Hi all, I have just launched mysite www.firsttothetreasure.com. It's an online treasure hunt which is based around a unique idea. a treasure map. users load up the map and click where they want and a page displays where they are digging for treasure, and then they are advised if they won. Its a bit of fun, free to enter and will be offering top daily prizes, so i think it has everything to become popular. this all is possible because of the huge amount of banner ads i can put behind the map. they go from £20/$35 for a whole year to £50/$85 for a whole year. so they are very well priced! I am using google keywords at top prices to try and get advertisers, but no luck, I think it's down to too many pixel pages (although mine is nothing like one of those) any suggestions what I can do. I put a story on Imnewswatch which got some attention, i tried to digg it but only got 4! out of ideas. can any of you help??
It does sound like a great idea. Maybe your banner ad customers will help you promote your site. This site is so generic in its appeal that you could think about bumper stickers, bill boards, radio ads, etc. Get a good PR firm! best regards wiz
Neat idea for a site. Having looked at it, yikes, I have too many ideas for you! I think there is a fundamental problem with the design.There is way too much bold text and not enough clarity for the visitor. It's like everything is being emphasized, so instead of bringing clarity it's just overwhelming. What am I supposed to do? What do I get for doing it? Clear incentives drive traffic. People respond to visual cues. Show a photograph of the prizes when possible to stimulate their imagination. Go for a more thematic, cleaner template - it's a fun, unique site, which demands a fun and unique design. Work on SEO. Better page titles and URL's including keywords. The map search also feels slow and a little clunky. The window fails to close when the search fails. The popup window is not sized, and covers the original web site. The Times New Roman does it no justice at all. Size the map search window and make it faster and cleaner. It's going to get boring clicking the map over and over just to see "You lose". Each click should give a nifty message, or a pirate saying, or something. A cap on clicks with the incentive of earning more clicks by referring people would generate interest and stickiness. A prize could be given away regularly to increase the times people win, and stimulate interest. It could be as simple as a coupon for an affiliate partner, which further expands your monetization potential for the site as well. Also your META DESCRIPTION tag is broken (second quote is improperly placed). This is from the perspective of a perfectionist and someone who's been building user-oriented apps and marketing web sites for way too long, I could sit here all day and come up with stuff. Just constructive criticism, I hope it helps!
Hi thanks for all that, that was the kind of things I have been looking for. I'm currently doing the same thing trying to improve it so appreciate someones opinion. I'll have a go and do a few of your changes and see how things go from there. thanks alot
hi, Basic problem is look of the site, change the design and create some eye catching designs. Second problem site is its too slow when digging. I think you are trying to get advertisers, for getting advertisers, you have to do some works. This is luck game, so try to find other lucky games sites and send emails to admin with your advertising rates. Create a banner and give that banner to your members or visitors and give them commissions per sale. Use get paid forums, lottery forums etc... and use your banner or text link, that link to your advertising area, in your forums signature area. Also as "Tekime" says give some prizes, atleast once in 10 digging. Also contact sites that like to give some prizes for different peoples... like... For seo peoples, give them free directory submissions...and use your dp signature. "Win 500 Free Directory Submission For Free - Lots of Other Prizes". Then find some Directory submission sites and ask for the free submission for advertisement. Cheating : You post a "500 directory submission for $25" service in dp service forum, people will pay you, you tell to submission advertisers, lots of winners....LOL I think you got the idea what i said... Good Luck Jalika
Hi, This is an interesting idea, but needs to be more fun for the player. Jalika is right - it takes way to long to do any digging. I dug 3 times and that was all my patience could stand. Also, you need some variation when you dig. Just having a popup that is filled with ads and 'Sorry, try again' doesn't inspire me to try again. Perhaps talk more about the prizes? From a player's perspective, there already seems like heaps of ads, and there is also a constant message 'contact XXX to advertise here'. There seems to be more effort in that area, than in the area of making it a fun experience for the player. Just my 0.02. As I said, interesting idea & its great to see something different on the web.