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Honest Feedback & Opinions For A NEWBIE - Please

by Dean Thompson
8 replies
Hi everyone,

I started my IM blog on the 16th of June, so it's a little over 2 weeks old.

I'd greatly appreciate some experienced eyes to cast a glance over it and to give me some honest feedback.

I obviously want to build this up to be successful (doesn't everyone) and want the best start possible with the look and feel being right.

Please don't think that I've just stumbled into this either. I've been studying the different approaches to IM for nearly a year and I'm currently following two courses.

Your advice would be greatly appreciated.
#feedback #honest #newbie #opinions
  • Profile picture of the author jaggyjay
    It's has a nice, clean design... so thumbs up on that. I'd just add an opt in form on the sidebar (in addition to having one 'fade in' like you have now). I'd also change the section header/divider color from grey to the blue color you're using on the side bar
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  • Profile picture of the author Tim3
    Originally Posted by Dean Thompson View Post

    Hi everyone,

    I started my IM blog on the 16th of June, so it's a little over 2 weeks old.

    I'd greatly appreciate some experienced eyes to cast a glance over it and to give me some honest feedback.

    I obviously want to build this up to be successful (doesn't everyone) and want the best start possible with the look and feel being right.

    Please don't think that I've just stumbled into this either. I've been studying the different approaches to IM for nearly a year and I'm currently following two courses.

    Your advice would be greatly appreciated.

    Looks neat and well laid out Dean, I might make that Lime green a tad darker, and increase the time before that pop-up appears, and maybe try a find a good off-the-page social button slider other than that good start
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    • Profile picture of the author Jamie Hudson
      Honestly I think your design sucks.

      It's just such a cheap looking design that I've seen 1000 times before. It screams attraction marketing with your face in the banner like that and that theme.

      I really like your pop up. Overall your blog is good, you just need to seriously work on the design. Shell out $50-$100 for a nice WP theme, later on the down the road have it customized.

      My IM blog is Easy Ways To Make Money Online | How To Make Money Online Fast Feel free to criticize it since I've been pretty hard on your design.

      Also you shouldn't have the shareaholic as well as the other buttons. Hardly anyone uses shareaholic share buttons, the others are much more effective.

      Change your font.

      Yes, your blog is clean and simple; but it's not attractive.

      Add an opt-in form in the sidebar. Add a follow me on Facebook or Twitter or G+ or all 3.
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  • Profile picture of the author Jacqueline Smith
    Your site is clean and professional looking...I like it.

    Your content is good.....which is very refreshing!

    I do agree about the green being a bit darker. The bright green just doesn't seem to fit with the rest of the 'feel' of your site.

    I also agree with the pop-up coming way too soon. It also took up my entire screen which can be confusing (and annoying) to visitors.

    You've done a really good job with your site....keep it up and good luck.
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  • Profile picture of the author lhavro
    I agree with the pop up issue - too soon.

    Overall the website looks very refreshing and easy on the eye. However, when I checked the Recent Comments, I was confused by 3 of Dean Thomspn on Pop-up creation.....I'd make it to 1 instead of 3.
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  • Profile picture of the author bloggerd
    I would delay the pop up and add an optin form to your sidebar too as people may not optin on your popup but once they read some of your post they may think hmmm yea might just sign up to get that report or what ever you want to offer them

    Thanks
    Ian
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  • Profile picture of the author Randall Magwood
    I like the hover ad. You should set it to show up IMMEDIATELY as someone comes to your blog. You can also benefit from an opt-in subscriber form on the right of your blog. Nice header, and you should also include some adsense ads or affiliate products on your blog.
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    ==>> Free book reveals make money with affiliate marketing
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    • Profile picture of the author Dean Thompson
      Hey everyone,

      First of all I'd like to say thanks to you all for taking the time out to offer your opinion.

      jaggyjay - I'll be putting an opt-in form onto the blog in a few days. I have a report that I want to give away as a freebie. When this is done the opt-in form will be up.
      Thanks.

      Tim 3 - I wanted quite a striking colour for the title, hence the green. Will take on board what you say. Thanks.

      Jamie Hudson - Although I wouldn't wholly agree with you that the site sucks, I do think there is room for improvement on the design side. But then Rome wasn't built in a day!
      I wanted to place my face in the banner, alongside my name, to get my name out there within the IM world - I reckoned on the fact that a little self promotion wouldn't do any harm! LOL.
      As I mentioned above, the opt-in will be following shortly.

      Now onto your site!!!

      I think you have a great looking site with straight to the point articles. Your site has a clean, easy layout look, which is clutter free.
      My only criticism is your header. I'd think about making it a little bigger and bolder, looks too bland.
      I read your first post. Great writing and different to most. You certainly seem to have a determined streak in you!

      Thanks for your input.

      Jacqueline Smith - Thanks for the thumbs up re my content, that means a lot. I wanted the green to be a nice contrast with the blue and to be quite striking. I'll take on board what you've said about the pop up. Thanks.

      lhavro - I'll be doing something about the pop up. I don't fully understand the recent comments thing but I've had a couple more comments since so it's probably changed. Thanks.

      bloggerd - I'll be looking at the issues you've mentioned as they have cropped up a few times. Thanks.

      hernalian - I wanted to use my name to get it 'out there'. I do intend to start driving traffic to the site and offer good content to keep visitors and to attract new ones. I'll take on board what you say about the meta description. Thanks.

      Randall Magwood - The pop up is causing me a dilemma! LOL. I will be adding some affiliate products in the near future. Thanks.


      Great input that I'll take on board. Greatly appreciated.

      Kind regards,
      Dean.
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