Know-How Exchange : Website Critique

From a golfer's point of view:

I've heard these "magic cure" promises a dozen times before. Doesn't matter if this is unique in YOUR eyes. It sounds like all the others to me.

You say it's easy, but then you want me to spend a hundred bucks (plus shipping, no less) to get a book and a video and an audiotape to learn it. Doesn't sound right.

If this is such a great idea, why aren't the golf pros picking this up and teaching it? And who are these testimonials from ... real people? Are they ashamed to let you use their names/pictures?

As for the site itself:

The dark background makes it hard to read and makes the message seem dark/sinister as well. Where are the scenic golf courses and the happy golfers?

The order page is very confusing. What are those drop-down boxes for? What do they mean? Too many options for shipping.

And if you're going to introduce the author, how about a picture ... maybe even a video ... and a bio, so I can have some confidence in him.

And the site is very masculine. Are you suggesting that the product is just for men, not for women? (That's OK if it's intentional.)

Dear Wayde,

From a golfer's point of view:

No vision of seeing myself on the green, winning the back nine or, come to think of it, winning the US Open.

No social proof (testimonials) without digging for it.

No greens, tartan trousers, or sunny gold courses. In fact.
No images to suggest golf other than a tee and a ball.

Seduce me with the golfiness of the product.

As for the site:

The black background is kind of dark and Dracula-like in its sinister feel. Did someone die?

Sadly Wayde, the order page is a mess.
For simple shopping cart solutions try:

www.volusion.com
www.1shoppingcart.com

Consider offering free shipping and a clearer description of shipping. With things as they are I'm not inclined to order, let alone deal with shipping.

How about an image of, and an introduction from the creator
of the product?

And I agree with Michael, your customers are men and women. Appeal to both. See my other comments in your other post.

Again, I hope these comments help you succeed. Good luck.

Gary Bloomer
Wilmington, DE, USA

Follow me on www.twitter.com/GaryBloomer

re-post with edit

Wayde,

As a golfer, I would tell a slicing beginner to "put his right foot back a little in the stance, re-grip the club so the face closed a little or was slightly hooded and make good contact." The beginner would probably pull the shot, but the slice would be gone. The point is all golfers have many dozens of cures for every aspect of club swinging and game management. Whenever somebody claims something completely new, it usually lacks credibility. So I think establishing credibility is your primary mission.

Is the site professional? Honestly, it really doesn't have a professional polish. Remember, web surfers see hundreds of sites, some costing tens of thousand of dollars to create and maintain. The "expectations" are very high from the point-of-view of the consumer (golfer).

This competitors site seems to move more towards a professional standard.

https://www.oneplanegolfswing.com/

hope this helps,

Steve

It wasn't clear to me exactly what you were selling at first, turns out it is a book package, which is fine, but it took me a few clicks to even figure that out.

How about lowering the price to $99 and asking a question on the first page such as "would you spend $100 to improve your golf game by X strokes?" blah, blah

I didn't care for how the text comes up on most pages with a white box around it.

Golfers aren't looking for a "confident swing" - they're looking for a lower score, less pain, etc. So, instead of selling confidence, sell guranTeed (pun intended) success. Perhaps your client's product could (also) be repackaged as "the easiest way to learn to play golf" for the whole family.

Others have commented on the light text/black background. Given your demographic - it's something worth paying attention to. Here are some resources about increasing readability:

https://www.lighthouse.org/accessibility/legible
https://www.markboulton.co.uk/journal/comments/five_simple_steps_to_better_...

I am certaily no expert, but I am a golfer and in the golf business. I love the site and the concept - period. I've also seen thousands of golf gimmicks (good and bad) come and go, but the successful ones ALL have TWO things in common. PERSISTENT, OMNIPRESENT MARKETING and a PRO ENDORSEMENT. They can't be bad sites - but the web presence just does not appear to have the impact the two aforementioned factors do.

I know a popular PGA Pro who might consider an endorsement after reading the books and trying the process. Check him out www.holeinoneking.com or email him at mancil@holeinoneking.com

Good luck with the book - I'm thinking of buying myself!!

have you considered more of a franchise approach? For example, Colonel Sanders could have written a book about how to fry chicken. Rather than publishing a recipe of his special herbs and spices, he licensed the process and his organization still makes money on every piece of chicken sold today. Would it be possible to brand the process, and to have certified instructors, similar to the way the guerrilla marketing organization has certified instructors?