Comments on my blog please

34 replies
I am still working on it, but would love some early feedback as to what you would like to see in it or removed.

No promises but will consider all suggestions.

Chocolate and it is about chocolate
#blog #comments
  • Profile picture of the author rapidscc
    hi bev,

    Congratz on your blog :-) Is this your first time?

    ohh and by the way, two things.

    The fonts looked too compressed. As if the text cant breath.

    Also. the weekly chocolate recipe box jumped on the lowest part of the page and was not aligned.

    Though the blog is cool. I kinda saw how a professional would write one.

    Regards,

    rapidscc
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[108582].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Scott Ames
      That blog just made me hungry. I love chocolate. Now if you could get it to send out the aroma .... wow...
      Signature

      Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm. -Winston Churchill

      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[108586].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author TheRichJerksNet
    The words spoken are soft and true
    Your tone is that like the whispering of the wind on a cool summer breeze
    The smell of the sweet chocolate does'nt make one blue
    You are fullfilling everyone of my desires and needs

    Oh crap this aint the poetry forum..

    Looks like a good start though Bev

    James
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[108599].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author valerieSONORA
    Blog about chocolate? I thought you were going to blog about danny wall and start a fan club.
    Signature

    siggy taking a break...

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[108601].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Kat Bartone
      Hi Bev,

      A few initial impressions (from a chocolate lover).

      1. While your 'Chocolate' title is straight and to the point, it didn't grab me. Wonder if it can be snazzed up a bit? Keep the keyword front and center, but make it a more interesting phrase.

      2. The text on the page is too dominant - should be better balanced with white space. Makes it a bit too busy to try to read. Also, when you have a fairly long web article, it helps to break it up with a few other subheadlines, and if appropriate, bulleted sections.

      3. The Amazon ads are completely unrelated, so they don't target your market well.

      4. I think the headline for the ad on the right needs a little tweaking. It looks like this:

      Do You Deserve Anything
      Less?

      This would be better:

      Do You Deserve
      Anything Less?

      Also, I'd suggest making that font a bit smaller, then you can embolden it. Try centering it also to compare that look with the left-justified look.

      Now I'm going to go back there and find me a good recipe!

      Hope this helps,

      - Kat Bartone
      Signature

      Your search for the perfect WordPress theme is over. Here it is.

      Coming soon: Compelling Content from the PLR Article Wizard

      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[108734].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Erum Munir
    Bev, Ooh now I want to go have some LOL.

    How about making the title backgrounds a slightly lighter chocolate brown? It looks almost black on my screen.

    Now that's a niche I hadn't thought of making a minisite template pack for
    Signature
    3DEcovers: Photoshop Ecover Actions
    DotsnDashes Website Designs: Custom Wordpress Themes
    My Blog: ErumMunir.com
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[108718].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author espacecadet
      Banned
      [DELETED]
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[108759].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author Monetize
        It's very nice, however I believe that you could have put
        together a far superior blog without using RNW. IMO.
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[108794].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author enrich
    Banned
    Nice blog.

    Id write an article around the keyword phrase "buy chocolate online" as it has 720 Google searches per month on average.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[108741].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author VinceNouvel
      Its look yummy Bev.. I will put a border before the background if I were you.. Don't know if you like it like that.. lol
      just like choclate, design is all about ur own taste..
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[108752].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Heather Bestel
      Bev
      Gorgeous site.
      I love chocolate, especially the expensive kind.

      What I loved about your blog:

      • The colours are fab
      • The expensive looking chocs
      • The weekly recipes

      What I would like to see more of:

      • Pictures in amongst the text. Each page looked very similar.
      • Some little funny quotes about chocolates, like these two I found...

      "Life is like a box of chocolates...you never know what you're gonna get."
      Forrest Gump (Tom Hanks)

      "There are four basic food groups: milk chocolate, dark chocolate, white chocolate, and chocolate truffles."
      Anonymous


      Will keep watching your progress
      Best wishes
      Heather x
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[108857].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author bgmacaw
    1. Dump the Admin section in the sidebar.

    2. Make your email list subscription section really stand out. If you're wanting to use this to build a recipe/food list, I'd recommend dumping the Amazon and affiliate ads and push the list more.

    3. The in-post link ads are annoying and distracting. The Amazon ads are showing generic ads that don't match the theme of the site at times.

    4. The articles and how they're displayed works well for a niche marketing blog. If your ads and/or email subscription are more compelling it will draw them away from the dull blocks of text. I'd go for something more reader friendly if you want social interaction.

    5. You have comments disabled/removed. That's OK but if you call it a blog that raises the expectation of being able to comment. I leave comments enabled on my niche marketing blogs with the intent of gaining additional content/keywords over time but I moderate all comments to control this.

    6. You're using pages for some of the content. This limits what you can do so far as rotating posts, RSS feeds and a number of other neat WordPress tricks.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[108754].message }}
  • Originally Posted by Bev Clement View Post

    I am still working on it, but would love some early feedback as to what you would like to see in it or removed.

    No promises but will consider all suggestions.

    Chocolate and it is about chocolate
    I will post positive feedback only if you promise me a bar of Cadbury's 5 Star

    Just kidding. I liked your writing style, as always

    Arindam
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[108797].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author MommyEnterprises
    I love chocolate! The blog looks great. My fellow WAHM friend has a chocolate blog I wish she would update on a regular basis.
    Signature

    Stefani
    Mommy Enterprises
    Helping Moms Make Money At Home $$
    http://www.MommyEnterprises.com

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[108918].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Kim Standerline
    Originally Posted by Bev Clement View Post

    I am still working on it, but would love some early feedback as to what you would like to see in it or removed.

    No promises but will consider all suggestions.

    Chocolate and it is about chocolate
    yummy I like chocolate
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[109013].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Louis Raven
    Hey Bev,

    Tha's one SWEET blog

    IMHO the navigation looks a bit crowded, I'd go for having each block of navigation in a verticle line on the right:

    Pages-
    xxxxx
    xxxxx

    Categories-
    xxxxx
    xxxxx

    etc. Apart from that it's a really nice theme that's easy on the eyes.

    Hope all's well,
    Louis
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[109068].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Bev Clement
      Thanks Guys, I will be be working on it a lot more in the coming days.

      I will be looking at every comment made, and making the different changes.

      Someone else mentioned the alignment, it looks OK on my screen, must look at the code for that today.

      I have comments allowed so need to check that they work in both pages and posts.

      There is a border, but it isn't showing so a change of colour is needed.

      Fonts will be changed.

      White space will be done.

      Amazon ads are supposed to be related to the text, not good if they are not. They will get binned.

      There are lots of pictures to come.

      Lots of recipes to be added.

      Lots of one liners as well.

      Now for my confession, I bought the domain name in a moment of madness. I was looking for a recipe domain name (unrelated to chocolate) and this one was shown. I bought it, as I had a cookbook on chocolate, but I am not a chocolate lover. In the UK I would buy chocolate, put it in the fridge, and then bin it when it reached it sell by date. Friends would come and check there was no chocolate about to be binned
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[109365].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author Erum Munir
        Originally Posted by Bev Clement View Post

        Now for my confession, I bought the domain name in a moment of madness. I was looking for a recipe domain name (unrelated to chocolate) and this one was shown. I bought it, as I had a cookbook on chocolate, but I am not a chocolate lover. In the UK I would buy chocolate, put it in the fridge, and then bin it when it reached it sell by date.
        You are welcome to store it in my fridge
        Signature
        3DEcovers: Photoshop Ecover Actions
        DotsnDashes Website Designs: Custom Wordpress Themes
        My Blog: ErumMunir.com
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[109470].message }}
        • Profile picture of the author jjpmarketing
          Not a chocalate lover? WHAAAT? Life would completely suck without chocolate. Best chocolate I ever had was from Belgium. The only way I can describe it is... Chocolate Perfection.

          By the way... I don't care too much for your theme. Just because the blog is about chocolate doesn't mean it has to be brown. It is kinda depressing. I would use more of a neutral color for the background color...

          You could possibly go with something similar to your header... a tiled image with a single piece of chocloate on it. Make the background of the tile silver. Then leave the text as brown... but I would add some more white space. It is kind of bunched up. Do this by making more paragraphs... and possibly double spacing the text.

          Everything else is ok. The header is a good choice.
          {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[109494].message }}
          • Profile picture of the author Monetize
            Bev - Chocolate lasts almost forever if you freeze it
            {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[109514].message }}
          • Profile picture of the author jhongren
            Hi Bev,

            I would love to give some tips of mine:

            1. Have pictures of chocolate in your blog post. (it is all words)

            2. I think your header can be better. Go to sxc.hu to get clearer and sharper chocolate picture

            3. Remove the word "My Chocolate Blog"'s shadow in the header image. One is enough.

            4. Write some benefits based statements for subscribing to your newsletters.

            5. Have a "Anti-spam policy" statement below your optin box.

            6. I think the permalink through the keyword "chocolate" above the post os redundant.

            7. Your admin panel in the center column is redundant.

            8. have an "about me" page about yourself.

            Cheers,
            John
            {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[109526].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author kevinw1
    Hi Bev, I love the theme (mmm, yum, chocolate!) but there are a lot of little glitches in the text - it needs a good proofreading. eg "small bits which are called as nibs", "are rich in flavanols which is" etc.

    Kevin
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[109419].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Dave777
    Hi Bev,

    Excellent niche choice with loads of untapped keyword possibilities...

    Your chocolate blog reads well but I'd also recommend lightning up on the compressed areas...

    In case you need an interesting chocolate tag line etc. etc...

    The word "chocolate" comes from the Swiss German word meaning "orgasm in the mouth". ...

    Not sure if you know about Clotilde Dusoulier's chocolate and zucchini blog success story...

    Might give you some chocolate food for thought and who knows maybe a chocolate business connection of some sort...

    Chocolate & Zucchini: About Chocolate & Zucchini

    A couple other suggestions for ideas...

    Chocolate Search Engine
    Chocolate Directory - Find all of your chocolate needs here.

    One more quick idea for you...

    Chocolate Fountains... related to weddings is a Hot keyword category and trend to research and blog about...

    Dave
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[109983].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Thomas Wilkinson
    Bev, I don't care for credit cards but I have a couple
    of sites that do pretty well. It doesn't always follow
    that we have to be a fan of everything we write about.

    T.W.
    Signature
    When you hear someone telling you what YOU can't do, they are usually talking about what THEY can't do.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[109997].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author imstar
    the font-size for the menu and sidebar should be larger, it look tiny on my 20' lcd.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[110119].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author kittyluver
    Nice design. Try to view the blog in Internet explorer also. Otherwise your blog is a wonderful asset for the chocolate lovers...
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[119178].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Nathan Denton
    nice looking chocolate blog Bev. What sort of content to plan to post on the blog? Are you just a big chocolate fan or is this new niche you're testing out?
    Signature
    Online marketing, offline marketing and various other things.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[119188].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Bev Clement
      Nathan, did you read my confession, that I'm not a chocolate lover.

      I have over 300 chocolate recipes and many unique articles on the subject.

      There will also be a number of products being promoted there, and I might create a book on the subject as well.

      I can't believe how many people have visited the site in the last 5 days, and even though it isn't completed yet, as I have some more plug-ins to add, we are already No 2 in Google for some keywords. I only found that out because we had visitors for those keywords.

      519 unique visitors in 5 days
      943 visitors
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[119622].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author jhongren
        Originally Posted by Bev Clement View Post

        Nathan, did you read my confession, that I'm not a chocolate lover.

        I have over 300 chocolate recipes and many unique articles on the subject.

        There will also be a number of products being promoted there, and I might create a book on the subject as well.

        I can't believe how many people have visited the site in the last 5 days, and even though it isn't completed yet, as I have some more plug-ins to add, we are already No 2 in Google for some keywords. I only found that out because we had visitors for those keywords.

        519 unique visitors in 5 days
        943 visitors
        Hi Bev,

        Maybe you can interview chocolate lovers, makers and so on. =)

        I love to read email interviews. It can be done through mp3 or even video.

        Cheers,
        John
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[121796].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author rocker123
    nice! congratz! makes me hungry now keep it up!
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[119707].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author A Chandler SEO
    The text over text in the header is a bit much for my taste. I think it takes away from the header.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[119729].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author GarrieWilson
    Hey Bev,

    Some quick suggestions.

    1. The text are it way to wide. Makes it harder to read.
    2. The opt-in, doesnt grab my attention or tell me quickly what I'm getting. Offer a free recipe for trouffles(sp) and you will get lots of opt-ins.
    3. The sidebar tittles, dont do it for me but i dont know why...

    Garrie
    Signature
    Screw You, NameCheap!
    $1 Off NameSilo Domain Coupons:

    SAVEABUCKDOMAINS & DOLLARDOMAINSAVINGS
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[121848].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author George Wright
    Thanks a lot Bev.

    I ate two dark chocolate bars yesterday and one today. The power of suggestion at it's best. Yesterday I only read your post and not your blog. Your post, I forgot all about, but then went on a chocolate binge.

    Now today I go ahead and visit your Blog. I won't be able to sleep. LOL

    Nice Blog Bev.

    George Wright, P.S. Thanks for the recipes. I like the fact that they are made in the microwave. And they sound delicious. P.P.S While I won't argue with any of the constructive criticism given in this thread, I think your blog is very nice and your target market will probably not be as worried about the "format look" as they will be about the great content and the contend is right on so far.
    Signature
    "The first chapter sells the book; the last chapter sells the next book." Mickey Spillane
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[121927].message }}

Trending Topics