website feedback

[iamsofit]

Just created a fitness website after losing 15 pounds in the last few months and want to share my experience.

http://iamsofit.com

Want to help people lose weight by providing helpful tips and making small changes to their lifestyle.

Need ideas on how to improve it and attract more viewers. How should I market this website?

Thanks in Advance.

[ipxxx]

Quick glance...and please remember, these are all my OPINIONS only

The color scheme is ... not for me I guess. Too much green, isn't easy on the eyes. Especially the weak gradient that you used for your menu.

The menus ... on mouse over and mouse out they move slightly ... could be a result of you putting that barely visible white triangle on the currently active menu. The fonts are huge on sub-menus.

Not sure of the purpose of that "bookmark and share" functionality...

So why do I have to register to read articles? Not sure what you're aiming for...but if you're trying to get people to have interest in what you're doing, let them read, and registration should only be needed for things like posting and forum use, etc.

I was never fond of hit counters...serves no purpose

[stevelam]

the header graphic would be the first thing to go. looks like it was made in ms paint.
the main navigation links have incorrect styling which makes them jump around when hovered upon.
i would get rid of cheesy things like the hit counter.
when you click on 'about us', the main navigation gets messed up (assuming there is some type of active style on the current link which makes it stretched out)

dotnetnuke seems like an interesting framework to work with. too bad its asp :(

[stevelam]

Quick glance...and please remember, these are all my OPINIONS only

The color scheme is ... not for me I guess. Too much green, isn't easy on the eyes. Especially the weak gradient that you used for your menu.

The menus ... on mouse over and mouse out they move slightly ... could be a result of you putting that barely visible white triangle on the currently active menu. The fonts are huge on sub-menus.

Not sure of the purpose of that "bookmark and share" functionality...

So why do I have to register to read articles? Not sure what you're aiming for...but if you're trying to get people to have interest in what you're doing, let them read, and registration should only be needed for things like posting and forum use, etc.

I was never fond of hit counters...serves no purpose

wow..posted at the exact same time..and from ottawa..and with nearly identical remarks.

[ipxxx]

wow..posted at the exact same time..and from ottawa..and with nearly identical remarks.

Haha :P good stuff

Edit: Forgot to mention to OP...I was never too sure about the rules regarding putting personal websites in signature/location...may want to read the rules to be on the safe side, or ask a mod.

[iamsofit]

Thanks guys !

Not good at graphic design as you can tell. Will work on the colour scheme and I'll set the counter so only admins can see it.

How about the content? Any ideas about how to attract more people?

:6

[kleptodathief]

ya, mite need to get a better logo, i can tell u like granny smith apples ay LOL
its a simple type forum posting site i guess... GL

[thereexist]

I know you've already set up the site and all, but from your initial description it sounds more like the content would fit into a blog as opposed to a full on late 90's style website.

I'm not sure if you intend on making profit from the content on the site (why are articles locked from public view?)... If you are, you may want to consider writing on hubpages, squidoo or helium. These are places where you can write good articles and make some money. Just some suggestions...

Good luck and keep at it...

Martin

PS: I would have liked to read your articles (they seem interesting) , but I would NEVER sign up on a website just for info.

[adrian1170]

As far as content is concerned, take the advice of previous posters and make all your content freely available to all visitors. Thats a major issue, you wont get any traffic at all if visitors have to work to find your content.

If your intent was just capturing the visitors info to allow them to post their own content, forget about that until you have 200 unique visitors a day, and then reintroduce this system on certain pages with a paragraph telling them why you want their registration first. Once your website has some decent traffic, visitors will want to register to add content, so that they can receive a benefit in posting on a high page rank website.

Each page of content should revolve around a keyword that you have found to be profitable. One that has high demand and low supply. You need a good thirty pages of good content. You can still have pages that have no keyword focus, but there has to be some keyword focussed content pages to attract visitors.

Next download the google toolbar and activate the page rank tool. Look carefully for high page rank blogs and directories talking about fitness. Make honest posts and replies in the blog comments section using your URL in your sig. Dont spam, just answer things you honestly know about. List your URL in free high page rank directories. Consider a paid listing in big high rank directories like joeant dot com.

These activities should get your traffic started.

Also, hold off on monetizing untill you get some good traffic. Get your reputation established first.

[iamsofit]

I know you've already set up the site and all, but from your initial description it sounds more like the content would fit into a blog as opposed to a full on late 90's style website.

I'm not sure if you intend on making profit from the content on the site (why are articles locked from public view?)... If you are, you may want to consider writing on hubpages, squidoo or helium. These are places where you can write good articles and make some money. Just some suggestions...

Good luck and keep at it...

Martin

PS: I would have liked to read your articles (they seem interesting) , but I would NEVER sign up on a website just for info.

So far, only a few people have signed up to read the content. Think I'll make the featured articles open to public at least.

[wheel]

PS: I would have liked to read your articles (they seem interesting) , but I would NEVER sign up on a website just for info.
Me either. Who would?

Well, surprisingly, quite a few people. This is definitely something that you need to measure instead of just bailing on the concept.

Here's an example; I sell website calculators into a niche market. For years, despite pleas from my customers, I wouldn't force visitors to enter their info to see the results of the calculator. I mean, who in heck would put in their data just to get the information? There's a million other sites out there.

I finally implemented the ability to require personal information in order to see the calculator results when a friend begged me and suggested that I should just do it because me clients were asking for it. So I did.

Now here's the results. Say 100 visitors hit a site with the calculator.
Without the personal data required:
100 people visit
100 people run the calculator
2.5 to 3 people then put in their personal info.
Half of these convert to a sale. Say 1 to 1.5 sales.

WIth the personal data required:
100 people visit
25 people run the calculator and put in their personal information (unbelievable to me)
The other 75 people bail out - but who cares? It's about sales, not the calculator.
Out of those 25 people, 20 % will convert to a sale. That's 5 sales.

1.5 sales, or 5 sales. It's pretty straightforward once you focus on the sale instead of providing the information for free.

Weird but true.

[ullyeus]

I haven't read anyone else but this is what I think:

the title is horrible...all aliased and very poor.

the name itself "iamSOfit" automatically makes it seem a bit conceited.

A login? to get info from your page? I won't sign up for the NYtimes..your going to cut out 95% of your possible contributors right there...you might want to go the registration mode once you have 10,000 subscriber (which you'd never get)

The counter? Talk about 1998. Get it out.

The terms of use...taken from the Canadian Parapegic Association? http://www.cpaont.org/client/page.ch2?uid=Termofuse, I'd at least change or edit it to be me relevant to you.

You've got a 1 second delay for every click for the addthis.com or whatever page...I'd get rid of that.

People would relate more to your story if you referred to yourself as...yourself rather than "I am so fit"

[ullyeus]

Me either. Who would?

Well, surprisingly, quite a few people. This is definitely something that you need to measure instead of just bailing on the concept.

Here's an example; I sell website calculators into a niche market. For years, despite pleas from my customers, I wouldn't force visitors to enter their info to see the results of the calculator. I mean, who in heck would put in their data just to get the information? There's a million other sites out there.

I finally implemented the ability to require personal information in order to see the calculator results when a friend begged me and suggested that I should just do it because me clients were asking for it. So I did.

Now here's the results. Say 100 visitors hit a site with the calculator.
Without the personal data required:
100 people visit
100 people run the calculator
2.5 to 3 people then put in their personal info.
Half of these convert to a sale. Say 1 to 1.5 sales.

WIth the personal data required:
100 people visit
25 people run the calculator and put in their personal information (unbelievable to me)
The other 75 people bail out - but who cares? It's about sales, not the calculator.
Out of those 25 people, 20 % will convert to a sale. That's 5 sales.

1.5 sales, or 5 sales. It's pretty straightforward once you focus on the sale instead of providing the information for free.

Weird but true.

Without knowing a lot about this his website and audience are quite likely to be different than your situation.

[iamsofit]

Without knowing a lot about this his website and audience are quite likely to be different than your situation.

Hey guys,

Thanks for all your comments. I have opened up half of my articles to the public...and definitely the featured ones to get more traffic.

Taken off the counter too, which everyone is opposed to.

Thanks for all the advice from the gurus !

:6

[Craig123]

I checked out your site and I really enjoyed the article content, there is definatly alot of potential traffic there. So what to do.

The first thing is that your site is not indexed by google and does not have a page rank. You need to do something about this to bring more traffic.

Heres how:

Step 1: Pick a Keyword

Add a different keyword. A keyword is a word or small combination of words you use to optimize your site around for an internet marketing campagn.

Think of it this way no one is searching for your specific site, they are searching for the concept which is a good one. An example of a good keyword would be "Weight Loss Stories". If you want to use a different word that is ok as well. Just make sure you type this word into google and make sure there is not alot of competition.

Step 2: Optimize

Once you have your keyword picked and are satisified there is not alot of competition, you need to optimize. Put this keyword in your title tag, ex. <title> Weight Loss Story </title>. Add your keyword in <h3> tags at the top of your page and <h1> tags at the bottom. Write your navagational bar in simple html so it can be indexed easier. Bold and Italicize your keyword through out your site.

Step 3: Get links

Talk to friends or colleuges and get them to link to your site from their page. A link counts a vote for search engines. As well post your site on directories and other blog websites.

The Purpose of these three steps is to get you ranked high in search engines for your keyword. So when some one is looking for a weight loss story they can find you.

If you want to see an example I just optimized a site http://www.truenorthchev.com

Good luck and let me know how the changes go.

[Canucklehead]

One of my clients might be interested in providing relevant content for you. PM for more details.

[iamsofit]

I checked out your site and I really enjoyed the article content, there is definatly alot of potential traffic there. So what to do.

The first thing is that your site is not indexed by google and does not have a page rank. You need to do something about this to bring more traffic.

Heres how:

Step 1: Pick a Keyword

Add a different keyword. A keyword is a word or small combination of words you use to optimize your site around for an internet marketing campagn.

Think of it this way no one is searching for your specific site, they are searching for the concept which is a good one. An example of a good keyword would be "Weight Loss Stories". If you want to use a different word that is ok as well. Just make sure you type this word into google and make sure there is not alot of competition.

Step 2: Optimize

Once you have your keyword picked and are satisified there is not alot of competition, you need to optimize. Put this keyword in your title tag, ex. <title> Weight Loss Story </title>. Add your keyword in <h3> tags at the top of your page and <h1> tags at the bottom. Write your navagational bar in simple html so it can be indexed easier. Bold and Italicize your keyword through out your site.

Step 3: Get links

Talk to friends or colleuges and get them to link to your site from their page. A link counts a vote for search engines. As well post your site on directories and other blog websites.

The Purpose of these three steps is to get you ranked high in search engines for your keyword. So when some one is looking for a weight loss story they can find you.

If you want to see an example I just optimized a site http://www.truenorthchev.com

Good luck and let me know how the changes go.

Hi Craig,

Thanks for your helpful tips. Can I use the phrase "I am so fit" as the keyword? There isn't much competition, but people have to use the quotes to search for it.

[sexpuppet6000]

Hi Craig,

Thanks for your helpful tips. Can I use the phrase "I am so fit" as the keyword? There isn't much competition, but people have to use the quotes to search for it.

You want a keyboard that people are likely to search. Otherwise you won't get any traffic becasue how likely is someone going to search "I am so fit"?
People who want to loss weight are more likely to search, "loss weight", "get fit", etc.

[MrGamma]

You want a keyboard that people are likely to search. Otherwise you won't get any traffic becasue how likely is someone going to search "I am so fit"?
People who want to loss weight are more likely to search, "loss weight", "get fit", etc.

http://www.google.com/trends?q=%22loss+weight%22%2C+%22get+fit%22

[US_Shipping_Service]

I also have designed my own web sites. I will soon be adding a back-end database to allow online sign-up for our service. I would love any feedback others may have.

The site is simple in design, no fancy things or flash, just simple.

www.PacificMailAndParcel.com is one, and
www.MatthewLangPhotography.com is the other.

thanks for the feedback.

[Groovetube]

I also have designed my own web sites. I will soon be adding a back-end database to allow online sign-up for our service. I would love any feedback others may have.

The site is simple in design, no fancy things or flash, just simple.

www.PacificMailAndParcel.com is one, and
www.MatthewLangPhotography.com is the other.

thanks for the feedback.

personal opinion, if it's hobby, or no big deal, it's fine. If it's business and money is your goal, get a good designer. Or at the very least buy a decent template package (not a cheapie).

These are very poorly designed.

I can never figure the logic behind presenting a poorly designed site for a business.