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How would your proceed?
Question:
OK. The site seems to be running up to speed again. Whew. Just a quick comment on the "simplicity" of the home page which a few have mentioned. My experience with web users is that we tend to fall into a "Nintendo" attitude. Point-Click- and Go, Go, Go! You go to a website and if you don’t know what it’s "there for" in less than 5 seconds, then it’s the Back button back to Google. So I try to keep the home page simple. In this case though, I agree with the posts, it’s too simple – I think I’ll add one or two more lines under the "definition" explaining how my tools can help out website owners. I would still like to know… How would you proceed with getting the word out? Specific references would really be appreciated (ie: Mike’s reference to alt.computer.consultants.moderated). Thanks for all your help, Allison http://www.DropInWebTools.com/?m=n5 Fill out a Form – Update Your Site.
Response:
> Your index page has virtually no content and this causes two problems. > First, I did not know what you offered even with the dictionary definition > and this means that there are no "keywords" on your index page for the > search engine robots.
Hi Bob, Thanks for the reply. I am going for a simple look (which I’ll explain in a different post because others have mentioned it also). But your point about the search engines is very important. Though it may not be apparent, I use a server side scripting language (PHP, but ASP would work also). What this allows me to do, is determine if the visitor is human or a robot. If it is a robot, I can return precisely the meta tags and content that I want to give to the search engines. If the visitor is composed of flesh and blood, I can return a simpler, more user-friendly version of the page. But, as is apparent in yours and some other posts, It may be too simple – I’ll work on that 
Response:
> You go to a website and if you don’t know what it’s "there for" in > less than 5 seconds, then it’s the Back button back to Google. > So I try to keep the home page simple.
Running counter to this is the search engine world. Whereas a company wants a quick loading arrival webpage that directs visitors to their content, search engines want to jump directly to content… not really in line with appropriate sales technique. Often a search engine will take you directly to a drill down page and you have to look around for buttons to find out who the company is and what is it they do. The only opinions with search engines is to play it their way or do something clever like attach a "More information" text at the bottom of your main page wherein you can use your keywords. Frankly I don’t want a search engine taking anyone anywhere except my arrival page. I can exclude that with the robots.txt file but obviously it sacrifices search engine rating as they would count all the subpages of contect, if accessible, as worthy of a higher rating. So far I still don’t let search engines dictate their sales criteria to me. Of course I don’t value search engine traffic as much as I do that resulting from industrial journal advertisements. I also avoid java, javascript, cookies, new browser features because all it does is filter out some people that might be clients. I tend to browse without graphics enabled and I make sure my website still is presentable in that configuration. You’d be surprised how many companies recklessly give you a blank browser screen if you don’t browse with all the options. Its rather like foolishly turning away customers at the door. They have no reason to assure that their customer base use all browser features… so why do they let their web-designers make those exclusions. tech S T U P I D I T Y The abundant resource of executives everywhere.
Response:
At 24kbaud I fell asleep while loading your site. Then I saw what looks like a needle nose pliers pulling at a pc board soldered lead. Then something about drop in tools for web design. I don’t have a clue as to what you are trying to sell. Wayne — http://www.calmexnet.org/partners/wayne.htm
Response:
> Hello and Happy New Year. > I would appreciate your opinions on some questions. I have just > recently released my site and would like to know:
Allison, I have a cable connection and I did poke around your site a bit. A few comments: 1) Your site is not clear and is not a good marketing piece. Many sites have been reviewed on alt.computer.consultants.moderated, and I suggest you search through the archives on that group in order to get some basic ideas of how to move forward with your site. 2) I got so many pop-up windows here-and-there that I started going nuts trying to figure out what is what and where is where, and I ended up leaving your site for that reason. (I might have spent another ten minutes looking around.) I gather that these various pop-ups are what you’re selling. I like everything to stay in one window unless there is a *damn* good reason for another window to pop-up. So think about that. 3) Your prices are dirt cheap. How many of these things do you have to sell to make a real go of a profitable business? What do your competitors charge for these types of services? Who are your competitors, anyway? Seriously, please list a few of them so that I (and others) can give you a fair assessment of what it is that you are trying to offer. 4) The proof is in the pudding. I think that anyone here can give you their opinion of what you have to offer, but you will actually have to find the market and sell these tools yourself. Have you made any sales yet? Any fish on the hook? Cash in the bank (or not) is the ultimate answer to your question. I see that you’re getting some harsh feedback, and I’m not trying to drill you down. You definitely have an interesting concept, but it appears to me that you have a ways to go. My suggestion is to clean up your site, come up with a method of providing your linked services in windows that don’t pop-up all over the place, and try to make some sales. Just my .02. Good Luck! Mike Turco
Response:
I woke up this morning and found my site to be down. My host had just moved me to a new server (per my request) and of course it just made things worse. Hopefully it will be up to speed soon. Thanks for your patience.
Response:
> Many sites have > been reviewed on alt.computer.consultants.moderated, and I suggest you > search through the archives on that group in order to get some basic ideas > of how to move forward with your site.
Thanks Mike – Specific referals (alt.computer.consultants.moderated) are exactly what I’m looking for. > 2) I got so many pop-up windows here-and-there that I started going nuts
Yeah, I know. I figured my customers wouldn’t want the tools I sell to take their visitors off their site, ergo – the pop-up. Now I think I’ll offer it as an option (and make the DropInWebTools site non-popup). Thanks. > 3) Your prices are dirt cheap. … Who are your competitors, anyway?
Not much competition out there. Most my competition are web designers who try to offer a complete package (write your entire site) and thus charge an arm and a leg. Me, I’m basically an Application Service Provider for the little guys. You want to update your link page in less than a minute? – use our Link Exchange Tool. You want to get your visitors to come back tomorrow? – user our free Trivia of the Day Tool. You want to easily post an Article, update your FAQ’s, list a Press Release? – Use our Article (FAQ/Latest News) Tools (not out yet, but soon). I’m not trying to make a pitch here, just trying to explain what an Application Service Provider does. There are a lot of them out there, but they focus on large applications for big business. My target market is anyone with a website who doesn’t want to learn programming, but wants a powerful website (without all the hiring-a-web-designer hassles). > I see that you’re getting some harsh feedback…
Not at all – well, except for the "pliers" remark in another post – All comments are important. As a "techie" by nature, it is often difficult to separate ourselves from the details to see the big picture. I really appreciate all the advice. Thanks
Response:
Hello and Happy New Year. I would appreciate your opinions on some questions. I have just recently released my site and would like to know: 1> Are the services that I am offering apparent and easily understood? 2> Are the free items appealing to website owners? 3> How would you suggest I market this? I would prefer to explore the free routes first. Website: http://www.DropInWebTools.com/?m=n5 I’ve got to say that I’ve lurked on a few other forums and find this one to be one of the best that I’ve found when it comes to marketing. Keep it up, you’re helping out a lot of people. Thanks Allison www.DropInWebTools.com – Fill out a Form Update Your Site.
Response:
| | 1> Are the services that I am offering apparent and easily | understood? | | 2> Are the free items appealing to website owners? | | 3> How would you suggest I market this? I would prefer to explore | the free routes first. | | Website: http://www.DropInWebTools.com/?m=n5 Hello Allison, I am not one of the marketing experts but did look at the site and see one glaring thing. Your index page has virtually no content and this causes two problems. First, I did not know what you offered even with the dictionary definition and this means that there are no "keywords" on your index page for the search engine robots. I would have the index page explain the range of products and have a link to those products on the index page. This is very important in my opinion Allison. Bob www.usernomics.com User Interface Design, Human Factors, Ergonomics, Training & Documentation Hope this helps a bit.