This is the first issue of “Website Dissection” where I am going to review websites and show how to “fix” them by improving conversions, navigation, marketing and design.
To submit your website for review use Submit Site For Review page.
Eric, the owner of BluePop13, is a 21 year old from Iowa who’s promoting budget software YNAB. He’s also using BluePop13 for personal branding as well as a means for people to find his WordPress blog and contact him.
Note: the post is structured as conversation between me and the website owner, it’s just a test, please comment and let me know what you think.
Design
Header is the only dominant visual element we see on the page. It’s black and blue text on grey background which is very low contrast and makes it hard to read.
I recommend removing the header and creating a new one, with bright colors and a unique logo. Include a picture of yourself, smiling and holding money in your hands. Since the website was built to promote the You Need Budget Software, money is the main theme of the website.
Background color should be changed from grey to white and text should remain black. Not many people know, but black text on white background is the most easily readable and it increases readership by 10-12% on average.
Reading black text on grey background is costing you money, Eric-take care of it.
I also recommend narrowing the text area, which will make it easier to read and feeling the page up with text, because it lacks a story, but more about that later…
Navigation
First thing to do about navigation is to create a sidebar on the left with navigation links through the website.
I recommend including links such as: “My Story”, “Why I Believe YNAB Will Work For You”, “Importance of Having a Budget”, “Official YNAB Review”, “My Relationship With Money” etc.
Eric, your website should be filled with interesting content. It should be about you. Information should be high quality, helpful and make your visitors’ life better.
Since you’re promoting budget software, you need to keep your focus on money and having a healthy relationship with it. Teach your visitors how to treat money, the philosophy behind having a budget and why it’s so great etc.
Header links (e.g.: home, about, contact, blog) should be aligned to the left of the upper link strip, since the eye is naturally drown to the left side of the screen.
Your “About Me” page should contain more content. You need to tell a more profound story, filled with details and wrapped up with how you found YNAB and it changing your life to the better.
Include more pictures of yourself, Eric. I noticed that you’re using the same picture that you posted on Twitter. Share your journey through pictures (and videos), after all, they are worth more than thousand words.
“Contact” page should link to your social profiles. People are lazy, busy and distracted. They don’t have time to manually search for your username online.
Instead of leaving your email, install a contact form. It is much more convenient and it gives you all the control, since your email address remains invisible to SPAMers.
Conversion
Now that we have narrowed down the text area and installed a sidebar, you can write your copy.
You main page should include a big headline in the middle and be at least 1000 words long.
Main page is what most of your visitors see before they leave your website, which means it’s your best shot at converting them from a prospect to a hot lead.
You should tell your story, similar to the “About Me” page, only longer and with more emphasis on YNAB. You shouldn’t be selling off your heels. Be bold about it, Eric.
YNAB is now a part of you as much as my blog is a part of me, if your visitors don’t like it-let them leave, but not all of them will. Many of them will stay to read more about you and this magical software that changed your life.
If you have friends who used YNAB and got results with it-get their testimonials and create another sidebar, this time to the right of the page, and stick ‘em there.
Your page should convey that YNAB changes lives and it should inspire your visitors to contact you to get more information.
Also, sign up with Aweber (affiliate link) and install an opt in form to build a list. Money is in the list, Eric, and you need to start building one if you want to make money on the internet.
To generate sign ups for your list, you need to create an opt in bribe. Similar to what I have on my blog, the Mastermind Marketing report, you can create a report or a video where you explain the benefits of living on a budget and why it’s not as hard and as painful as it looks.
Reveal the benefits of YNAB and how it helps to maintain a profitable lifestyle in today’s tough economy. Show them it works by showcasing your results with it.
As another incentive for signing up, you can use the 15% off coupon you’re already offering.
Don’t forget to include a call to action, encouraging people to sign up. Use real $ figures to show them how much this report is really worth and remind them to sign up before you decide to charge money for it.
Final Words
Eric, I highly recommend installing a self hosted blog. Using a WordPress hosted blog isn’t a wise choice for internet marketer:
- Your credibility suffers because of not having your own domain name
- WordPress can shut down your blog whenever they want. You’re limited to a set of rules and guidelines
- You can’t use SEO
- You can’t install a web form
Self hosted blog is a powerful traffic generating platform for your YNAB marketing campaign. Generating traffic using a blog is 100xtimes easier then generating traffic to a static website.
This concludes Website Dissection #1. To submit your website for a dissection, use this page.
Please leave your thoughts and comments regarding this post, the review, the website and the idea.
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Well, since I’m a daily visitor of this blog I’ll make a comment on my own stuff here lol.
First I have to thank you for your time in reviewing my website and blog. A lot of people might have taken all of what you had to say the wrong way but I didn’t.
I am glad to see someone who is out there and is doing well’s point of view on my stuff and I’m honestly curious to see what people will have to say about this and what advice they have more me as well.
All great tips and ideas here, I think. Great job on the review and thanks again for taking the time to do this for me.
Much appreciate and I look forward to reading your posts in the future.
Eric, to tell you the truth, I was afraid
that you would take it the wrong way, bu thank
god you are open to criticism.
I believe that in order to help a person change
something I have to say the truth, no matter
how painful it might sound.
So, it’s kind of Tuff Luv, but thank God you’re ok with it, I
would have hated that if I would offend you, you’re an asset to this blog.
Thanks for the opportunity,
Igor
working on the framework for the website
is the first part , the design, navigation, marketing is the
toughest part but is the best.
Navigation and Marketing are the parts that turn
a website into a money making asset.
Igor