This Weeks Site Review Thread

[Squirt]

I usually don't like giving site reviews because it's easy for people to take offense or just be overwhelmed by information and not use any of the tips you give. Also you can have 10 guys that make $10k a week give you different advice on the same topic LOL. So here's what I see:

Your front page loads unusually slowly and on Alexa it shows that 87% of pages load faster then yours so I ran a quick page speed report on your home page and found that even on ISDN your page takes about 8 seconds to load completely. You can run your own report here After you input your URL pay attention to the analysis and recommendations at the bottom of the page.

After taking a quick look at your html and graphics I realized part of the reason your site takes so long to load is your graphics, you're not optimizing them. I took just a couple of your graphics and popped them in Photoshop and simply selected the "save for web" option and your banner went from 27k to 12k. your flags graphic went from 5k to 1k. I've pasted the modified banner for you below. as you can see it looks exactly the same at half the size. Do this to all your graphics and load the page in half the time. Your black and white background graphic should be saved in two color to make the size smaller. You want to try and trim your home page size down to 30k theoretically.

ok enough about graphics and loading speed.

Alexa shows you having a 14 page view per user average which is great. So once surfers get in they stay around a while, if you trust Alexa stats.

If you made it more clear, on first glance, what your site offers, you will get more sales. You have no tagline for your product which is costing you money. Try something like "Cruise interactive Gay personals for free" or "See hot naked guys in your city for free" etc. etc. That way you mention the free membership and what your site offers in one sentence. The way you have it now, on your front page, your mentioning all these membership levels and money etc without even telling them what they get. I'd advise you don't even mention the other membership levels AT ALL. Use a single tagline, like I mentioned above, they will sign up , give you the email addy., and once inside they are already qualified and much more likely to buy.

The search on the front page is a great idea. Drop the Script to make things glow, if you want to do that do an animated .gif. Sorry I have to cut this short, company is here.

[DigitalJay]

The site is great, but the graphics DO take way to long to load. I also am not crazy about the dark blue links on the front page (when u type the domain without index.php) There should be a plain, light colored Enter link somewhere.

I think your prices are right on, and the highly detailed search is awesome. The only suggestion I can think of for features to add, would be a "featured member" or something similar on the front page. Feature one of the hottest guys profile each week/month, make the link open in a new window. That way anyone surfing through is one simple click away from seeing the kind of men featured on the site, the layout and style of profile pages, etc.

[Dzinerbear]

Just quickly ... I can't do more than that at the moment, but I'll look at it later.

Your logo could use some work. Alex, your logo is so important. It gives the surfer a first impression. I think you have a lot going for you on the site ... the colours are hot. But you're logo is overwhelming.

You just spent a whopping amount of money on a mailer, perhaps you could spend a couple of hundred and get a logo design. http://www.kinkydwarf.com has done some good work for me, but he tends to do cartoon characters so maybe that's not your style. But I'm sure there are some good places in the GWW directory that can give you a hand with that. (The money I spent with KD was the best I've ever invested, I'm so happy with the logo he did for one of my sites.)

Cheers,
Dzinerbear

[Scorpio]

Alex, at least change the logo... it won't hurt at all. And frankly, ANYTHING would be better than what you have right now.

Just my 2 cents

[DigitalJay]

I made you a new one, it's got the same dimensions but it's smaller, and I think sexier :p

I like keeping the logos really simple, something like this would be hot. With maybe a tagline under it like "Where all the hot men cum 4 sex" or something.

[Scorpio]

I made you a new one, it's got the same dimensions but it's smaller, and I think sexier :p

I like keeping the logos really simple, something like this would be hot. With maybe a tagline under it like "Where all the hot men cum 4 sex" or something.

yeah it's gonna look clean and fit the template better.

[caliente4sex]

Thanks guys... taking notes here... :coffee:

[DigitalJay]

Actually, I think the tagline would look good above it. Instead of men, you could put "Hot men who are..." right over the logo.

[caliente4sex]

I made you a new one, it's got the same dimensions but it's smaller, and I think sexier :p

I like keeping the logos really simple, something like this would be hot. With maybe a tagline under it like "Where all the hot men cum 4 sex" or something.

Hi DigitalJay

Thanks for the logo... can you make it so it says just

MENCALIENTE.com and the word men in color white... please. I am going to move my site to this domain. Thanks.

Alex

[DigitalJay]

Like this? These are just samples btw, I highly recommend asking for some designer referals from regulars or mods here. You'll notice a big difference between what I can do and what a true designer can do, they'll really polish your logo and make it unique and eye catching. If you are making those kind of sales, it would definately be worth your time and money to get a pro logo.

[DigitalJay]

Here, I updated your affiliate button too

can you guys tell I like playing with graphics?

[Dzinerbear]

caliente4sex,

Just wondering how you found the review of your site? Did you implement some of the ideas? Is it helping? Too early to tell?

Anything we could have done differently to make the process more meaningful to you?

Cheers
Dzinerbear