:-) Whatever I write here on SuN is free for the copying. Ergo, use whatever you want with no encumberances at all. Let me just clean it up a bit, since the first time around I was just typing off the top of my gleaming nearly-bald head. :-)

Stress that the key here is budgeting---no surprises. Right now, you don`t know if gas will be $4.50 by the end of the summer or $5. Nor do you know if 1 year from now it`ll be $7 or $5.89 per gallon.

To that end, you can`t set aside money in a budget to cover your expected future purchases. With a 1-year guarantee on prices, you can also develop the budget to handle that expense. So it isn`t about buying gas cheaper; we`re showing that the numbers aren`t all that spectacular.

Instead, it`s about being able to set aside money for a projected annual expense in an extremely volatile market. If you wanted to get even more sophisticated, you could have an article page that connects this program with dollar-cost-averaging when entering the stock market and investments. It`s a gamble.

The big problem I see is that for someone selling cars, it`s a great incentive. But for gas stations themselves, they already can sell their entire inventory. It`s a necessary commodity. The program is an incentive to guarantee customers regardless of the price of gas.

The problem is that the customers already are guaranteed. By connecting your program with "nationally known automobile companies," you`re giving it some strength. However; I`d also suggest stressing that soon, this type of "club" will be springing up everywhere. At that point, a lot of gas stations likely will start to drop out. They can`t right now, if they`ve contracted with PriceLock, but they`ll choose not to make future contracts.

So "git while the gittin`s good," is my point. :-D


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Craig Landes
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Defining the undefinable. "There are 10 kinds of people in the world---those who understand binary numbers and those who don`t." - Unknown

International Society of Curmudgeons

Two of the messages always passed on in these critiques is "Show me how your site benefits me", and "You have 4 seconds to interest the viewer enough to stick around" . Although you are getting the main message across, you may want to use some actual sample projections, and avoid a "Too good to be true" feeling right away.

I could read your site content and try to do the math in my head to figure out what I would save if I thought this was a legitimate program, or find pen and paper to figure it out myself if I thought this was a legitimate program. If I`m lazy, or if I don`t think it`s a legitimate program, I might not take the time to figure out my potential benefit.  But if you show some sample charts of what could be expected with different prices/amounts purchased/miles driven, etc., in a way that makes me feel it is legitimate, I`d be more willing to look at it.

I am not stressing the idea that I don`t believe your message; that isn`t my point, but legitimacy is something you have to emphasize the right way. The bottom line is that many people are going to think it`s fishy regardless of what you tell them, but the more factual, solid information you provide, and literally showing potential end results, could convince more people to check further into it. Always look at your information, your presentation, your pitch as if you are seeing it for the first time. Forget that you know all of this, if you can. If you were us, and didn`t know anything about you or your company or this program, would you believe your message?

** Just to clarify....**

The emphasis on the word legitimate was only for effect, and does not reflect my personal views; please do not read this as me doubting your business or service.


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M Hall
Website Critique Community
International Society of Curmudgeons

Excellent suggestion! In fact, the charts could represent the whole idea of budgeting. Don`t forget to set up one of the line items for truckers. The other night, listening to a discussion on the radio, a trucker called in and talked about his annual fuel budget last month was projected at $95,000. He`s having to rework that budget each month, with the rapid increases in price.

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Craig Landes
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Defining the undefinable. "There are 10 kinds of people in the world---those who understand binary numbers and those who don`t." - Unknown

International Society of Curmudgeons

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Web Design | Best Beef Jerky | ecommerce articles | Follow vwebworld on Twitter

Hey, I suggested price charts on the first page.  :)

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Home Sweetest Home - Poster-Style Home Portraits
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Steve Lowtwa

Didn`t mean to steal your idea Steve, just re-emphasizing it.



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M Hall
Website Critique Community
International Society of Curmudgeons

Thanks for all the great feedback.

I`m going to tinker with the wording and the gas savings charts this weekend and let you all know how it goes.

Once again, thank you all so much for making this a great site!

I think you have taken these critiques very well and summarized it nicely.  Once you have cleared up your message and content, think about site navigation.  If you need a professional hand, I would love to work with you to create an eye catching, easy to navigate site.

One tip:  Use at least one picture of a person, even it if is off of istock photo.  People love to see people on websites.  It helps them identify with the content.  Psycology i suppose.  I just know that it helps.

best,



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www.HostRail.com

Thanks to everyone who has helped get this site right, so far.

I have made the changes stated. Can some of you please take another look at it and let me know if it`s hot or not hot yet?

Once again, thank you so much all of you are making my life so much easier.

Oh and I have to fix the site navigation still.