Does our homepage do it`s job?

Business Forum

Doing Business on the Web

Website Critique

Does our homepage do it`s job?

New Topic

Post Reply

Follow Topic

Page of 1

Author
Message

dsprindle

posts: 76

Feb 27, 2008 2:00 PM ET Quote Report Abuse

Points: 0 Vote

Let us thank you in advance for taking the time to look at our homepage for a new website we are developing.

The primary purpose of our website is to generate warm leads for our principal business, a network marketing business we are very successful with.

Secondary, that it will truly help people who are looking for a business opportunity by offering valuable information based on experience.

Thirdly, that Christians will be challenged to allow their faith to impact their world through their businesses.

Our home page must impress visitors that:

1. We are going to give them answers to finding a business that is right for them, plus a whole lot more.

2. That we are an authority in this area- we have been there done that and are still doing it.

3. They will find true help and valuable information they are looking for related to business opportunities.

4. They do not get the impression that we are trying to "pitch" them to get in our deal or buy our product.

5. They will be compelled to make the next click on a menu topic to learn more.

6. They will get more from us than what they expected and feel like they found something of value, meaning repeat visits.

We do not have other pages built at this time. Just getting going. But the rest of the site will follow the same theme... getting more specific about each of the topics listed on the home page.

Any feedback is appreciated.

Best Regards,

Scott & Laurie

www.christian-business-opportunities.org

-------------------------

http://www.christian-business-opportunities.org

CraigL

posts: 9051

Feb 27, 2008 3:23 PM ET Quote Report Abuse

Points: 0 Vote

There`s no "call to action" on your page, so no, I don`t think it will accomplish your list above. Assuming I have a judgement after reading the article written on the page, I can only click away saying, "Okay...I agree with that," or "Nah...I don`t think so.

How do you think this will generate leads for you?

In the "nit-pick" department, I`d change the word "chasing" in the main heading to something a little less aggressive. Maybe something like "by pursuing." :-)

dsprindle

posts: 76

Feb 27, 2008 6:51 PM ET Quote Report Abuse

Points: 0 Vote

Thanks Craig! Really appreciate you taking time to look at our home page.

The "call to action" is a great insight. Each page will have to pull the visitor into the next step, beginning with our home page. If we can get the next click from home page to a menu button or on page text link, the next page (tier 2) will be the call to action page.

So, would you be inclined to do that based on the home page? Would you click through or click out? How can we present a better "call to action" to encourage you to click through? I`m thinking out loud here.

There will be many ways to build leads from tier 2 and tier 3 pages, but for us it starts by building trust. We will only start adding lead generating content (e-zine subscription, e-book, squeeze page, contact form, etc.) after we have built the first thirty pages and get some traffic going.

Right now our focus is on good content. So we`re talking months before we expect to begin capturing the leads.

Again- thanks a very much Craig!

Cheers,

Scott & Laurie

-------------------------

http://www.christian-business-opportunities.org

cartess3

posts: 257

Feb 28, 2008 4:48 PM ET Quote Report Abuse

Points: 0 Vote

The primary purpose of our website is to generate warm leads for our principal business, a network marketing business we are very successful with.

If the purpose of your site is lead generation as you mentioned above, then you`ll need to start over from scratch.

What is lead generation?

Typically, it`s a process used to qualify prospects who may already have an interest in the products or services you offer. The prospect will typically request additional information about a product or service, and the business owner or company will usually provide information to the prospect in an effort to make their pitch about their product or service.

The more qualified the prospect, the higher the conversion rate.

As Craig suggested, there is no call to action... you haven`t told them to do anything, and you haven`t given them anything.

More importantly, you haven`t collected anything from them that would allow you to continue the process of "selling you".

Once they leave the site, they`re likely gone forever. In many instances, lead generation requires you to collect "pre-qualified leads". In this case, these would be people who came to your site and requested more information about your biz. By requesting that information, they`ve qualified themselves as potential customers, and now it`s here that you put additional resources into converting them into customers...

Here is a great example of Lead Generation. This guy had a classified ad that said the following:

MLM Got Ya Broke?
After I learned this one secret about generating cash on autopilot, i quit MLM and never looked back.

--
Obviously, he had this ad in a "Business Oppty" section (in an effort to get qualified people looking at his ad). The classified ad sent them to this site:

http://www.overnightcashisfun.com

Now after a person watches his video, they`re giving the opportunity to opt-in to receive additional information. This is a great example of lead generation! The prospect just qualified themselves even more by requesting additional information by leaving their details. The business owner now has the ability to follow-up with a sequence of emails of information in an effort to close the sale.

For the record... This is NOT my site. I went and found this to show as an example... I found it here:

http://www.usfreeads.com/_business-opportunities/

Hope this helps,
Cartess

-------------------------

Website Startup Coach: Step-by-Step Coaching to Help You Build a Profitable Business Online!

dsprindle

posts: 76

Feb 28, 2008 8:23 PM ET Quote Report Abuse

Points: 0 Vote

Cartess,

Thanks for the great input. You obviously spent a lot of time. We appreciate that.

Checked out your website. Great job. I picked up some good pointers. I will rework ours to give them something more and lead them to their next step.

The next step is for our target is not for them to give me their name... yet. Way too early in the process for the type of people and business we do.

Their next step needs to be a click to one of the menu pages. That`s where they will be led to e-zine subscription, e-book, squeeze page, contact form, etc.). They will find a way to get answers for each of these sub topics from us.

So our home page needs to make that happen.

The other site you used as an example- it`s on the other side of the spectrum from what we are doing. Way too in your face, just one more guy trying to sell me his deal type that is not for our target.

A good example of what we do not want to do. Thanks. Your input is very much appreciated.

Best Regards,

S&L

-------------------------

http://www.christian-business-opportunities.org

CraigL

posts: 9051

Feb 29, 2008 3:33 PM ET Quote Report Abuse

Points: 0 Vote

I can`t really comment on whether or not the current page would do much of anything, without it being in context. A home page with no further pages is like a short story--something to read for no particular reason other than entertainment. Perhaps when you have the rest of the site, or at least a mock-up of some of the product page, you might set up a "critique" post during your beta testing. Then we could better make some comments about the home page---in context, right?

dsprindle

posts: 76

Feb 29, 2008 4:44 PM ET Quote Report Abuse

Points: 0 Vote

Thanks Craig. We see that you`re right. We can see the big picture because we have the draft template in front of us.

We seem to be premature in asking for a critique. We`ll keep building and resubmit as you suggest.

Even still, all the input has been great and has helped us make it even better.

Thanks again

S&L

-------------------------

http://www.christian-business-opportunities.org

Page of 1

Post Reply

Keep the Community Clean!

StartupNation forums should be used as a platform to learn, educate others, share stories, tips & tricks and to provide constructive feedback.
Please do not use the Forums for advertising & blatant self-promotion.
Please be respectful to other members and refrain from personal attacks and vulgar language.
StartupNation reserves the right to delete any message, reply, and/or member who violates our terms of use.

Read full terms of use

Contact Us Privacy Terms of Use Become a Marketplace Provider Advertise Local Guides Site Map Home Business Start a Business

Business Forum

Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

Does our homepage do it`s job?

Keep the Community Clean!