Muse feedback

[EditorDude]

Please check out this link:-

http://www.sevenmoments.net/screenplay.html

- and offer some feedback. Don't worry, this isn't my site, so I wont take it personally LOL - but I have a muse in development which is along these lines (not about scripting). So it would be helpful to get some thoughts on what is wrong here, what could be improved and how - and is the marketing strategy and solution appropriate or not etc. Thanks.

PS: Be aware that the link above is for a 'live' site so don't buy anything by mistake LOL

[Caesar_X]

Hi there,

I checked the site out and had some feedback on it. It requires a plug-in (to play audio?) which is always a bad sign. Overall the content wasn't bad, but the site felt a little spammy. Funny enough, I think that is because there were no ads on it! We get so used to reading people's blogs and commercial websites that we get very comfortable with seeing Google AdSense.

But overall, it felt like a site designed to get me to purchase something rather than one designed to inform me, if you get the difference?

[EditorDude]

Thanks Caesar - so do you think there should be more theme based content that the user would find interesting and useful and then drop in a link to sell the ebook?

[Caesar_X]

I meant that the site isn't structured like a "normal" website, or even a blog. It's obviously structured as a website version of a direct mail letter. It exists only to get you to push the buy button.

That may work for some people, but personally I prefer seeing an actual structured website with links to multiple pages and the content spread out more and even a few Google ads. There will be plenty of places on a site like that to add links to the eBook.

With style sheets, it's very simple to add more webpages and add content. So why not make the site look legit?

[webgal]

He's done a sales letter style. And it looks nice, by the way. But there is a target market for the sales letter and one for the menu driven like you mentioned Caesar. I wrote about it on my blog in case you are interested.

Sales Letter or Menu Driven? (http://webpreppro.com/blog/index.php/2008/03/04/sales-letter-or-menu-driven-website/)

[Caesar_X]

Thanks for the link, Webgal. I was just giving my personal opinion on sales letters. I'm glad to see they do well in some cases.

[ShadowFax]

Hi there,

I think having some customer reviews would help a great deal. It makes your system more believable and more legit. Other then that.. great job.

[webgal]

Caeser_X, there are many who feel like you do. That's ok. There are markets just like you who feel that way and it's important to know who they are. I do mostly menu-driven sites and have a preference for that style. But sales letters do work and I have written those, too. It's simply important to identify your market and know what they will respond to.

Writing effective websites is all about defining a target market. So is all advertising, PR and marketing.

[Vagabond]

Hey,

I think the cost is way too low. For $16.99 i wouldnt be expecting anything that will blow me away..

Premium price is... $49 or $79 or even $97...

Also.. I think youre burying the lead here..

"What I am: I’m a short-fiction writer turned movie enthusiast, with an analytical and critical eye. I’m your audience. I'm also an indepedent film producer who built his own studio from the ground up. I produced three, 90-minute films and handled every step of the process from concept to writing, auditioning, directing, editing, replication, and finally to signing a distribution deal. Not too mention, I've produced over two dozen short films. In short, I've already been where you're probably trying to go. "

I think that first sentence is the weakest qualification... anyone can call themselves a short-fiction writer or movie enthusiast. But having handled all the aspects of production AND signed a production deal! THAT makes you someone I want to listen to.

[EditorDude]

Thanks everyone - please keep your feedback coming. For this sort of business, what is a good marketing strategy - blog, emailing... or what?
Much appreciated.