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ahehe7 New user 14 Posts |
I just launched my new site, I worked with a designer on it but I built it out myself these past few months. I would greatly appreciate any and all feedback on it!
Website: https://allenhemagician.com |
Fedora Special user Arizona, usa 746 Posts |
Hey allen, glad to see you brought back the thread,
i believe it was lost in the maintenance January 5th. to recap some of the things said before in case you missed it, I found that it looked good but it loads a little slow on my browser, about 14 seconds, a website shouldn't take much more than 5 generally. Though it could just be the computer I'm using. danny doyle pointed out that Your target market is unspecific, I suggested a "services" section before "why allen" I believe it was tim Snyder who had issue with your "about" section, it mentions that you don't do magic full time, it also mentions tater tots for some reason. Someone also had issue with your images listing where they're from, I don't recall the reason so perhaps they'll reiterate. That's the thread the best I can remember it. |
arthur stead Inner circle When I played soccer, I hit 1773 Posts |
I also suggested a small adjustment in your Welcome section. Instead of saying, “He has won two local competition titles,” get rid of the word "local" and write, “He has won two magic competition titles.”
And I agree with Fedora that the opening page takes too long to load. Other than that, looks great! |
ahehe7 New user 14 Posts |
Quote:
On Jan 13, 2022, Fedora wrote: Thanks for pulling this information! I did miss it and was wondering why it had disappeared but thought it was an issue from my end. I'm going to run through these notes and see how I can make adjustments. I think these are really good points for starters, A service section does make sense. What is your internet speed, and computer + browser you are using if you don't mind me asking? I ask because I had a few testers run this website for me on mobile devices as well and did not have any issues loading. It is mostly due to the video that I've included, but I have tried my best to optimize them for even slower internet speeds. |
Fedora Special user Arizona, usa 746 Posts |
Hopefully some more folks will test with a diversity of
computers to make sure, my Internet shouldn't be gone by, download speed is 3.3 mbps which is the low side, it's about equivalent to a public wifi. my browser is custom, it's similar to safari, so you may want to check with a mac. |
Fedora Special user Arizona, usa 746 Posts |
One other thing allen,
i noticed you have perfect reviews from google and yelp, it's mentioned on the site but in testimonials all the way at the bottom. might be worth mentioning that fact on the landing page, a little more prominently. or at least at the top of testimonials. |
Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21219 Posts |
I will say one thing about testimonials. Well maybe more than one let’s see.
Has anyone ever put up a testimonial that want self serving in some way? I mean my lord just be putting it up without reading it I can practically tell you exactly what it is going to say. I know magicians are told to put all sorts of stock in testimonials as audio proof and yada yada but just hope much of an impact do they have on a buyer on a web page? Nobody can or ever Does track them down. I have seen sites with hundreds of them! Do people read through it thinking “well Mary from Omaha really liked the show so it is right for me.”? I just don’t see the real connection and the vast amount of importance people place on them I guess is my point. Please nobody speak gurusplain this phenomenon to me. I’m just curious as to why this seems to be a staple of every single site to almost a joke level?
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
Fedora Special user Arizona, usa 746 Posts |
Good point danny, I never cared much for testimonials myself,
but marketers claim they work, one survey found that 90+ percent of folks read testimonials before making a purchase. another study found a 50+ increase in revenue with the inclusion of testimonials. it's worth mentioning that most of these studies come from marketers, so take some salt with it. celebrity endorsements are likely more effective than "Barbara T of tempe" Jason suran has a particularly good testimonial from jack devine, it's placed on the top of the landing page so google would place it In the snippet. |
landmark Inner circle within a triangle 5194 Posts |
Danny, I can only speak as a consumer to your point regarding testimonials. Even though half of the "reviews" on Amazon are made up, I still take them into account on some level. I think testimonials are valuable on a website, not so much as to what they specifically say, as to indicate a level of engagement with previous customers. In other words, at least some previous customers thought it was worth their time to give their positive opinion. It's not a major factor for me, but it does help to add to the sense of legitimacy to my mind. But, no, it doesn't have to be something overloaded with info.
Click here to get Gerald Deutsch's Perverse Magic: The First Sixteen Years
All proceeds to Open Heart Magic charity. |
ahehe7 New user 14 Posts |
Thanks Fedora! I think that's actually a pretty good suggestion to move it the links up top.
Dannydoyle, I think it serves as nothing more than supplemental evidence of what you do and also gives a very slight outsider's perspective to a website that I ultimately wrote about myself (even though that is still technically the case). I imagine my page without the Testimonial section would feel a bit lopsided as it's just me talking about me. You raise a great point though, majority of people probably will not read through it, but in the event that someone is on the fence about booking or is just initially gaining interest, I think having these sorts of testimonials can only boost your odds, even if it is marginally. |
arthur stead Inner circle When I played soccer, I hit 1773 Posts |
Danny, to your point about testimonials: When I was still performing, I admittedly overdid the client quotes page on my website (even though they were all legitimate, unsolicited comments). But I also included a very good, one-sentence testimonial on the opening page, right underneath my stage name.
That said, I got very few bookings through my website. Word of mouth is so much better. However, I did receive several compliments about my testimonials page! |
Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21219 Posts |
I’m intrigued by the idea of knowing half are fake and still reading and listening to them! Wow.
And yea a marketing company that encourages testimonials says they work. Hmmm. Supplemental evidence? I guess. As for the page being all about you, well who are they trying to hire? Wouldn’t it be about you entirely? I don’t see the problem there. And as I said you can practically write them yourself before you read what they are going to say and you will be quite close. They ask say the same thing, sometimes in the same words. Heck some of the stupid courses give you verbiage for the customer to write.
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
Tim Snyder Regular user Chicago, IL 112 Posts |
Yes, I have an issue with your ABOUT page. I find it odd that I have to click on the "Click here to learn about the magic" bar. I would replace the entire paragraph that shows up on the ABOUT page instantly (Allen He started... and tator tots) with everything that shows up when you click the "Click here to learn about the magic" link (Allen is often... East Coast). That leaves one less link for visitors to have to click and the two paragraphs it directs too are much better than the first paragraph that is a little too personal.
My second suggestion is regarding your Gallery page. It is not worth changing, but in the future I wouldn't label photos. Let the viewer interpret the photo. A customer can look at a photo and think, "Yes, that is what I want him to do!" Without labels the photos can be interpreted an infinite number of ways. Showing that you have done infinite types of events. It is especially unnecessary in your case because of your extensive testimonial page which duplicates some of the labels that you see when you hover over your pictures. |
Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21219 Posts |
Let the viewer interpret the photo.
Almost every web page I’ve seen needs to heed this wonderful advice. Well said!
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
Logimar New user USA 3 Posts |
If I were a customer and went directly to your site, I would love it. It looks beautiful.
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Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21219 Posts |
But the difference in loving the site and having the site move you to action and purchase is a significant difference. A difference far too many do not seem to understand. I’m not saying this site would it would not be effective, only that it is a different standard.
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
Tom Cutts Staff Northern CA 5925 Posts |
The overall technical aspects of the site are rather elegant and delightful. The one contradiction to this is the opening page on my iPad. It lands on blankness and your logo. There is nothing human, nor exciting, nor personal about that. Perhaps a light image (probably quarter tone or there about) as a backdrop to your logo showing people enjoying your magic would liven that up.
I agree that the “descriptions” in your photo gallery are out of sorts. However, I think “interpret” is a slightly misplaced word. If you leave them to interpret your site, you loose control of them. For instance, some of your photos might be interpreted by some as having been shot in your own back yard with family and friends filling in. The point of the site is to LEAD them to hire you. I think a better word would be to allow your visitors to inject themselves into your photo, or inject you into their event. THAT is truly what you want and I’m guessing what others meant. In a traditional sales site you never want to leave them to interpret because you will lose some of them. Now, if you are super busy that may be fine and it could be an interesting funnel filter. But most magic sites want as much traction as they can get. Last thing you want is people looking at a photo and thinking “that looks like this...” or “that looks that...” and those things are not us. Unless, of course, you are trying to weed out those people who you know can’t afford you. So again, those descriptions were rather dry and over specific. If the picture doesn’t immediately communicate “elegant outdoor event” or “important casual family event”, then some expertly written copy CAN gracefully do that without overdoing it. I have two more broader comments. The site feels very analytical, in great part due to the dry and analytical descriptions of photos and the copywriting. I would suggest you hire a professional to rewrite the copy on your site to make it less analytical. My final suggestion you can implement right away, and it will give you some idea of how to make things more fun and less analytical. I would change both the link wording and the header of your “About” section. I would change “About” to “Who Is He”, and that is the title I would have on the page which the link opens. Let those who are inclined to find the clever play on words, do so; and let those who are not skip right on by it. Don’t point it out. Don’t make a big deal about it. Those who realize it are likely to feel a small beginning of a connection with you. Having said that, you have lived with that name and this may be a worn out cliché to you. If that is the case, feel free to skip it. I would completely empathize with you in that situation where people’s first “clever” idea about your name is brought up every day. I do, however, think there might be something in a mystery performer using the tag line “Who Is He?” |
ed rhodes Inner circle Rhode Island 2885 Posts |
Nice. I am jealous.
"...and if you're too afraid of goin' astray, you won't go anywhere." - Granny Weatherwax
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Neobuck New user 4 Posts |
It's so nice to hear different perspectives. I really enjoyed your site. I am in the minority here it seems, because I enjoyed the mouseovers providing information of the event being shown in your gallery. It could be that I'm just an information sponge, but knowing the particulars about something can sometimes trigger a different train of thought and new possibilities to explore.
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