cheaptreadmills.org.uk

[WigWam]

Had the site Cheap treadmills for a few months now and keep adding bits and bobs to it.

The site is an affiliate site (affiliate links are at the bottom of the product pages).

(it isn't complete yet so allow for a few million mistakes & a lack of products )

Any suggestions design wise for the site?

Cheers for the help, its appreciated.

WW.

 

[Frog]

69 views and not a single reply... I guess I'll give it a go.

Its pointless me mentioning the design/layout since its a $20 template with zero modifications (which, I suspect, is why you've managed to get this thread to 69 views with no replies), but I would say the content needs a bit of work.

You aren't doing yourself any favours by opening with "this site took us a long time to make". If it really did take you a long time to install a template, use the standard logo, not modify anything at all, and add a couple of pages of content without images, then I would suggest you should keep that fact to yourself

You're breaking Adsense terms on pages like this - http://cheaptreadmills.org.uk/shop/running-kit/pedometers/ - no content whatsoever. I realise you're going to reply back its a work in progress... but ad the ads last rather than risk breaking the terms in the meantime (not like you're going to get any clicks so you're risking it for nothing).

You mention some tools you've developed - where are they? I don't see them linked from the homepage. Do they exist?

To be honest, stuff like this:

Throughout 2009 & 2010 cheap treadmills grew and grew up to the point where more expert help was needed to help grow the site to its full potential. Cheap treadmills was sold to a more dedicated webmaster who has the same views as the previous

just looks a bit silly on an MFA site that someones spent an hour on.

in fact in the last year cheap treadmills hasn’t received a single complaint.

That is not a selling point! Of course you've not received a complaint anyway, you don't sell anything...

You talk about the site in 2009... but the domain was registered in 2010. Or is this another optical illusion with dates like your experience dating back to 15 years old

I would be extremely surprised if those testimonials were ASA complaint - they aren't real are they? Either remove the testimonials or hold off till you actually have enough content to make fake ones look real.

Honestly, I'm wondering why I'm even typing this. If I wasn't waiting on an email back that I need to reply to before bed I'd do what the other 69 have done before me... think to myself "why the f**k has he posted this for a review???" and hit the back button.

Anyway, sort your Adsense out - I'm sure Google will be running checks on pages displaying ads with no content so its pointless getting a site removed from Adsense before you even launch it.

 

[ILikeRichTea]

Exactly what he said ^

Plus, if i end up there I want to see "cheap treadmills" not read about you and the website. . .give people what they want, that's the key to a good website!

Ohh, the colour is pretty awful also and dreary, i would totally change the template if i were you.

May sound a little harsh but it won't work as it it.

 

[orchardapple]

need to get some products on the index page, other than that just looks like a wordy blog so drop the personal info that wont convert didly and get some product info, images, prices up

 

[AssetDomains]

Have a look a there shop theme works much better with a bit of moding for a product driven site.
As for your home page needs some content and images of treadmill's

 

[doodlebug]

I am no web designer but I am an online shopper and to be honest it's the equivilant to some dodgy looking guy putting an old shipping container on Tesco car park with about 6 treadmills in it and using a tea cargo box as his counter a milk crate as his seat and an empty ice cream tub as his till with fairy lights to display the products and carelessly spraying cheap treadmills on the side of the container but putting up a nicely framed picture of him and his family along with a poem onto the container doors.

You need to think of your site as a shop so unless it's an adult shop then you tend to have some products in the window so get some on your homepage

Good luck 8)

 

[orchardapple]

I am no web designer but I am an online shopper and to be honest it's the equivilant to some dodgy looking guy putting an old shipping container on Tesco car park with about 6 treadmills in it and using a tea cargo box as his counter a milk crate as his seat and an empty ice cream tub as his till with fairy lights to display the products and carelessly spraying cheap treadmills on the side of the container but putting up a nicely framed picture of him and his family along with a poem onto the container doors.

love it

wonder how many site owners could do with reading this, i'm one

 

[doodlebug]

love it

wonder how many site owners could do with reading this, i'm one

Cheers mate,thought I would keep it simple

I also had many sites like that hence why I scrapped everyone of 'em and not making anymore till I learn to use WP etc 8) or pay someone to do it proper for me.

 

[WealdDomains]

Sorry WigWam, but I'm afraid I'm one of the 69 Frog refers to. I agree with Frog's comments and those of others.

I actually like the underlying clean greyscale sans style, but in my view your content needs more consistency graphically, more proofreading, more content and a reduction in keyword stuffing and dodgy testimonials, as well as action on the other aspects people have mentioned.

Sorry to be negative, but it's genuinely meant as useful feedback.

David

 

[WigWam]

Sorry WigWam, but I'm afraid I'm one of the 69 Frog refers to. I agree with Frog's comments and those of others.

I actually like the underlying clean greyscale sans style, but in my view your content needs more consistency graphically, more proofreading, more content and a reduction in keyword stuffing and dodgy testimonials, as well as action on the other aspects people have mentioned.

Sorry to be negative, but it's genuinely meant as useful feedback.

David

Thanks for the feedback everyone

The reason I chose such a "dull" theme is to create a higher CTR on the adverts (note the colours of them). The site actually earns quite nicely from this advert placements.

WW.

 

[wb]

Would be interested to know what CTR that is giving you?

I don't have many Adsense websites to make much of a comparison, but ones where the theme looks "attractive" with appropriately coloured Adsense blocks have averaged about 20-30% for me.

 

[WigWam]

Would be interested to know what CTR that is giving you?

I don't have many Adsense websites to make much of a comparison, but ones where the theme looks "attractive" with appropriately coloured Adsense blocks have averaged about 20-30% for me.

It depends on the day but typically around 25 / 35% ctr.

WW.