and internet marketer.

      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7431906].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author vCr8
    No offense but "great information", "I'll add you to my bookmarks", I'll tell my MySpace/facebook/twitter friends about your site" these comments seems like spams to me... I suggest you to respond to your viewer's comments and encourage them to subscribe
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7431868].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author DermotByrne1
      Thanks vCr8
      yea, I was getting lots of those type's of comments. At one stage I was getting 200 comments per day, many with the same comment but different sources (I have a very good memory for details like that).
      When I activated "Akismet" they stopped.
      I then installed "Facebook social comments", this got no comments yet my spam folder was filling up.
      Also I do try to respond to as many visitor comments as possible, but as I said, there were so many spammy comments coming in, I got fed up.
      Signature
      Master one of THE most powerful marketing tools on the internet?
      http://tinyurl.com/EmailEssentials
      FREE Ebook download
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7432357].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author DermotByrne1
        Many thanks to all of you.
        Good to get some honest opinions (I knew I'd get honest opinions here on WF).
        Looks like I have a bit of work to do.

        BTW feel free to subscribe if you want a free ebook. lol
        Signature
        Master one of THE most powerful marketing tools on the internet?
        http://tinyurl.com/EmailEssentials
        FREE Ebook download
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7432582].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author willjake
    I looked at your site and the content is very useful and interesting. However I noticed that one of the points you make in your "5 mistakes that can destroy your blog" post is that too much adverting can hurt you. I would say throughout reading the content on your site I was a little distracted by the ads (In a good way of course). The only problem with this is that instead of thinking about subscribing to your blog I throughout about clicking on one of the ads. I personally believe that its harder to get subscribers when you sell advertising space.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7431896].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Jackson Tan
    slightly different point of view, you did not tell them about your free ebook? what so great about it? is it going to be the same as your blog? Be more daring.. make your opt in box stand out more... my 2 cents.. hope it helps~

    To Your Fun & Freedom
    Jackson
    Signature
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7431932].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author olliepeck
    If you're looking to build a list, you need a dedicated squeeze page promoting your free ebook. The theme you are using is very common and it just doesn't look very good.

    For a decent squeeze page check out Optimize Press, they use wordpress to create some very good looking squeeze pages. Good luck.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7432145].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Stuart Walker
    As others have said make the opt in box more noticeable, use an arrow pointing to it, stronger call to action, image of the ebook. Why not have a pop up opt in box after visitors have been on your site for 30 seconds or so. Encourage them to opt in at the end of your articles with a link they can click on to do so. Have a dedicated squeeze page and direct your traffic straight to that.
    Signature
    ATTENTION WARRIOR: INCREDIBLE NEW POST AT NICHEHACKS.COM
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7432160].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author talfighel
    What if you only allowed your visitors to subscribe to your newsletter and not give them anything else on your home page?

    If you only want to grow your list size, then do this. That is what I would do.
    Signature

    ---> [URGENT] Here's How To Build Wealth With Gold And
    Silver And Earn Up To $7,000 Per Week!

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7432797].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author DermotByrne1
      Thanks talfighl.
      hmmm, I see where you're going with that.
      I never thought of that.
      Signature
      Master one of THE most powerful marketing tools on the internet?
      http://tinyurl.com/EmailEssentials
      FREE Ebook download
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7433251].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Enzo Reyn
    "great information", "I'll add you to my bookmarks", I'll tell my MySpace/facebook/twitter friends about your site etc. - Scrapebox (spam comments)
    Signature
    [SOLO AD]Top Quality Solos Fast and Always Over-delivered...
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7433410].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author KingMedia
    Agreed, change the theme to something more simplistic. People want info, not eye candy for this type of niche.

    Get rid of all your banners. Put your optin form in the posts on top and at the end. Also format your text - I see no line breaks (maybe it's the theme).

    You want to build a list to sell these products to right? What you need to do is get rid of all the distractions and just have your list optin as the only "action".

    That facebook share button that follows me on the post is very annoying - and it doesn't work. Please ditch that.

    Make that email form more direct - make the offer juicy as to why they should get on your list.

    Hope that helps.
    Signature

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7433439].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author TomYevsikov
    Hey man, firstly I'd like to say that those comments are spam, I get them too don't worry.

    Now, I kinda like the blog, it's pretty simple and smooth looking..

    The reason that you're not getting subscribers is that your visitors are either not real(spam commenters) or either you are generating solo ads or some sort of other traffic to a squeeze page located on your domain as a sub directory..

    PLUS the most targeted visitors you can get to your blog are from other blogs and social media.

    If you are not doing those, than you miss out on 95% of your potential blog subscribers.

    This should help you
    Signature
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7433820].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author manicmethods
    Theme is fine mate, ignore people. BUT:

    The form is crap, too narrow, too much text, not fitting in.

    Maybe put a big banner up top for your subscribe page.

    Try a lightbox for people on ENTERING the site.

    Good luck!
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7433836].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Randall Magwood
    Seriously... you need to switch niches. You have a blog about how to be your own boss (make money from home), but you dont know how to monetize your blog. Enter into a different niche. It's tough to make money with MMO anyway.
    Signature
    ==>> Free book reveals make money with affiliate marketing
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7434523].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author ckbank
    Your opt in doesn't jump out of the screen at all. When I visited your site, I first saw "be your own boss." That's where I would put the opt-in form.
    Signature
    Now that's what I call Guerrilla Marketing.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7434544].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Troy_Phillips
    Those bots that are leaving the comments is your traffic. They are not good about signing up to list.
    Signature

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7434614].message }}

Trending Topics