Stuck in a hole with my authority fitness site...

20 replies
Hey guys,

It's been a while since I've posted here. I've gone a little further than last time on my website ( The Fit Freak Blog - Amazing Ways to Pack Muscle On a Hardgainer with FitFrek.com | go from skinny to beastly --- Like me! ) but overall, I'm stumped.

I'm in the fitness niche, and my target market is skinny guys. I've defined my market, developed content, but not sure how I can monetize. I'd rather not have ads, as it'll just take visitors away from my website.

Do I just keep generating traffic by forums/blog commenting ? Do I just show the world who I am?

I don't want to give up, but I want to get somewhere.
#authority #fitness #hole #site #stuck
  • Profile picture of the author discrat
    Hey Nader,
    I like it.

    Have you tried to create some Buzz on FB or done any marketing there ?

    That would be a good route I would think.

    I like the story. Its good



    - Robert Andrew
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    • Profile picture of the author Steve B
      DieselFit,

      What's the point of your blog/website? What do you have to sell?

      Gathering a subscriber list and blog comments is useful so far as it relates to building up an audience so you can do some marketing.

      But it sounds to me like you don't have a good reason to be gathering subscribers just yet.

      You need to create or affiliate with a product or service of some kind.

      How do you do that?

      Get into the heads of the skinny guys wanting to beef up and find out what problems and desires they have. Then sell something into that demand.

      You are right about not just placing advertising on your site to monetize it. It's not a good model for anyone that doesn't get loads of traffic.

      Concentrate on creating or finding multiple products that you can sell.

      You might also consider a membership or community site where skinny guys come together to talk about their plight and what they can do to add bulk.

      I don't see that you've got a viable business model just yet. But get out there and focus on what you can sell then go after it.

      The best to you,

      Steve
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      • Profile picture of the author DieselFit
        Hi Steve,

        The point of my blog is to ... Well I was going to say just build my brand and trust. But then I thought maybe I'm doing this to show skinnies how to gain muscle, while hopefully making money out of it.

        I have thought about the problems that my target audience has, and I made them out to be quite similar to mine, some of those problems include: no respect, skinny, are not able to attract the ladies.

        I do need a product/service. How do I know what to have and do I use my blog as the centerpiece to "funnel" those readers into the products/services I'm selling?

        Thanks for the suggestions Steve. Much appreciated..


        Originally Posted by Steve B View Post

        DieselFit,

        What's the point of your blog/website? What do you have to sell?

        Gathering a subscriber list and blog comments is useful so far as it relates to building up an audience so you can do some marketing.

        But it sounds to me like you don't have a good reason to be gathering subscribers just yet.

        You need to create or affiliate with a product or service of some kind.

        How do you do that?

        Get into the heads of the skinny guys wanting to beef up and find out what problems and desires they have. Then sell something into that demand.

        You are right about not just placing advertising on your site to monetize it. It's not a good model for anyone that doesn't get loads of traffic.

        Concentrate on creating or finding multiple products that you can sell.

        You might also consider a membership or community site where skinny guys come together to talk about their plight and what they can do to add bulk.

        I don't see that you've got a viable business model just yet. But get out there and focus on what you can sell then go after it.

        The best to you,

        Steve
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    • Profile picture of the author DieselFit
      Originally Posted by discrat View Post

      Hey Nader,
      I like it.

      Have you tried to create some Buzz on FB or done any marketing there ?

      That would be a good route I would think.

      I like the story. Its good



      - Robert Andrew
      A little bit yes. I wouldn't say I went all out and did my best but kind of. What are you suggesting? That I chase after those on Facebook?

      Thanks for the compliment!
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  • Profile picture of the author jbsmith
    Ok - I have to ask...

    1. Did you make sure there was a market paying for information on moving from skinny to muscular? Are there other products? Is there a buzz in the market you can tap into (Ex already people discussing, showing desire?)

    Always, always, always work backward from commercial activity when picking a niche...it's the surest way to not waste your time.

    2. Are you getting traffic now based on the content you have developed? Is your struggle today around getting traffic or converting that traffic into leads and customers?

    3. Looking at your website, thinking the message needs to be clearer and more up-front - assuming #1 and #2 are affirmative, then go right in for the kill on your messaging with something like "Go From Skinny & Meek to Built and Confident in 30 Days Like I Did" - then have your opt-in incentive a snapshot of your 4-week (or whatever period matches your experience) plan (and how you did it). Finally, determine if you need to put a paid product together or if you can find another product or plan that is already out there and works that you can resell (as stated above, this really needs to be step#1 before you even enter the niche.)

    Jeff
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    • Profile picture of the author Michael Shook
      Part of the issue, I suspect is that you have way too much going on, on your site. Hello Bar, Optin Monster, Sumo Me, sidebar ads, busy front page.

      Your optin form gets lost amidst all this busyness.

      I could handle one of these, but all of them together, I just want to leave. I realize I am not everybody else, but I can't even figure out what to do on your page.

      This might be an issue too: "I'm the ex-skinny guy who turned into a alpha muscle building machine"

      People want something for themselves, they don't care so much about you.

      You could try something like:

      Are you too skinny now but want to pack on the muscle, just like I did? Enter your email address right there and I will send you a 6 pack of the best tips on building that muscular body you've been craving.

      Then send them a series of 6 emails each featuring one of your best tips. Put your call to action for something to sell in each one, starting with the 2nd email.

      De-busify your front page by choosing one optin format, and make it a contrasting color to your page design.

      Those things might help. :-)
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      • Profile picture of the author Dana Holt
        Lots of great info from Michael.

        I also agree there is too much going on on your site. I found my eyes jumping all over the place.

        If you have a certain action you want people to perform you have to use your content to guide them to it with the minimum amount of distractions.
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        • Profile picture of the author DieselFit
          Interesting! Do you mean using my blog is a funnel to basically guide readers to one single action? I can see myself writign reviews for multiple products. Is there some kind of guide or something I can follow on this, it seems like it's not as simple as that?

          Thank you though ! Have a good day...

          Originally Posted by XenosSoft View Post

          Lots of great info from Michael.

          I also agree there is too much going on on your site. I found my eyes jumping all over the place.

          If you have a certain action you want people to perform you have to use your content to guide them to it with the minimum amount of distractions.
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          • Profile picture of the author Dana Holt
            I was mainly talking about something called eye path.

            What is Eye Path? - Definition from Techopedia

            You should design your content so the viewer's attention follows the path you want, ultimately getting to your goal. That goal could be whatever you want them to do, sign up for a list, free trial, or navigate to another page or site.

            If there is too much going on in your design then visitors will not be sure what to look at and in what sequence.


            Originally Posted by DieselFit View Post

            Interesting! Do you mean using my blog is a funnel to basically guide readers to one single action? I can see myself writign reviews for multiple products. Is there some kind of guide or something I can follow on this, it seems like it's not as simple as that?

            Thank you though ! Have a good day...
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      • Profile picture of the author DieselFit
        I actually just fixed everything you mentioned about the whole website being busy. 100% right, the website was way too busy. I changed the format of the optin's, but what hello bar? I don't have one... I hope.

        I appreciate the suggestion about the opt in message. I changed that and will have to work on something for something that will help achieve their goals. I think I will make a report instead of the autoresponder thing cause I have mailchimp and do not have the paid version.

        Thank you again. Sure wish I heard you advice days ago though!


        Originally Posted by Michael Shook View Post

        Part of the issue, I suspect is that you have way too much going on, on your site. Hello Bar, Optin Monster, Sumo Me, sidebar ads, busy front page.

        Your optin form gets lost amidst all this busyness.

        I could handle one of these, but all of them together, I just want to leave. I realize I am not everybody else, but I can't even figure out what to do on your page.

        This might be an issue too: "I'm the ex-skinny guy who turned into a alpha muscle building machine"

        People want something for themselves, they don't care so much about you.

        You could try something like:

        Are you too skinny now but want to pack on the muscle, just like I did? Enter your email address right there and I will send you a 6 pack of the best tips on building that muscular body you've been craving.

        Then send them a series of 6 emails each featuring one of your best tips. Put your call to action for something to sell in each one, starting with the 2nd email.

        De-busify your front page by choosing one optin format, and make it a contrasting color to your page design.

        Those things might help. :-)
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        • Profile picture of the author Michael Shook
          Originally Posted by DieselFit View Post

          I actually just fixed everything you mentioned about the whole website being busy. 100% right, the website was way too busy. I changed the format of the optin's, but what hello bar? I don't have one... I hope.

          I appreciate the suggestion about the opt in message. I changed that and will have to work on something for something that will help achieve their goals. I think I will make a report instead of the autoresponder thing cause I have mailchimp and do not have the paid version.

          Thank you again. Sure wish I heard you advice days ago though!
          I was mistaken about the Hello Bar because that orange stripe at the top looks just like a Hello bar.

          I am thinking that you want to establish your authority in this blog. Can you get someone to take pictures of you, in the poses that Arnold is making, or using one of the supplements you are advertising? That kind of thing goes a long way toward establishing your credibility as the authority for skinny guys who want to be big.

          You've got a great story here. maybe you could have a static page as your front page, instead of your blog. That would cut down on the busyness immediately. And if you had a nice image of you in Before/After mode, and an optin box, that would be worth testing.
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          • Profile picture of the author Gambino
            Originally Posted by Michael Shook View Post

            You've got a great story here. maybe you could have a static page as your front page, instead of your blog. That would cut down on the busyness immediately. And if you had a nice image of you in Before/After mode, and an optin box, that would be worth testing.
            This. The homepage still looks busy to me. I like the call to action (email sign up at the top) but under that I would put your story and/or a sale pitch to sign up for your email list and tell peoople what you're going to do for them.
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            • Profile picture of the author DieselFit
              Originally Posted by Gambino View Post

              This. The homepage still looks busy to me. I like the call to action (email sign up at the top) but under that I would put your story and/or a sale pitch to sign up for your email list and tell peoople what you're going to do for them.
              Hello, so you're suggesting I use my story, my about me page in this case, right as the homepage right? that's not a bad idea! Thank you
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              • Profile picture of the author Gambino
                Originally Posted by DieselFit View Post

                Hello, so you're suggesting I use my story, my about me page in this case, right as the homepage right? that's not a bad idea! Thank you
                Eh, I wouldn't use your "about me" on the homepage. Most of your visitors will want to know about your results and what you can do for them.

                Check out this fitnesss page (no affiliation or affiliate link) nerdfitness.com

                It's set up similar to yours. With the call to action at the top (email sign up), but then theres just the 'latest blog entry' in the middle. If a user were to click that they go to a page with the article, but to the top right of that page is another email list sign up, and at the bottom of the article is another list sign up. The entire site is seemingly designed around simply getting you to join. You'll notice that even the about me is a sales pitch to join.

                Side note I meant to mention earlier.. The before/after photos in the top right appear to have quite an age difference. Most people are going to want results fast. Just a small consideration.
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          • Profile picture of the author DieselFit
            I actually do have some arnold poses of myself saved on my computer. I could definitely use them. I could do the supplement photo's as well. Should I use these pictures for when I review products and such? Or are you suggesting that they would be in the face of the homepage?

            I sure could use a static page, that actually is a good idea. I would probably use my about me page as the static page. The before/after mode is actually right on the home page. Or is it all caught up with the busyness as you suggest?




            Originally Posted by Michael Shook View Post

            I was mistaken about the Hello Bar because that orange stripe at the top looks just like a Hello bar.

            I am thinking that you want to establish your authority in this blog. Can you get someone to take pictures of you, in the poses that Arnold is making, or using one of the supplements you are advertising? That kind of thing goes a long way toward establishing your credibility as the authority for skinny guys who want to be big.

            You've got a great story here. maybe you could have a static page as your front page, instead of your blog. That would cut down on the busyness immediately. And if you had a nice image of you in Before/After mode, and an optin box, that would be worth testing.
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            • Profile picture of the author Michael Shook
              Originally Posted by DieselFit View Post

              I actually do have some arnold poses of myself saved on my computer. I could definitely use them. I could do the supplement photo's as well. Should I use these pictures for when I review products and such? Or are you suggesting that they would be in the face of the homepage?

              I sure could use a static page, that actually is a good idea. I would probably use my about me page as the static page. The before/after mode is actually right on the home page. Or is it all caught up with the busyness as you suggest?
              If you've got a competition photo, that would be best, but I don't know if you compete or not.

              A static page with a single image, that had high enough resolution to be big enough to cover a lot of your home page, would be good. A site like you have is a lot about looks, and the higher quality your image, the better of you will be.

              It would help some for SEo purposes, if you rename your images from stuff like this: https://pe56d.s3.amazonaws.com/p191s...t91n9cre29.png to something like:https://pe56d.s3.amazonaws.com/nadir-qudimat-the-fit-frek.png.

              Whenever you get the chance to marry your name with your authority persona title, it would help.
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              • Profile picture of the author discrat
                Nader,
                One other thing I noticed. You should get that Optin box at the very top instead of the Ebook. I know it is tempting to start selling the Ebook.

                But do not be too short sighted because with Email Marketing to a List you can sell that Ebook and much more

                I do realize it is your book so you can form a Buyers List if they buy it. But I still think it is best to put the Optin there so you can capture emails and have Traffic at the click of a button with Follow Ups and Broadcasts
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    • Profile picture of the author DieselFit
      There are TONS of people looking to gain muscle, especially hard gainers. Tons of forum activity, lots of questions being tossed around. I'm always observing and wondering what I could do to be different than those who are helping those people already.

      I'm getting traffic based on the content + the promotion I do on social media like suggesting it to twitter's and such.

      You're right, maybe I do need a clearer lead for my opt in.

      Thank you for the suggestions. I'm just wondering if there are any steps or list I can follow so I can do this properly





      Originally Posted by jbsmith View Post

      Ok - I have to ask...

      1. Did you make sure there was a market paying for information on moving from skinny to muscular? Are there other products? Is there a buzz in the market you can tap into (Ex already people discussing, showing desire?)

      Always, always, always work backward from commercial activity when picking a niche...it's the surest way to not waste your time.

      2. Are you getting traffic now based on the content you have developed? Is your struggle today around getting traffic or converting that traffic into leads and customers?

      3. Looking at your website, thinking the message needs to be clearer and more up-front - assuming #1 and #2 are affirmative, then go right in for the kill on your messaging with something like "Go From Skinny & Meek to Built and Confident in 30 Days Like I Did" - then have your opt-in incentive a snapshot of your 4-week (or whatever period matches your experience) plan (and how you did it). Finally, determine if you need to put a paid product together or if you can find another product or plan that is already out there and works that you can resell (as stated above, this really needs to be step#1 before you even enter the niche.)

      Jeff
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  • Profile picture of the author mrdeflation
    nothing to offer but wanted to wish you the best of luck with your website... Im going through the exact same thing and no matter what I do.. nothing works.

    best of luck!
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  • Profile picture of the author AaronBurton
    I would either make my own product or find a weight loss offer that is congruent with what your trying to do which is weight loss. Most offers on clickbank have pre made banners.
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