Honest Impressions / Advice?

by dwbiz05

Posted: 12 years ago 14 replies

WEB DESIGN

We recently launched our website and we're getting ok traffic (working on that part) but we feel like what our program has to offer is almost a no-brainer for only $0.99 per month...

So, the question is, why are so many people passing up the opportunity? It must be something about the site design, layout, etc. that is making them hesitate or pass on.

I'm not an internet marketer, I'm a php developer, so I'm not great at actual design, copy writing or really most anything when it comes to marketing.

Would you, as internet marketers, mind giving me some ideas of what would make our website more appealing, while still getting the point of our program across to the user? I think a lot of people just don't "get it" which means I've got to change how it is presented.

I did all the design and I have no problem saying that I'm sure that's a big part of it. lol! Any thoughts, critiques or ideas would be great. I feel like this might be holding us back from a lot of potential.

UPDATE: We are working on a new design that I believe in corporates many of the the suggestions here. This is our test page for the new design. Please feel free to comment on either page:

New Design: http://bigstuffcheap.com/new-design/
Current Design: http://bigstuffcheap.com

Thanks in advance!
Dave Welch

#advice #honest #impressions

MadHu5tle 12 years ago

Honost impression...

I have no idea what you do. I took a peek around, and without stopping to read each area I had no way of knowing what the hell you were selling, even if it was free I don't know what your selling...

All I know is I'll "save money" with a 7 day free trial...but I don't know what "it" is that is free for seven days, so I'm not interested.

Look at group on or living social, (cause after reading I assume your doing that sort of thing) when you go there, you get DEALS in yo' face. They spend approximately zero time selling THEMSELVES and make the DEALS (specific, geo targeted, shows price) the spotlight. You want to be transparent. It's not YOU you are selling, its the deals. You are just the facilitator.

Check out quibids, they have a great landing page. All deals, with a little spice thrown in, and more deals. And then a way to sign up. They don't bore you explaining that you will save money or you will do this or that or the other things. Their formula is simple:

Here's a deal, do you want it? Good, look at the shiny object and sign your name here...

So I guess to sum up my advice, sell the deals, NOT the idea that you provide deals. Sell the actual PAYOFF, not the concept.
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Jordi 12 years ago

I agree, I don't even know where to go in your site. It's just not organized at all.

As for the designs, watch this.

What Makes Good Web Design? - YouTube

Need a good design? I'm always here
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Really

12 years ago

Originally Posted by dwbiz05

We recently launched our website and we're getting ok traffic (working on that part) but we feel like what our program has to offer is almost a no-brainer for only $0.99 per month...

So, the question is, why are so many people passing up the opportunity? It must be something about the site design, layout, etc. that is making them hesitate or pass on.

I'm not an internet marketer, I'm a php developer, so I'm not great at actual design, copy writing or really most anything when it comes to marketing.

Would you, as internet marketers, mind giving me some ideas of what would make our website more appealing, while still getting the point of our program across to the user? I think a lot of people just don't "get it" which means I've got to change how it is presented.

I did all the design and I have no problem saying that I'm sure that's a big part of it. lol! Any thoughts, critiques or ideas would be great. I feel like this might be holding us back from a lot of potential.

Thanks in advance!
Dave Welch

Link to this site is second in my signature.

PS. If there is a more appropriate place for this question, please let me know.

I agree with everyone else. It's hard to know what it is you are selling. There's no compelling reason to give you money at all.

Thanks

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dwbiz05 12 years ago

Wow! Awesome! Thanks all. I'm defiantly going to have some work cut out for me! I did actually pattern our sale look after the quibids style sort of... But since price is based on the users referrals and not a bidding system I'll have to figure out how to present that accurately with less fuss.

I think we were more worried about getting people to understand the whole concept instead of just leading the m to the magic fountain. Lol

Any other thoughts are welcome and I really apreciate the honesty! Hopefully design 2.0 will be better from an IM standpoint.
Dave
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3dy 12 years ago

Marketers are going to tell you to change your site's title and some other stuff.

I, as a designer, will tell you that a membership website should inspire more professionalism. It looks like some effort has been put into the website, but it doesn't really look as business-oriented as it should.

Try using a more professional color scheme, another font(s), organizing your navbar better, and making your visitors understand what the site is about within 10 seconds of their arrival.

Good luck with it and if you have any questions or need suggestions for the colors, fonts, etc., we will be happy to help.
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ALicenseToCode

12 years ago

Your site looks really sketchy and unprofessional, it seems like you're trying to do some type of penny auction but I can't tell. Take a look at QuiBids.com: The Home of Entertainment Shopping. - QuiBids.com for a site that has pulled this off with a solid design, be more like their layout.

Also your pricing is messed up, 99 cents x 12 months is less than $12, you should make your annual subscription $9 or $10, that would get you more money up front.

Thanks
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dwbiz05

12 years ago

Thanks again all. We're NOT a penny auction but I like their layout and I'll be updating ours to try to convey the main piece of our membership more quickly, professionally, and simply.

We actually have multiple parts of our program. Saving money is the main piece, but we have an easy "flipping" option for members to make money and we're adding more features in the near future. So I assume we probably need to focus on one piece, like the discounts for the main page and leave the other member benefits in explanations or something... thoughts?

Originally Posted by ALicenseToCode

Also your pricing is messed up, 99 cents x 12 months is less than $12, you should make your annual subscription $9 or $10, that would get you more money up front.

This is actually by design. Since we charge so little for our membership, we would rather know that we have X amount coming in each month than just getting a bigger chunk all at once. Plus over the long haul we lose money on $9 or $10. The annual fee is a courtesy for those who don't like monthly payments, so we charge a bit more.

Thanks again everyone, this is really enlightening and once again I'm in debt to WF! lol

Dave

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laesvirta 12 years ago

I agree with the other commenters, the concept is not very clear and the layout it not very professional. Also, why do I have to log in to view the discounted price? If you're giving good discounts or otherwise providing a valuable service you wouldn't have to sell the sign-up so much.
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dwbiz05 12 years ago

Thanks for the input.

We are doing a major overhaul on the layout and design right now thanks to the comments here.

The reason you would need to sign in, is because each person's discount is different, based on the number of friends they have referred. So to put a discounted price on the front page for a non-logged in user is tricky (from a legal standpoint) since it may not be accurate for that specific user.

The nice thing is that it only takes 5 referrals to reach 90% discount on the items we sell and even with just 3, you're looking at 60% off. Plus, you cna save big via our make an offer option. Like I said, a lot of info to get across!

It is a balancing act for sure. People need to understand what they are participating in but we need to not over "info" them. lol.

I've added a link below to our new design/testing page. Feel free to add any comments about that as well!

Thanks again for all the input all!

Dave

New Design: BigStuffCheap.com :: » New Design
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easternodyssey 12 years ago

From personal experience, even though the site matters, the site does not matter that much. I think a lot of sites its about doing the marketing and creating a name. The amound of horrible badley designed sites that are ranked as top sites or high in google is unbeleivable.
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Istvan Horvath

12 years ago

Originally Posted by dwbiz05

I'm not an internet marketer, I'm a php developer, so I'm not great at actual design, copy writing or really most anything when it comes to marketing.

Then I have to ask the obvious: WHY are you doing all that stuff if you are NOT good at it? To the point - my wife, a psychiatrist, doesn't try to make WordPress sites and I don't treat her patients... Got it? :rolleyes:

I mean, is this a serious business or some kind of hobby of yours where you play the 'webmaster role'? Yes, it is clear you have no idea of design, typography and their effect on visitors. Sorry. If it is a serious business, then focus on your strength and let everybody do what they are the best at.

Judging by your OP it's not the case of a lonely wolf trying to get done everything by himself. You talk about "we" - which makes me think there are more people in this business/venture/startup/whatever.

Put the money together and hire a pro to get a decent site!

just my @0.02

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dwbiz05

12 years ago

Originally Posted by Istvan Horvath

Then I have to ask the obvious: WHY are you doing all that stuff if you are NOT good at it?

Quite simply, because I don't have the option of being able to just pay someone at this time. We launched our idea with a shoe string budget (like many, many startups) and now we are finding out the limitations and things that need to be changed. So, while it may be easy for you to just "put the money together and get a designer" it's not that simple for us since we've already launched, we've already put a lot into advertising, and a lot of our own money into our initial products.

Besides, I believe there is something to be said for learning what I don't know and learning how to improve upon that. Given the current circumstances, that's where I am. Did you look at the new layout I listed in my last post? Where your thoughts the same?

Originally Posted by jaasmit

As you are php programmer then what's the problem in getting a good website designed.
You should hire some arts student who can give your desired design and you code it.
It's that simple.

I don't work with designers... I work with clients who use their own designers. The few designers I have worked with (students, yes) were not good at all. I've seen better stuff on fiverr. lol

I appreciate everyone's thoughts but with our current financial commitments already, we can't throw money at the problem so we have to learn how to do this stuff ourselves.

I just updated my original post with both new and old links in case you missed the link to the newest design concept.

Thanks,
Dave

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jaasmit 12 years ago

As you are php programmer then what's the problem in getting a good website designed.
You should hire some arts student who can give your desired design and you code it.
It's that simple.
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Jason Wolfe 12 years ago

make the offer STAND OUT and IRRESISTIBLE
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Honest Impressions / Advice?

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