Will this redesign work?

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4
I didn't get the memo about starting with one niche until after I started a blog called All-Purpose Guru. It was so all-purpose I had no idea what it's about, so now it's four blogs. I have tried to design a site to work as a portal to all my varied writings.

Somehow, my site got broken, but I was already trying to figure out how to redesign it. Before I spend any more time on this, I would like both web designers and marketers comment on it.

My target audience is people interested in non-specialist knowledge about a wide variety of topics--sort of the same audience Alltop and Mental Floss attracts, although my business model is different. In fact it's unique. No one else appears to be doing anything similar. (If you know of anyone, please supply a URL so I can study it.) I need lots of readers, but I need a significant number of them to follow affiliate links and buy stuff.

So here's the page: All-Purpose Guru It's password protected, and the password is Nussbaum. Please follow the music links to see what the concept is--I haven't done anything else. Those pages are also protected with the same password.

Of course, you can get to the present live version without a password. Even though I have done nothing to promote it for months now, I do have some visitors, and they are following links to my other blogs and looking at the items in the menu. So, believe it or not, the present broken, ugly site is doing what I intended in a very small way. I need it to be big.

TYVM.
#website design #affilate marketing #blogs #portal #redesign #work
  • i've surely been there .... a site without a main focus can be a nightmare. i checked the site out ... give u a twitter and g+ bump. ... please be aware that there's a script file acting up:

    Parse error: syntax error, unexpected '?', expecting T_STRING or T_VARIABLE or '$' in /home/dmguion/public_html/home/wp-content/plugins/exec-php/includes/runtime.php(42) : eval()'d code on line 21

    that error message occurred after clicking each of your links. Looks like it could be cleared up by deactivating a certain plug in. Also, the functions.php file can deliver that if it's been altered recently.

    A.P.G,. if it were me, you know what I'd do? I'd turn that site, or at least a very top level directory of that site, into an "ASK IT" type set up ... a great "ask it" style theme for wordpress can be found here elegantthemes.com/demo/?theme=AskIt

    i've been itching to use that but have never had a need for it. Being a guru and all that, it would give people an easy way to interact with you .... and it's a saaaaweeeet template with all the bells and whistles, shortcodes, flip a switch CSS coding, unique color schemes built right in ... check out the features hereelegantthemes.com/gallery/askit/

    it would be sweet and simple to get you fixed up in those news digs ... a matter of minutes in all actuality. Hit me up if it sounds like something you'd be interested in.

    for everyone else reading, that same template when coupled with a domain such as thenameofyourtownhereaskit.com ...for example knoxvilleaskit.com is traffic waiting to happen, totally local, totally low competition ... extremely easy niche to target and set yourself up as an authority for ad sales to area restaurants and other businesses, if you can get the traffic.
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  • Update your version of Wordpress to the latest available, then head down to Premium WordPress Themes, Web Templates, Mobile Themes | ThemeForest and find yourself a nice looking theme and apply it.
  • Ed, I have noticed the parse error. Since I'm going to have to have someone else to do most of the work, that person can fix the parse error. I'm interested in looking into the "ask it" aspect, although as a librarian, I'm a cataloger and not a reference librarian. Ultimately, my interest will depend on how much work it takes.

    As it stands now, I have three levels. The top is the cartoon, links to the second level, and the affiliate store below the fold. The second, in some order, is the relevant blog, a link to the third level, and affiliate links. The third, in some order, is a list of the other sites I write for, the subject-related articles I have posted for each, and affiliate links.

    So far, I have had affiliate links on all four blogs for at least a year, including for a while featured products that I tried to change every week and, where applicable, links to particular products in some of the posts instead of Adsense ads.

    No one has ever bought anything from any affiliate link. I am beginning to experiment with new approaches to the look and feel of the blogs, but I really want this portal to be attractive and usable, too. Is my current idea sound? Or is it just putting a lot of work toward something that will still not hold visitors or attract repeat readers and customers?

    So, to you other two guys, my question has nothing to do with changing themes. It has everything to do with whether my thoughts for an overall structure will attract readers and customers. Take a look at the thread on how this area ought to be renamed "review my site" or whatever to see what most people think of short, pointless responses!

    I'm still interested in as many thoughtful posts, based on actually looking around the site, as I can get.
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    Will this redesign work?

    I didn't get the memo about starting with one niche until after I started a blog called All-Purpose Guru. It was so all-purpose I had no idea what it's about, so now it's four blogs. I have tried to design a site to work as a portal to all my varied writings. Somehow, my site got broken, but I was already trying to figure out how to redesign it. Before I spend any more time on this, I would like both web designers and marketers comment on it.