Comments on: Fashion-Incubator: Community Consulting Summary

By: 66tx

66tx — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 04:41:12 +0000

I think it needs still SEO.

By: Brock

Brock — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 21:42:50 +0000

I’m not really a “pro” blogger but I started reading ProBlogger recently and have found it very helpful and relevant to my blog. This consulting series (this being the only post in it that I’ve read) is a great example.

I think you made an important point about the Amazon books. I can understand her reluctance to change that since she views them as important resources. But I think the current layout is doing them a disservice. Having a separate page with bigger pictures and book titles, and maybe a 1-2 sentence description or opinion by Kathleen would be very helpful to me if I was considering buying a book. Sure, you can look at that information on the Amazon page, but I would rather see it in a condensed form side by side with the other books she is featuring. She could still link to this page with a prominent link on her main page.

Also, I couldn’t agree more about the styling of the post headlines. The combination of date, title, and then subtitle (for archive posts) made me a little dizzy.

A good site, and I’m sure it will be amazing when all of these recommendations are implemented.

By: Caitlin

Caitlin — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 21:55:55 +0000

I found it somewhat amusing how most of the commenters on the Fashion-Incubator side of things were so against any of the comments made here at ProBlogger. Many of them were annoyed that people here did not instantly know what F-I was about, and so urged Kathleen to discount any advice from the people here who didn’t know what it was.
To me, the fact that people could not tell right away what F-I was about is a huge problem for F-I itself, and I think the “What is it?” point above should be taken very seriously.

I’m glad Cathy won; I felt her comment was very insightful and helpful.
Sure, the people who read F-I every day know what it’s about, and know where to find things, but what about the poor newbies who could just be getting frustrated and leaving? I don’t understand the resistance to trying to help them figure you out when they first reach the site.

By: The Opinionated Blogger

The Opinionated Blogger — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 14:22:17 +0000

Great coverage and overall review. I really liked how you took your own ideas and mixed it with the communities.

By: MG

MG — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 13:51:32 +0000

I like it, maybe needs more SEO, but it’s good.

By: Skellie

Skellie — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 12:56:43 +0000

@ Paul: It was a factor, definitely. You get a certain level of seriousness and dedication when you need to give something in order to receive.

By: Paul William Tenny

Paul William Tenny — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 11:59:54 +0000

Sorry to change the topic, but I just looked back at the previous consulting summary and noticed that the Sourcebench guy hasn’t updated his site in over a month. I wonder if him wasting everyones time was one of the reasons this now costs money.

By: Live Crunch

Live Crunch — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 07:03:14 +0000

I think it needs still SEO.

N’ways good overview. Am I next? :)

By: Bradly Fletchall

Bradly Fletchall — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 06:26:34 +0000

I think it would be pretty cool to revisit these sites in a few months or longer and re-review them or maybe you could interview the blogger to see how the feedback they received here helped them. You could find out if they made more or less money and find out how they implemented the suggestions.

By: johnCard

johnCard — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 04:51:50 +0000

the design still needs tweaking.

By: Max Powers

Max Powers — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 04:14:13 +0000

I love this because it’s easy to compare everything mentioned about Fashion Incubator to my own website.

What could be better than getting free input and learning from others comments on how to improve your blog.

By: Fashion By Jenni

Fashion By Jenni — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 02:47:44 +0000

I enjoyed the way you made the information not only helpful for Kathleen, but when I read it I found ways I could apply the information to my own blog. I agree with the part about removing the calendar. Whenever I view a calandar I never click on it, because I don’t know what kind of posts are on each day and if I will be intrested in them. It seems like a waste of space and top is such a prominate spot to be wasted.

By: Alex Sysoef

Alex Sysoef — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 01:56:24 +0000

I think your point on more vibrant looks is perhaps the most important. “The Look” is what makes people to decide if they even want to stay, considering the niche this blog is targeting – I think it becomes even more crucial!

I know we are not supposed to make evaluations based on first impression but in my personal experience it makes big difference on retention of your first time visitors.

Alex