how do you make an effective home page of a website?

ryansjones · 02-25-2009, 02:00 PM

I am curious about another thing. I am trying to figure out how to make killer web pages at all of my sites that grabs the viewer's attention and encourages them to stay for a while. I try to keep them short, post picutres, etc, but I am not sure how to go about making them enticing to my visitors.

Ryan6 · 02-25-2009, 05:42 PM

Maybe add some interesting polls or offer them some freebies.

Sticky Articles · 02-26-2009, 12:55 PM

I think it's more about the copy and clean layout for this.

Start out with a headline depending on what kind of site you're going for and a clean navigation bar.

Wizardofwisdom · 02-26-2009, 05:32 PM

Hi

I just took a peek at the first site you listed in your sig file.

(Snohomish online e-book store and more)

Wanna quick critique?

First, I'd no idea what it's about. "Snohomish" is a meaningless word to me, (I guess it's a place, but even if it's famous in your area, not all your visitors are American. I'm British). It took quite a bit of looking to see that there's a sort of headline above the picture - which includes the word "etc"!!! I have no idea what "etc" is, and as a customer I'd never hang around to find out. I've never done a search for "etc" in my life - and I bet no one else does either! Get rid of it or replace it with a good keyword.

Second, my browser blocked whatever pop up you have. Get rid of that too.

Third, only on my return did I discover how to access the menu. Too clever - but you don't want a gizmo, you want clicks!

Fourth, even when I found it, there's no focus. Why would I go to your (or anyone's website) looking for links to those topics? I'd be looking for ONE topic and I'd go to Google!

Fifth - you repeated the word "variety" in your tiny amount of copy. Mistakes cost customers! Get your spelling right, your grammar friendly but clear.

Sixth. The pics are nice, but who cares? If that's a commercial site you've taken up massive space - and slowed up download time - with pictures. If you just want to show off your neighbourhood, cool. Nice job!

Seventh. It's a mess! The top pic is off centre. There are no "alt" tags - great for SEO by the way - to tell me what the pics are, and the second one has a counter under it! What does that have to do with the picture? As I scroll down I never get told what the links are about. The pop up menu obscures some of the text.

Eighth. It has no focus. Do you want me to click a link or join Commission Junction? I thought this was a site about e-books! Take out "and more" from the title tag. It is meaningless and does absolutely nothing for your hopes of being found by search engines!

What kind of "special offers" are they? There's no information!

You must put yourself in the consumer's shoes. In their head is always the question, "What's in it for me?" or WIIFM (pronounced "wiffem"). A bunch of links with no theme is not exciting.

Tell 'em you know how to save them money, or time, or get the best deal, or you're an expert reviewer of widgets, or they'll get some swanky bonus by being in your club. And keep it focussed. If it's a site about ebooks, take out everything - including the pictures - that isn't about ebooks. I don't care where you live if I'm looking for an ebook, unless it happens to be an ebook about Snohomish of course!

Then tell 'em (that is tell ME), why I should look for an ebook on YOUR site! What makes you stand out from the rest of the ebook crowd? Go to Google, type in "ebook sites" and look closely at the top three "authority" sites that come up, (i.e. not the advertised ones - but the ones that Google organically sees as most relevant to that search)

Ask yourself what advertising draws you in. Your website is like a supermarket that says, "We've got a lot of stuff inside. Why don't you come and see?" It's a "So what?" message!

Supermarkets don't do that. They're excellent marketers. They have two for one offers, deals of the week, irresistible bargains, loss leaders, emotional triggers, (like warm bread - a bit difficult on a website I grant you), and all sorts of tricks that make you feel like they've thought about YOU. That's somehow, what you've got to do with your site!

I hope I haven't been too harsh. I've tried to be constructive. I've studied marketing on and off the net for a long time and I'm still struggling to get it right, so don't despair!

Good luck.

Trev.

ryansjones · 02-26-2009, 07:00 PM

Snohomish is the name of the town I live near, and so I named my site after that city

vicone · 03-01-2009, 05:50 AM

Trev,

That was a great review.

Ryansjones,

What is the purpose of your site? What is the purpose of your home page? What business model are you following? Having visitors linger isn't especially useful - having them take action, well, you can do something with that. For instance, is your home page focused on getting visitors to (take action) sign up for your email list? Or is its intended purpose to get them to (take action) click on an advert that takes them to a sales page? Or is the action you require to press a "Buy Now" button?

Give your home page focus by deciding what the primary action is that you want visitors to take and then optimize the structure of the page towards that end.

If you're building a commercial website, you don't want them lingering - you want them doing something that will eventually produce revenue. It doesn't matter if they remain on the page for only 5 seconds - if they've clicked a link that takes them to a sales page, or if they've subscribed to your list.

You want them to linger only as long as it takes for them to achieve the purpose of the page - to buy or to sign up, or whatever else is the primary aim of that page.

First decide what you are trying to achieve with that page (the primary action) as a commercial objective, then you'll have some notion of what has to be done to bring that about.

Ivan

ryansjones · 03-04-2009, 08:19 PM

Actually, I do have a concept for my websites:

1 .for www.snohomishpromotionnichemarketing.com - I am planning to make it into more of an ecommerce site or emall serving all of the affiliates I've joined through Linkshare, Commission Junction, and Clickbooth, along with the traffice exchanges that I've joined (have more than 100 different sites to host), and it will be more of a shopping comparison site when fully complete covering a variety of niches, such as sites for gamers, fitness and health sites, and the like.

2. for www.snohomish-ebook-store.net, it will be an ebook store that promotes the various different ebooks that are promoted through Clickbank (i.e., Burn the Fat, Feed the Muscle, Vince Del Monte's No Nonsense Body builing, and others)

I know, I am a total n00b when it comes to affilaite marketing, and am learning with this stuff.

chimeara27 · 03-05-2009, 03:04 AM

write quality content and optimize it.

Wizardofwisdom · 03-05-2009, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ryansjones

Actually, I do have a concept for my websites:

1 .for www.snohomishpromotionnichemarketing.com - I am planning to make it into more of an ecommerce site or emall serving all of the affiliates I've joined through Linkshare, Commission Junction, and Clickbooth, along with the traffice exchanges that I've joined (have more than 100 different sites to host), and it will be more of a shopping comparison site when fully complete covering a variety of niches, such as sites for gamers, fitness and health sites, and the like.

2. for www.snohomish-ebook-store.net, it will be an ebook store that promotes the various different ebooks that are promoted through Clickbank (i.e., Burn the Fat, Feed the Muscle, Vince Del Monte's No Nonsense Body builing, and others)

I know, I am a total n00b when it comes to affilaite marketing, and am learning with this stuff.

Hi Ryansjones

Since you're asking for help, I hope you're okay if it's straight to the point. (You're helping me to realise how much I actually do know - so thanks!)

That to me, is not a concept for a website - it's a concept for many websites. There's still no reason for anyone to go looking for it, and certainly no reason to spend money there!

You've got to get into the mindset of the customer. If it was you, what would you be looking for? Why would you be glad you came across your site? And what would you have typed into Google in the first place?

Do some keyword research - Google now has a fantastic free tool that tells you how many searches a month there are on every term. If you can find something in your niche that has a few hundred thousand searches a month, then make THAT the theme of your site - you can't guess what people want, you have to find out what they're looking for! (Boy, did I ever make that mistake to my cost! I swear to you that one tip alone could save you years of wasted effort and countless thousands of dollars!)

I've been paddling around in the affiliate pool for five or six years too, (as well as producing my own products of course), and I can't think of any reason why I'd be thankful for a site like yours.

I don't want to dishearten you - I really respect your spirit. But you have the tail wagging the dog. You need to find what people are looking for AND that you are passionate about telling them how to find it/do it or whatever it is, then build your site around ONE theme. You can't have gaming books on the same site as keep fit! It's two totally different markets, even to an affiliate!

Take a look at sites that sell well and see how focussed they are on single themes -even sites with multiple products.

Then simulate, (don't copy - that's illegal)!

Don't try to re-invent the wheel - there's a ton of success models on the net already.

Hope that's useful, buddy.

All good things
Trev.

Wizardofwisdom · 03-05-2009, 01:31 PM

Hi Ryansjones

Trev again.

Sorry man, I have to tell you. I just went to Snohomish Online Ebook store- get links to 30 different ebooks and clicked on your ebook links - it just comes up with your HTML code!

Take it down until the technology's sorted - you will not get anyone with errors like that!

Also, again, what's it for? There's no theme to the books, no way to download them, (so what's in it for me?) and nothing to pay for or sign up for, (so what's in it for you?)

You're probably starting to hate me by now, but I hope you can take the positives from this - if you correct these errors your determination and your passion for what you are doing will get you where you want to go! I really appreciate that you're putting a lot into this, which is why I keep writing to you!

Cheers - and good luck
Trev.

02-25-2009, 02:00 PM	#1
ryansjones HyperActive Warrior Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Snohomish, WA Posts: 102 Blog Entries: 4 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts Social Networking Contact Info	how do you make an effective home page of a website? I am curious about another thing. I am trying to figure out how to make killer web pages at all of my sites that grabs the viewer's attention and encourages them to stay for a while. I try to keep them short, post picutres, etc, but I am not sure how to go about making them enticing to my visitors.
	www.snohomish-ebook-store.net http://www.xboxfreak.ws http://www.seattlesearch.ws http://www.squidoo.com/ryansintroduction

02-25-2009, 05:42 PM	#2
Ryan6 HyperActive Warrior Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Cheshire, England Posts: 196 Thanks: 17 Thanked 7 Times in 7 Posts	Re: how do you make an effective home page of a website? Maybe add some interesting polls or offer them some freebies.
	Discount Shopping - Guarantor Loans UK - How to Make Money - YSpace

02-26-2009, 12:55 PM	#3
Sticky Articles Active Warrior Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 30 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: how do you make an effective home page of a website? I think it's more about the copy and clean layout for this. Start out with a headline depending on what kind of site you're going for and a clean navigation bar.

02-26-2009, 05:32 PM	#4
Wizardofwisdom Active Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: , , United Kingdom. Posts: 44 Thanks: 1 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Re: how do you make an effective home page of a website? Hi I just took a peek at the first site you listed in your sig file. (Snohomish online e-book store and more) Wanna quick critique? First, I'd no idea what it's about. "Snohomish" is a meaningless word to me, (I guess it's a place, but even if it's famous in your area, not all your visitors are American. I'm British). It took quite a bit of looking to see that there's a sort of headline above the picture - which includes the word "etc"!!! I have no idea what "etc" is, and as a customer I'd never hang around to find out. I've never done a search for "etc" in my life - and I bet no one else does either! Get rid of it or replace it with a good keyword. Second, my browser blocked whatever pop up you have. Get rid of that too. Third, only on my return did I discover how to access the menu. Too clever - but you don't want a gizmo, you want clicks! Fourth, even when I found it, there's no focus. Why would I go to your (or anyone's website) looking for links to those topics? I'd be looking for ONE topic and I'd go to Google! Fifth - you repeated the word "variety" in your tiny amount of copy. Mistakes cost customers! Get your spelling right, your grammar friendly but clear. Sixth. The pics are nice, but who cares? If that's a commercial site you've taken up massive space - and slowed up download time - with pictures. If you just want to show off your neighbourhood, cool. Nice job! Seventh. It's a mess! The top pic is off centre. There are no "alt" tags - great for SEO by the way - to tell me what the pics are, and the second one has a counter under it! What does that have to do with the picture? As I scroll down I never get told what the links are about. The pop up menu obscures some of the text. Eighth. It has no focus. Do you want me to click a link or join Commission Junction? I thought this was a site about e-books! Take out "and more" from the title tag. It is meaningless and does absolutely nothing for your hopes of being found by search engines! What kind of "special offers" are they? There's no information! You must put yourself in the consumer's shoes. In their head is always the question, "What's in it for me?" or WIIFM (pronounced "wiffem"). A bunch of links with no theme is not exciting. Tell 'em you know how to save them money, or time, or get the best deal, or you're an expert reviewer of widgets, or they'll get some swanky bonus by being in your club. And keep it focussed. If it's a site about ebooks, take out everything - including the pictures - that isn't about ebooks. I don't care where you live if I'm looking for an ebook, unless it happens to be an ebook about Snohomish of course! Then tell 'em (that is tell ME), why I should look for an ebook on YOUR site! What makes you stand out from the rest of the ebook crowd? Go to Google, type in "ebook sites" and look closely at the top three "authority" sites that come up, (i.e. not the advertised ones - but the ones that Google organically sees as most relevant to that search) Ask yourself what advertising draws you in. Your website is like a supermarket that says, "We've got a lot of stuff inside. Why don't you come and see?" It's a "So what?" message! Supermarkets don't do that. They're excellent marketers. They have two for one offers, deals of the week, irresistible bargains, loss leaders, emotional triggers, (like warm bread - a bit difficult on a website I grant you), and all sorts of tricks that make you feel like they've thought about YOU. That's somehow, what you've got to do with your site! I hope I haven't been too harsh. I've tried to be constructive. I've studied marketing on and off the net for a long time and I'm still struggling to get it right, so don't despair! Good luck. Trev.
	Never Be A Victim Of Circumstance Again! http://www.master-success-secrets.com

02-26-2009, 07:00 PM	#5
ryansjones HyperActive Warrior Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Snohomish, WA Posts: 102 Blog Entries: 4 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts Social Networking Contact Info	Re: how do you make an effective home page of a website? Snohomish is the name of the town I live near, and so I named my site after that city
	www.snohomish-ebook-store.net http://www.xboxfreak.ws http://www.seattlesearch.ws http://www.squidoo.com/ryansintroduction

03-01-2009, 05:50 AM	#6
vicone Advanced Warrior Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Sydney, Australia. Posts: 747 Thanks: 28 Thanked 77 Times in 70 Posts	Re: how do you make an effective home page of a website? Trev, That was a great review. Ryansjones, What is the purpose of your site? What is the purpose of your home page? What business model are you following? Having visitors linger isn't especially useful - having them take action, well, you can do something with that. For instance, is your home page focused on getting visitors to (take action) sign up for your email list? Or is its intended purpose to get them to (take action) click on an advert that takes them to a sales page? Or is the action you require to press a "Buy Now" button? Give your home page focus by deciding what the primary action is that you want visitors to take and then optimize the structure of the page towards that end. If you're building a commercial website, you don't want them lingering - you want them doing something that will eventually produce revenue. It doesn't matter if they remain on the page for only 5 seconds - if they've clicked a link that takes them to a sales page, or if they've subscribed to your list. You want them to linger only as long as it takes for them to achieve the purpose of the page - to buy or to sign up, or whatever else is the primary aim of that page. First decide what you are trying to achieve with that page (the primary action) as a commercial objective, then you'll have some notion of what has to be done to bring that about. Ivan
	Best Backlinking Strategy For Free Traffic Christmas Cash - Secret Of Profiting In Niche Markets Optin Secret Weapon That Exploded My Income

03-04-2009, 08:19 PM	#7
ryansjones HyperActive Warrior Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Snohomish, WA Posts: 102 Blog Entries: 4 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts Social Networking Contact Info	Re: how do you make an effective home page of a website? Actually, I do have a concept for my websites: 1 .for www.snohomishpromotionnichemarketing.com - I am planning to make it into more of an ecommerce site or emall serving all of the affiliates I've joined through Linkshare, Commission Junction, and Clickbooth, along with the traffice exchanges that I've joined (have more than 100 different sites to host), and it will be more of a shopping comparison site when fully complete covering a variety of niches, such as sites for gamers, fitness and health sites, and the like. 2. for www.snohomish-ebook-store.net, it will be an ebook store that promotes the various different ebooks that are promoted through Clickbank (i.e., Burn the Fat, Feed the Muscle, Vince Del Monte's No Nonsense Body builing, and others) I know, I am a total n00b when it comes to affilaite marketing, and am learning with this stuff.
	www.snohomish-ebook-store.net http://www.xboxfreak.ws http://www.seattlesearch.ws http://www.squidoo.com/ryansintroduction

03-05-2009, 03:04 AM	#8
chimeara27 Warrior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 22 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: how do you make an effective home page of a website? write quality content and optimize it.
	Hectic Capiznon Bloggers 2009 Techlabcapiz Pacquiao vs. Cotto UFC 106: Lesnar vs. Carwin Vitali Klitschko vs. Kevin Johnson

03-05-2009, 01:31 PM	#10
Wizardofwisdom Active Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: , , United Kingdom. Posts: 44 Thanks: 1 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Re: how do you make an effective home page of a website? Hi Ryansjones Trev again. Sorry man, I have to tell you. I just went to Snohomish Online Ebook store- get links to 30 different ebooks and clicked on your ebook links - it just comes up with your HTML code! Take it down until the technology's sorted - you will not get anyone with errors like that! Also, again, what's it for? There's no theme to the books, no way to download them, (so what's in it for me?) and nothing to pay for or sign up for, (so what's in it for you?) You're probably starting to hate me by now, but I hope you can take the positives from this - if you correct these errors your determination and your passion for what you are doing will get you where you want to go! I really appreciate that you're putting a lot into this, which is why I keep writing to you! Cheers - and good luck Trev.
	Never Be A Victim Of Circumstance Again! http://www.master-success-secrets.com