I am currently investigating how to improve a 4 year old site: www.net-psychics.com 1. What should be done on the site itself? 2. What should be done to have targeted traffic growing from 150 uniques per day to 400 uniques per day, within a 2 month period. 3. If you have a plan where you offer your services, then please include that as well (this last point won't be part of the contest, just an oppertunity for you to sell your services) Please pm me your thoughts, ideas and advice, or post them here. Payment will be done through Paypal (sorry no alternative). I will post the name of the winner on this forum, and will send the money as soon as I have the persons payment paypal address. THanks already!
Umm okay, where to begin...so much to say. Since there is so much that needs to be said I will break it down into categories. Logo/Header 1) You should use a defining logo where the font that you use varies from the slogan to identify the name of the website so that your visitors remember the site as opposed to ignoring the cluttered text. 2) For this type of website, I think an fun/creative image logo would be great. Using an image like a mystickal crystal ball. 3) If you are going to incorporate links into your header you should avoid making them appear so dull. 4) Overall, I would try to make the header into an image itself with a white background or an background pattern and save the whole file as an image and incorporate the links into the design, and use an image map to map out the links. Side Bar Navigation 1) You should take out the animated background image from the table (this will remove the image from the site totally as you should replace your header). The animated background distracts visitors from the content and makes the website appear very unprofessional. Now I know that this isn't a business website, but you can make a website look very trendy and attractive without letting it look like you have a 5 year old daughter who likes to act like a princess picked out the design background. 2) I personally do not favor links with underlines. If you make it noticeable that they are links, you can remove the underlines. 3) I would suggest using a link navigation bar header image that is a little fancy, but not over the top where you can then indent all of your links below it, and even include a bulleted image. If you use a bulleted image, choose something plain (not dull, but plain) so that it doesn't look exhausting. 4) Divide the links into categories, and try to label the categories so your visitors can easily broswe the website. Content 1) All of the content on the home page should be broken into sections. I would recommend using divs or tables (whatever you prefer to code in), and adding a background image to it that has a low opacity or is light in color. You don't want the background to contrast with the website background color (white), but you want the text to be legiable. I would recommend using a blue/white/gray/black color scheme on the website or something similar. Browse a few template websites and see how they decorated their content boxes. 2) I think the content on the homepage has too much content, you should try to keep it to a basic. 3) To keep it organized I would make 2 columns on the home page content area. On the left side place all of your news/homepage content, and on the right side place all of your subscription status forms, polls, or similar content that you want on your website. I just think that changing the appearance of the website will allow visitors to enjoy your website more, and you will go up in the rankings on search engines. Best of luck, if you have any questions, feel free to PM me. I might be able to help you out with your logo.
Your site needs a complete redesigning of the site, which includes Logos, navigation bars, links. A systematic setup is required. Talking about the way to increase traffic... Link building will surely help you out. I'll have sent you a PM with. Please reply me. I have some more suggests to give out.
A complete re-design, bring the website into the 21st Century. As it stands it looks like it was built int he early 90's. Convert to a CMS if you update your site often.
thanks already for the first tips! I will get back on those. If someone has more tips, please: also on how to increase traffic.
Hello Frankweb - Ill respond in order to what you would like advie on... To start, the site looks to old and amature! I really think a new color scheme is needed! Something very related! Have some nice reds and mystic colors, almost blending in. Right now, the shimering background is almost annoying. A great logo would look nice, it would only cost you a few dollars anyways, unless you make it yourself. Chose a specific theme. Gypses maby, and evolve a logo around a crystal ball and have the background realted to it! As for content, make it bold! Reorganize your layout... Have your adds, still there, but more appropriately placed! Let the visitor know what you have to offer by making the content stand out! as for the directory bar, it is fine, but again, make it be seen! To sum it up, it just needs a new template, badly! Once you have a nice new look, organize everything to flow smoothly! Traffic is tricky! I recomend advertising it through your signature. word of mouth, submit it to all the directories you posibly can! Aquire an alexa rank! Spend some marketing money... SE submissions, make banners! Get involved in Adwords and maby even high PR sponsor ads! There are tons of ways to do it, you just have to be willing to! I think you site is very unique! You just need to get people to want to stay and find out what you offer! As everyone agrees, but hopefully mine was the most detailed, a complete new make over is in need! I can really picture a nice white background with reds, purples and blues swirling around the top as a header. Concider investing in a mascot/logo! Relate it to your site! Afterwards, organize the site so people know what to look at! Make the text colored, make some bold, anything! I hope you appreciated my review! PM me back if you chose me as the winner! Thanks... Nicolas
You take my services for directory submission: http://forums.digitalpoint.com/showthread.php?t=258127 Also I am providing with completed SEO phpbb installation with 13 SEO Mods. http://forums.digitalpoint.com/showthread.php?t=271850 Plus please reply to my PM... I can help you more on this.
Thanks for all your responses so far. This contest will end within 24 hrs from now. Anybody more or other tips on getting this website back on track?
Thank you everybody, thanks for all your input! I have chosen Mike S. as the winner of this contest. Mike S.: I will PM you for the payment details and would appreciate it if you could confirm receipt of the payment, in this thread. That way everyone know the contest is over and completed. Thanks! Frank
Too all of you gave me advice and tips, thanks once again. After long hours, hard work I finally completed the complete re-design of my website. Thanks everybody!