Site Review - June 8

Dzinerbear · 06-08-2005, 10:30 AM

Hi all,

Here's the latest site requesting a review: http://www.glbtcity.com

He said, "We are currently having a new shopping cart developed for the site. We know that a new design would be a good idea to go hand in hand with the new cart.

As I said, we are amateurs and do the best we can. It's how we keep our overhead down and prices so competitive and our customers feedback tells they like what we're doing in that respect.

But knowing we are moving forward regardless of 2257, we welcome the feedback even though we aren't the same type of site that most members have (VOD, affiliate, etc.)"

Please provide your constructive remarks.

If you have a site that you'd like reviewed, we do one site a week, please PM me and I'll put you on the schedule.

Cheers
dzinerbear

**Lee** · 06-08-2005, 02:11 PM

I love the color scheme on the site however, design wise, the one thing that does stand out is that animated Mastercard, Amex and Visa graphic, imho, that pulls the attention away from the main page.

Id change that to something a lot smaller and non-animated if it has to remain.

You also have 2 warnings on the page, inside the store, imho you only need to have 1

Other than that, there isnt much else id change, i like it

Regards,

Lee

**gaystoryman** · 06-08-2005, 02:40 PM

Hi all, well, I have to say that basically, it is no different to me than any other vod, video, affiliate store. Sorry but it really is the same in my mind.

I agree to with the flashing credit cards.. way too distracting

Now, my wee rant here, that applies to really most sites it seems which is how the warning/index page gets treated. Not to mention the overkill on the 2257 stuff.

To begin with let me ask all of you a simple question, what is the goal of your site? To sell software to keep minors out or to sell your products? Is it to scare the customer away or to entice them inside?

And let's be honest too, all these fancy little scripts of entering your birthday isn't going to prevent you from getting nailed for pornography, it might help in some theoritical situation but before a jury it really won't count. It is the content that is going to get you into trouble, not whether you had a huge warning page or not.

Now I don't say dont' have it, I think you should use every possible means to cover your ass from the pantywaist prudes out there, but this age script stuff, endless warnings and stuff really isn't the solution.

To me you need to develop a marketing plan like any other store. The goal is to avoid the riff raff, like a restaurant who doesn't want naked folks in their place... simple sign up that says no shirt no service suffices them and yet they still manage to attract customers because their menu is posted or some savory meal picture is emblazoned on it.

A web site is a store, your goal is to get the customer inside and I really hate it when all I see is some text telling me who can't come in.

You can do more to cover your ass by using safesurf and icra labelling than you can by posting some huge warning text. In addition, the 2257 info is so overpowering you can scare away the frightened guy who is still in his closet trying to peek out.

Get creative, put something up like... hey we have great videos but not for prudes or those who can't accept queers... things like... the best from citiboyz is inside & not for those who are too young to appreciate real twinks, too narrow minded to enjoy natural sex, so for them, bug off, the rest, come on in... anything that isnt about fear... we want the customer to be relaxed, to enjoy, to buy.. an uptight customer won't buy much if anything. so why frighten them off?

There is also a financial advantage to properly using your index page, which is that you cull the customers who enter. If you have a bear site, why not say so? It will eliminate the guys looking for twink videos, which means less page loads from people who aren't going to buy anyhow, which means you save cash in bandwidth and you dont skew your stats either.

Same token, if you have a whole bunch of stuff, you can advertise that so you will entice someone who might think its a bear site but wants twinks, if you say something about it. It is why restaurants advertise vegetarian along with the pot roast...

I know, this is a rant, sorry for it, should be a site review but personally the warning page is the front door to your store.. the people passing by it are your customers, don't all of you think its time you started treating them like customers?

And the 2257. I notice its on all pages, which in theory it should be, but why so poorly done? I mean let's have it there cuz its required (specially given how some are interpreting 2257 changes) but it doesn't have to be added in big huge bold letters, doesn't have to fill an entire width of the screen. I think Chad posted what is needed, a simple statement, that you can add that links to your 2257 info... tuck it in at the bottom but don't make it stick out like a sore thumb. Blend it in and it doesn't take that much to do either.

The first page is your critical page. It is where you generally have listed in SE and directories, so make it appealing, give at least some hint as to what you are selling,

Also this is the page the big SE look for first. If it is blocked from going further, which that age script does do, then that is the only page you are going to get listed. So why close off free advertising?

I am all for being responsible, but the warning pages imho are overkill the way most webmasters design them. They are your front door, I mean do you have huge signs on your front door at home telling everyone who goes by that you will shoot or sue the pants off trespassers?

Sorry GLBT, didn't mean to go off on a tangent, not enough coffee yet I suppose. However I'd say that imho the index page needs massive changes, and while the layout inside is nice, navigation is fairly standard, there is no real differences... nothing to make this different than any other video store online.

That being said, I am not saying its bad either. I like the colours and it works... its a good formula...

anyhow just my personal view/opinion, feel free to ignore it.
Ian

Fetishlady · 06-09-2005, 05:15 AM

the site looks nice and design wise it's fine but i agree with Lee..the animated cards are quite big for that site.

GLBTcity · 06-09-2005, 05:46 AM

Thanks to everyone so far.

I do agree with the warning, age verifiacation, yada yada... we had to pop that in extremely fast to get our new processor to approve it.

We didn't care at that point on the looks, just so it was there to appease them and get our new account opened.

That is definitely one of the items we know we have to address. Entrance page as well.

I will say that the entrance page hasn't been a big deal to us really since most of the content pages are what show up on search engines and not the entrance page. However, with respect to our Overture Ad, the entrance page is a concern and we've been giving it a great deal of thought.

This is exactly the type of feedback we need.

As for the color scheme Lee... thanks! I didn't expect that. I was just told that it was too heavy and made the person want to leave. So that was a pleasant surprise.

Thanks to everyone again for the awesome feedback... including you Ian

Doug aka PapaBear

GLBTcity · 06-09-2005, 09:41 AM

Hi all,

We've already made some changes to the home page. Is this more acceptable... err... more along the lines of such?

www.glbtcity.com

PapaBear

Dzinerbear · 06-09-2005, 03:49 PM

I think it looks a lot better, it's fun and the box covers add a little "oh look what's coming inside." Good stuff.

I'd move the Enter up a bit so it's above the fold and I'd make it bigger, bolder and a different colour. Right now, I had to look for it.

I think the ASACP banner is too big.

But overall, the first page is a vast improvement.

Cheers
dzinerbear

**gaystoryman** · 06-09-2005, 04:06 PM

Totally agree with DZinbear... vast vast improvement. Looking crisper too and much more informative... definately want that enter button higher and didn't check, but you might want to link the graphics (box covers) to the actual movie review page or buy page as well... link the top graphic to your main directory page too... people luv clicking images... so why not make them work for you?

definate improvement..

GLBTcity · 06-09-2005, 08:34 PM

Hi DZ and gaystoryman,

Awesome feedback, good suggestions.

We changed the Enter, moved it up on the page and added links to the images.

www.glbtcity.com

When shall we expect your consulting invoice?

PapaBear