Comments on: Why doesn’t this site convert? Critique of Spacetransform.com

By: Chuck Spidell

Chuck Spidell — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 07:26:16 +0000

Man, Chris you did rip the website to shreds. You’ve got about seven seconds to make an impression and engage the user to take action. Otherwise, they’re gone. The best advice is creative criticism by someone else. Here’s something I just read from another blog regarding web content:

“I don’t want too much information on how you will help me, I want to know that you CAN help me first, and that means writing about MY problems and not YOUR credentials. If I think you can help me, I will then engage a conversation.”

By: Barak Rosenbloom

Barak Rosenbloom — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 21:31:56 +0000

Fantastic analysis! It was very helpful flipping back and forth between the video and my website–lots of things to ponder, tweak, improve and clarify!

And you still don’t look like you. Lasiks?

By: Chris Haddad

Chris Haddad — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 16:17:43 +0000

Hi Gwen,

Heh. Well, I’m trying to be a bit kinder and gentler in my old age =-)

More seriously: I’m glad you got a lot out of the critique. You just really need to take a step back and think about the ONE ACTION you want folks to take when they come to your site. Right now you’re sort of throwing out a tablecloth and saying “uh . . .take what you want!” . . . you’ve got to focus everything down to the big benefits to your target market and the single, simple response you want them to take.

Later.

By: Gwen Williams

Gwen Williams — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 04:07:00 +0000

Chris,

Wow… thank you so much. After I got the link to the video it took me a few minutes to ground and ready myself for the shredding … but it was indeed gentle, and useful, and much needed and *very* appreciated. There’s a lot there — I took a page of notes and will be going back over those and the video many times over the next little while… making some small and some big changes to my approach and offering. Thanks for giving me the permission/encouragement to be bolder! You are truly insightful and inspiring.

Blessings,
Gwen

By: Daniel Talsky

Daniel Talsky — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 23:04:45 +0000

Very cool, Chris. I did indeed learn a thing or two. I like the format and I’m looking forward to more of these.

By: Chris Haddad

Chris Haddad — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 21:18:58 +0000

Hi Suzann,

THanks for the kind words. Yup, I see small business people make the same mistakes again and again. And the solution is always to be bold, to sell harder, to stand up straight and admit that you are awesome. =-)

By: Suzanne Griscom

Suzanne Griscom — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 18:42:40 +0000

Chris, that was a dead-on assessment of Gwen’s site. The most common mistake businesses (especially small businesses) make is leaving out the core message. “What’s In It For Me? (the customer)” has to drive all the communication on the website.

That was a great critique and I look forward to the next one.