Website Review and Suggestions

**jl255** · 03-19-2007, 12:07 PM

Need some help here guys. Have implemented many of the SEO techniques in design, but somehow, PR is still 0 and unique visitors only abt 40-70 a day. Is there something wrong? What do you think of the site design? Does it attract you to continue further? Is it user-friendly? What other info might you be looking for that cannot be found? Pls advice.

www.MobileConnectionz.com

**tammyhart** · 03-19-2007, 01:36 PM

Hey there,

As far as traffic problems go, I'm not sure about, since i'm having the same problems with my own sites. But I can tell you that your design can use some sprucing up.

Firstly, you need to give it dimension somehow. such us using a top gradient on your background, and then perhaps throw a 1-2 px border around the main frame that is slightly darker than your background.

Also, while i understand that you want people to mistakingly click your google ads

, using the same colors is distracting. I can't tell your real content from the ads, I don't know what to read.

you could also try using a different font for headers. and the all caps makes me feel like you're screaming somehting at me. All caps can be used in some places to change it up, but not for lines that are so long.

Space between your box edges and content would help as well.

Going back to the text colors... The color you have for your regular text is the same blue that alot of users recognize as the default link color. Some users, as dumb as it sounds, might become frustrated when they clikc a sentance and it goes nowwhere.

My $0.02

**travelagent** · 03-19-2007, 04:06 PM

As the subject of PR has been discussed 1000's of times here, and on other forums, don't worry about PR as it's not important -- what is important is, having fresh content and numerous links that are relevant to your site ... exposure and visitors takes alot of time and effort.

**jl255** · 03-20-2007, 12:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tammyhart

Hey there,

As far as traffic problems go, I'm not sure about, since i'm having the same problems with my own sites. But I can tell you that your design can use some sprucing up.

Firstly, you need to give it dimension somehow. such us using a top gradient on your background, and then perhaps throw a 1-2 px border around the main frame that is slightly darker than your background.

Also, while i understand that you want people to mistakingly click your google ads

, using the same colors is distracting. I can't tell your real content from the ads, I don't know what to read.

you could also try using a different font for headers. and the all caps makes me feel like you're screaming somehting at me. All caps can be used in some places to change it up, but not for lines that are so long.

Space between your box edges and content would help as well.

Going back to the text colors... The color you have for your regular text is the same blue that alot of users recognize as the default link color. Some users, as dumb as it sounds, might become frustrated when they clikc a sentance and it goes nowwhere.

My $0.02

Tks for your advice. Will seriously consider them =)

Wld appreciate more opinions, tks!

**jl255** · 03-20-2007, 12:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by travelagent

As the subject of PR has been discussed 1000's of times here, and on other forums, don't worry about PR as it's not important -- what is important is, having fresh content and numerous links that are relevant to your site ... exposure and visitors takes alot of time and effort.

yes, am well-aware of how impt PR is. But still feel that it is some form (may not be the only) of indication of how visible your website is. Have been adding fresh content regularly, but does not seem to improve the number of visitors. Perhaps I can get some idea of what is the average number of visitors i shld expect for a 3mth old site? Am i below-average? Experienced owners, do share?

**ADAM Web Design** · 03-20-2007, 01:20 AM

Your biggest problem in terms of marketing is the very topic you picked, unfortunately. Cell phones have been done/spammed to death by every lazy bugger out there looking to make a quick buck, which is a **** shame in your case because it looks like you're actually trying...somewhat. You're already doing more than 99.9% of people out there with sites like this just by not claiming every phone is good and shoving an affiliate link at the bottom of every post.

Your second-biggest issue is that you're really not saying anything new. The reviews that are "compiled" aren't yours. They'd be okay as a secondary resource, and perhaps separated into individual views. But as a primary resource, that's not the way to go. They should be your thoughts and opinions...that's where unique content comes from.

Why do I say this? Because it's easier to generate organic links from unique content than it is from recycled content. Those links will solve your PR issue (not that it is one, as travelagent pointed out to you...heeeeeeeeeed his advice, for he is speaking the good word), and solve the much greater issue of increasing your traffic for you'll be getting legit referrals as opposed to nothing from whatever crappy links are out there.

As far as "how many visitors to expect", it really depends on the site and how it's promoted. I've seen sites that never get more than what you're getting now and work well with that model. I've seen sites get hundreds of uniques per day at the 3-month point and do poorly because they weren't prepared to receive it.

This isn't to diminish the importance of uniques, but they're not what you need to be focusing on. You need to focus on the path in front of you as far as your content is concerned.

**ForrestCroce** · 03-20-2007, 01:52 AM

First, to answer your "put it into perspective" question, I averaged 185 unique visitors in my third month ( awstats is great - historical data! ), although it's a bit skewed. I got a lot of them in a few day peak, so ignoring that, maybe 120 is more reasonable, I'm not sure.

But a cell phone web site just isn't very interesting to that many people. I just got a phone, the free one, and really don't care about them for a couple years now. Your subject matter just has a smaller audience. And then there's the spam thing, not you, but forums are constantly getting spammed with offers to sell the latest phone. So people have a bad impression of cell phones on the 'net.

Considering that, it sounds like you're getting a pretty good amount of traffic.

**jl255** · 03-20-2007, 03:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ADAM Web Design

Your biggest problem in terms of marketing is the very topic you picked, unfortunately. Cell phones have been done/spammed to death by every lazy bugger out there looking to make a quick buck, which is a **** shame in your case because it looks like you're actually trying...somewhat. You're already doing more than 99.9% of people out there with sites like this just by not claiming every phone is good and shoving an affiliate link at the bottom of every post.

Your second-biggest issue is that you're really not saying anything new. The reviews that are "compiled" aren't yours. They'd be okay as a secondary resource, and perhaps separated into individual views. But as a primary resource, that's not the way to go. They should be your thoughts and opinions...that's where unique content comes from.

Why do I say this? Because it's easier to generate organic links from unique content than it is from recycled content. Those links will solve your PR issue (not that it is one, as travelagent pointed out to you...heeeeeeeeeed his advice, for he is speaking the good word), and solve the much greater issue of increasing your traffic for you'll be getting legit referrals as opposed to nothing from whatever crappy links are out there.

As far as "how many visitors to expect", it really depends on the site and how it's promoted. I've seen sites that never get more than what you're getting now and work well with that model. I've seen sites get hundreds of uniques per day at the 3-month point and do poorly because they weren't prepared to receive it.

This isn't to diminish the importance of uniques, but they're not what you need to be focusing on. You need to focus on the path in front of you as far as your content is concerned.

you have very good points, tks.

I did note that there are already quite a number of cellphone sites, but the number of really established ones are probably not more than 20? My estimate. Besides, the web is so huge, so I am optimistic that another quality cellphone site (at least that's what i hope mine will be) will be able to find its place.

I have started writing reviews about phones, look at Treo750v, N8800 sirocco, Samsung z720, Sony W710i. Not many, but i'm slowly building it up. Started with compilation as a means of getting it off the ground, so now building up on the content, but tks, i have the same sentiments. =)

How do sites that only get my traffic work well? I'm very curious....

**jl255** · 03-20-2007, 03:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ForrestCroce

First, to answer your "put it into perspective" question, I averaged 185 unique visitors in my third month ( awstats is great - historical data! ), although it's a bit skewed. I got a lot of them in a few day peak, so ignoring that, maybe 120 is more reasonable, I'm not sure.

But a cell phone web site just isn't very interesting to that many people. I just got a phone, the free one, and really don't care about them for a couple years now. Your subject matter just has a smaller audience. And then there's the spam thing, not you, but forums are constantly getting spammed with offers to sell the latest phone. So people have a bad impression of cell phones on the 'net.

Considering that, it sounds like you're getting a pretty good amount of traffic.

No doubt, my site does not cater to everyone's interest. However, i do see a growing segment of tech-teenage geeks who will be very interested in researching the next phone they are planning to buy, which i also believe will become more and more frequent.

I am working towards being the truly one-stop review site for cellphones, where users can even get real-time reviews from online users through in-site chats. From my site, they can get all reviews from around the web as well as seek immediate opinions from registered users holding on to the phone that are looking to buy.

Maybe its just a dream, but who knows?
=)

**ADAM Web Design** · 03-20-2007, 10:40 AM

jl255: high value product or service (translation: something that sells for a lot), niche market, well-built site, decent content...there are a number of factors.

Think of a lawyer's site. A lawyer might only need 50 visitors per day and if he gets one client a day at about $1000 a pop just for the retainer...you do the math.

**jl255** · 03-20-2007, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ADAM Web Design

jl255: high value product or service (translation: something that sells for a lot), niche market, well-built site, decent content...there are a number of factors.

Think of a lawyer's site. A lawyer might only need 50 visitors per day and if he gets one client a day at about $1000 a pop just for the retainer...you do the math.

oh, u are referring to product sites. Ok, was thinking more in terms of advertising sites....

**ADAM Web Design** · 03-20-2007, 11:07 AM

I'm referring to sites in general, although the same logic does somewhat apply to advertising sites. Niche sites tend to attract higher paying advertisers per visitor because the visitor count is smaller and more targeted.

Cell phones really aren't "niche" because the majority of adults have one now.

**tanjh** · 03-20-2007, 06:06 PM

Try other advertising techniques like Pay Per Click and articles.

**madal** · 03-20-2007, 07:59 PM

it looks fine to me... just add more content