19 replies
  • WEB DESIGN
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So yeah...

This is my first shot at a website. I've put more hours into this project than I'd care to admit.

My website is www.allthecoolest.com

Advice on navigating my website would be greatly appreciated. My worst statistic on Google is my Pages Viewed Per Session. I also don't have a great bounce rate. (80%) :S

I started a thread a few months ago on Warrior Forum asking about the design of my website. Most of the warriors who posted said that they approved of the design and layout. I suppose I was hoping for more constructive criticism on things. This is my very first website.

I understand HTML5 fairly well, but that's about as far as my coding knowledge goes. (I'm terrified to touch the source code.)

AllTheCoolest.com had roughly 2,000 page views last month. They are landing on my articles, but they are generally not navigating beyond the article they start at.

So to recap, is it the way I layout my articles? Does my content suck? Do I not have enough widgets? Do I have too many?

Help me out Warriors.
  • Profile picture of the author Nathan Quick
    In case anyone was wondering, I currently use the Splash Theme for my Word Press Website. It's been great for a beginner like me to customize and change things around for the most part.
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  • Profile picture of the author Claire Koch
    first of all I don't see any articles. Secondly twice when I tried to land on your page I get a fatal error. Every time I click on a link I get the fatal error. Honestly people are not going to stick around if the page doesn't open that's just the way it is. My browser has been acting up but YOU are responsible for making sure your page is loading correctly anyways.

    But with articles it depends on how you convert. What is bringing the person to your site? Is it a big square ad? Are you writing at the end of the article for them to go to your site? Are there links within the articles? Are you writing the ad so that people even want to click on it? What is the lure for them to do so?

    My advice: you need training in ecommerce. At least you should google how to sell on a ecommerce site. Also google how to convert your customer.

    Articles do bring some traffic in the right situation I'm not sure yours is right tho. Please tell us where these articles are placed that matters a lot too.

    Your site isn't the problem.
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    • Profile picture of the author Nathan Quick
      Originally Posted by Claire Koch View Post

      first of all I don't see any articles. Secondly twice when I tried to land on your page I get a fatal error. Every time I click on a link I get the fatal error. Honestly people are not going to stick around if the page doesn't open that's just the way it is. My browser has been acting up but YOU are responsible for making sure your page is loading correctly anyways.

      But with articles it depends on how you convert. What is bringing the person to your site? Is it a big square ad? Are you writing at the end of the article for them to go to your site? Are there links within the articles? Are you writing the ad so that people even want to click on it? What is the lure for them to do so?

      My advice: you need training in ecommerce. At least you should google how to sell on a ecommerce site. Also google how to convert your customer.

      Articles do bring some traffic in the right situation I'm not sure yours is right tho. Please tell us where these articles are placed that matters a lot too.

      Your site isn't the problem.
      I think my terminology might be wrong. My site is basically a review site. I call them articles but I suppose they are technically blog posts.
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  • Profile picture of the author Nathan Quick
    Claire-

    I updated a plug-in earlier that I believe was causing the issue. It should be fixed now.

    Please re-evaluate
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  • Profile picture of the author Claire Koch
    I see this post
    http://www.allthecoolest.com/millenn...on-quadcopter/
    I assume this is your blog post. But it contains VERY LITTLE
    information. There is lots of potential there for you to lead
    the customer to where they buy. Information is king on the
    internet. People want to more about something first. Little
    tid bits won't get you sales. Write a LOT MORE about these
    products. Put links to where they buy in the text.

    When you lead your customer to the place they buy make sure
    they will want to buy when they get there (CONVERT THEM)


    site is loading now
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  • Profile picture of the author Nathan Quick
    [DELETED]
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    • Profile picture of the author Claire Koch
      yeah they are posts. but to say you have a review site means people are able to see them clearly
      otherwise they say "he's just sellin stuff", and that's what I mean't before. People don't want to be sold
      they want to buy because they "GOT SOLD ON IT THEMSELVES" I assume these products are something you love. That's the easiest way to sell an amazon product because you can rave over it yourself and tell how it changed your life. Tell crazy stories about how it went for you, entertain them till you get what you want "THE CLICK".


      Originally Posted by Nathan Quick View Post

      Cards Against Humanity Expansion Packs You Didn't Know About

      Ok, so for claritys sake, what would you call this?
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  • Profile picture of the author Claire Koch
    First of all I misunderstood you that's why I changed my post.

    now yeah I see how it is reviews I also see how you have an opportunity to click.

    I missed that page so are your customers missing it see what I mean its not OBVIOUS to customers

    have another question, where are you marketing this? Your customers first have to want your product before they even get there. If your customers are untargeted they are NOT going to buy if they do end up on that page by accident.

    get a targeted customer over to your product (Forums are good) tell them where to click, tell them where the spot is to buy it. tell them, tell them, tell them what to do. People need to be lead into the act of doing it. its just the way it is.

    For example.. "THINKING OF BUYING THIS PRODUCT?" GO HERE USE AN ARROW. On your front page "WANT TO KNOW MORE? CLICK HERE. (I didn't know the images were clickable. other people won't either). Make the part in your review that says "this product has 400 rave reviews" BOLDED or another color. Your text is also pretty light people need the text to hit them in the face it has scream ok read me.

    Just because you put up a template and there is text and places to put stuff doesn't mean you have a site that sells. YOU have to do that part.
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  • Profile picture of the author Sofor Ali
    I am surprised, if someone can really make money from amazon affiliate with this kinds website?
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    • Profile picture of the author Claire Koch
      that's correct its always better to promote one product on a site, this tends to get confusing but it is possible if you do it right. Google Barbara ling she pulls off lots of sales on pretty busy sites. See if you can find any of her sites. Shes a legend. I don't think she sells amazon but she might. Your real helper is gonna Potpie girl. Google that! she has some free courses and some paid amazon courses

      Originally Posted by Sofor Ali View Post

      I am surprised, if someone can really make money from amazon affiliate with this kinds website?
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  • Profile picture of the author Nathan Quick
    Here are a couple of options of review sites that do quite well.

    odditymall.com

    shutupandtakemymoney.com

    I have been attempting to build a site similar to these.

    Another example of a review site is kitchenfaucetdivas.com but this is much more targeted than mine and the first two I mentioned.

    Actually kitchenfaucetdivas.com is one of the most inspiring examples i've seen. You should check the specs on that site out. It makes $8,000 a month.
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  • Profile picture of the author Claire Koch
    see shut up and take my money? They make it super clear where to click. Kitchen faucet divas are monopolizing on information (they start with information) and they are selling one thing faucets. That's key. oddity mall is also focusing on one thing "Gifts". they also make the place to buy obvious and they are not playing they give the price and use color to draw the eye in. Good examples. One of the sites is using videos to draw attention.
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    • Profile picture of the author Nathan Quick
      Originally Posted by Claire Koch View Post

      see shut up and take my money? They make it super clear where to click. Kitchen faucet divas are monopolizing on information (they start with information) and they are selling one thing faucets. That's key. oddity mall is also focusing on one thing "Gifts". they also make the place to buy obvious and they are not playing they give the price and use color to draw the eye in. Good examples. One of the sites is using videos to draw attention.
      I was wondering about those videos actually. OddityMall has a youtube channel. They sample clips from other youtube videos. They post their logo on most clips of the products they review, as well as the "source" of the video in the other corner. Is this legal?

      Here is an example-Notice the logo in the top right corner. At 0:14 they cite a sourceI found the original footage they used, and I don't think it came from OddityMall, .


      Am I completely off? Is it ok to sample videos from other sources, as long as I display where it came from originally?

      I have also heard that making GIFS are fair game, because it "changes" the original material. Can I use GIFS legally that I create?
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  • Profile picture of the author MeelisM
    So what's the goal of your site?

    MeelisM
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    • Profile picture of the author Nathan Quick
      Originally Posted by MeelisM View Post

      So what's the goal of your site?

      MeelisM
      Hey MeelisM,

      My final goal is to create passive income. I want to make a high quality site that people enjoy and get value from.

      I'd love to do this all day instead of my 9-5.
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  • Profile picture of the author Claire Koch
    they are for motion on the site to attract and keep the visitor happily on your site till finally they buy,
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  • Profile picture of the author Nathan Quick
    Hey All,

    Its been a few weeks since I've added to this thread but I wanted to give an update.

    I've changed quite a few things on allthecoolest.com, as well as added some "Buy Now" buttons.

    I've even made a few sales. Nothing crazy, but I have made some.
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  • Profile picture of the author Daniel Lezcano
    I will keep it simple ...

    Home page is bursting with content, and its way to much work to understand what the heck your website is about.

    If you are using your home page as a landing page especially, it needs to be synthesized to the most fundamental information about what your site is about and how and why its beneficial to the user. Think of Home page as a clear and decisive introduction - its a HOOK. If you hook them here, they will decide they want to know more ...
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    • Profile picture of the author Nathan Quick
      Originally Posted by Daniel Lezcano View Post

      I will keep it simple ...

      Home page is bursting with content, and its way to much work to understand what the heck your website is about.

      If you are using your home page as a landing page especially, it needs to be synthesized to the most fundamental information about what your site is about and how and why its beneficial to the user. Think of Home page as a clear and decisive introduction - its a HOOK. If you hook them here, they will decide they want to know more ...
      Daniel,

      Thank you for your advice! I have been toying with the idea of making my homepage more simplified, and in the coming weeks I will make an actual landing page.

      You mentioned that you will "keep it simple." Any further advice would be greatly appreciated, I'm definitely an amateur still.
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