Is something wrong with my "free quote" page?

Hmmm...
It doesn't give people a reason to come ask for a quote. Do the people coming to the site already own ebooks or articles or sales pages they have written? If not, they don't have any reason to leave a reply.

Commercial websites, any sites or blogs designed to sell, need to have a sales message. They need to present a reason why someone one should take advantage of what they offer. It's called a Unique Selling Proposition. It tells exactly why they sould buy from you. It tells how you are better than all the other proofreaders in the world.

In proofreading and correcting grammer are you keeping this in mind? Do you actually have one-on-one sales experience? Sales copy generally need to be correct, but more colloquial.

A reader is always asking, "What's in it for me." When you answer that question with a valid, emotional "reason," you are more likely to get a response.

You are capturing a list only if they have a need for proofreading at the very moment they are reading your site. Can you think of another way to capture a list so you can continue to remind people you are available?

From a graphic design standpoint, italics is a more difficlut to read font, and the "Olde English" font is also difficult to read. Yes, I understand the connection to crusader.

Of course, my entire reply probably needs proofreading because I kant spel mhy weigh aut uv a whet papper bagh.

:-Don

I would maybe optimize the form a bit and add more options or fields, and clean up the form a bit?

I'm surprised.

I don't immediately see why, unless they're just "curious" people looking at most of the site without specific intentions?

Are we talking about 60% of a big number, or 60% of a small number?

I like your site, and your service. I think there's a huge need for it, even though unfortunately many people don't understand that there is, and the extent to which their incomes might increase by attending to it. Sometimes it's difficult to introduce people to the real world. I've even seen "writers" here saying they couldn't care less about spelling and grammatical mistakes on their own sites. They just have no conception at all of the business they're losing through carelessness. :rolleyes:

Anyway, I'm "on your side" and I wish you well with the site and the business, and am only sorry I have nothing more helpful to say in your thread.

Hi Amanda,

I had not found your homepage or your FAQ. Now it makes a lot more sense.

:-Don

Well, a few things... "Free Quote"! People are confused by this, so confused they click just to see what its about. That's why they click. Once on the form page, they figure, oh, that's what it is. "something confusing".

They simply do not grasp what you want from them. The "quote" word itself actually confuses them! Put Free estimate, and even though you will get less people, they will fill the form, but then again the form needs to make it less confusing too.

There is mass confusion on the form page! replace All you have to do to get your free quote is fill out the following form:

With...

Fill the Simple form below:

replace: Your email which gets too personal with: Primary e-mail: A grammar service would not misspell e-mail which needs a hyphen

Instead of URL, ask, web site address which is less confusing. Do not presume they all know what a URL is. replace The URL of your main page, and a list of subpages you want us to proofread

with...

Web site address:

Now I'll stop there are too many issues already. You tell them "you want us to proofread". Don't you see the problem?

Why would you want to proofread when you had offered a free quote, quote which means price?! Their so confused now that I am confused myself...lol

The point is, don't assume people are as smart as you and don't confuse them. Always make it easy and have them do less clicks or writing as is possible

Take care,

Bernard St-Pierre
Marketing Consultant
Copywriter/Teacher

Where is your traffic coming from? Where are they landing on your site?

If people are landing directly on your "Get a Quote" form then you have a major problem. You are not selling your service on the page.

If people are landing on your home page, then clicking "Get A Quote", but not filling out the form you have a completely different problem, which is probably the expectation of an instant quote.

Two suggestions pop instantly to mind.

#1 - Give a couple example quotes along with testimonials on the "Get a Quote" page.

#2 - It is time for an autoresponder series educating people on common Grammar faults to inform them of the advantages of great grammar. During the series you can propose the easy alternative of allowing the Grammar Crusader take care of the editing for them.

Just a couple ideas to increase your conversions...

Barry

alcymart nailed it.

You need to really explain what "free quote" means:

People get confused by the simplest things sometimes. Things that we think are chrystal clear to us, really confuses some people.

I would expand your explanation about what you mean by a "free quote".

For example "For a free quote of the services that I offer such as...."
Go inot a little detail about what they would be getting from you. How you are there to help, you want to see them succeed etc.

Does your form put them into an email list so they can get more tips and tricks about using grammar? Exclusive offers from you and more?

Good luck!

mandark:

It strikes me that requesting "The URL of your main page, and a list of subpages you want us to proofread" may be getting a little too far ahead of things, perhaps?

Surely most of your potential customers will want their content proofread before making it live on their websites, or elsewhere, meaning it's not yet likely to be available either at their main URL, or any pages leading off it (or any other part of their site, for that matter).

Perhaps this could do to be rephrased, and perhaps you could do to add some sort of "file upload" function to your form, so that those seeking a quote can send you their unpublished content (in a .zip file, for example) for you to evaluate.

In other words, how do I go about showing you my articles in order to get a quote from you, when the only place they currently reside is within a series of .doc files on my desktop? And what if I don't have the means or the inclination to upload them to my hosting, or whatever? Couldn't I just send them to you directly?

I think the whole form could do to be rethought and reworked to make the process clearer and more convenient for your visitors.

I'm not sure if you have changed the page since this thread started but I have only just now taken a look at it and here are my thoughts...

1. The simple reason I would give is that once on your homepage, the biggest thing that sticks out is the free quote button. So naturally if people are going to click on anything it is going to be that button.

2. When I am looking to get a service done I will usually go to various websites that offer the same service and compare their prices and portfolios. If I don't see any prices sticking out at me on your website then I close it and go on to the next one. I don't have time to be filling in forms and waiting for replies.

I have a feeling people would be clicking on that button hoping to see some sort of price list on that quote page - a lot of websites do. There are also a lot of websites out there where you can get an instant quote. You input the number of pages, words, whatever and it will give you an instant estimate. Some people may be clicking hoping to see something like that.

If I were you I would never just use a quote form like the one you have because I know how I feel about them as a consumer. It's too much effort on my part to go through and explain what I need done over and over. I would only ever fill in a form like this if I already had some idea on the cost of your service. Only then would I be willing to take that next step.

I would try and come up with a standard rate per number of words. I would then change that page from being 'Get a Free Quote' to 'View our Discount Prices' or something like that. On the prices page I would then say something like:

=================================

Price List as of 24/01/2011

500 words - $XX
1000 words - $XX

Please note, these prices are estimates and may vary slightly depending on your project. Please fill in the short form below for a more detailed quote on your project. You will receive a quote from me within 24 hours.

=================================

I would definitely include a variation of that last line (You will receive a quote within 24 hours) because it makes a big difference to me when I see that. I won't bother filling in forms if I have no idea when I am going to hear from those people. It gives me a lot more hope when I see 24 or 48 hrs there.

I may be totally wrong but hope that helps.

You don't do much on the page to assure the reader that you will not immediately start spamming them, or badgering them to hire you. Two things I would like to see would be some sort of softening of the wording, and an explanation of what they will receive.

Something like "for a free, no hassle, no obligation review of your existing site, fill in the information below. We'll send you a brief report and show you how reasonably priced it can be to perfect your web copy."

Then near or below the button: "All information will be kept confidential. We hate spam and will never . . . blah blah blah"

That might not be the perfect wording for you, but you get the idea.