Comments on: Why I Am Comfortable with Web Site Clinics http://www.smallbusinesssem.com/why-im-comfortable-site-clinics/1742/ Because not everyone can throw thousands of dollars at the 'How do we market ourselves online?' question... Thu, 09 Feb 2012 02:57:14 +0000 hourly 1 By: Chris http://www.smallbusinesssem.com/why-im-comfortable-site-clinics/1742/#comment-270170 Chris Fri, 29 Apr 2011 05:32:52 +0000 http://www.smallbusinesssem.com/?p=1742#comment-270170 This was a great article. Thanks for writing it. :) I believe there are some things (like you say, on page SEO etc) that are quite easy to spot and improve upon. But things like usability can even be subjective. These things really need to target the end user. And that may not be me so who am I to say if it's "usable" or not? At the end of the day the client/user/buyer is the person it has to work for. And only testing and asking can find that out. Chris This was a great article. Thanks for writing it. :)

I believe there are some things (like you say, on page SEO etc) that are quite easy to spot and improve upon. But things like usability can even be subjective. These things really need to target the end user. And that may not be me so who am I to say if it’s “usable” or not?

At the end of the day the client/user/buyer is the person it has to work for. And only testing and asking can find that out.

Chris

]]> By: Julie http://www.smallbusinesssem.com/why-im-comfortable-site-clinics/1742/#comment-259329 Julie Thu, 17 Mar 2011 13:42:48 +0000 http://www.smallbusinesssem.com/?p=1742#comment-259329 Usually a lot of action points for improvement can be found within the first few minutes of looking at a website. So many websites are missing out on opportunities due to things like a lack of CRO etc. It's good to be able to identify things quickly! It gets trickier when the site has underlying issues. Usually a lot of action points for improvement can be found within the first few minutes of looking at a website. So many websites are missing out on opportunities due to things like a lack of CRO etc. It’s good to be able to identify things quickly! It gets trickier when the site has underlying issues.

]]> By: Matt McGee http://www.smallbusinesssem.com/why-im-comfortable-site-clinics/1742/#comment-128362 Matt McGee Sun, 15 Mar 2009 21:33:34 +0000 http://www.smallbusinesssem.com/?p=1742#comment-128362 I thought about that when I wrote the post, Gradiva -- was wondering who would call me on it. :) To me, maybe 5% of all companies have such a strong brand that they can use their company at the front of the page title. And in this quick example, I was writing with the assumption those companies wouldn't be attending a Site Review clinic. ;-) I thought about that when I wrote the post, Gradiva — was wondering who would call me on it. :)

To me, maybe 5% of all companies have such a strong brand that they can use their company at the front of the page title. And in this quick example, I was writing with the assumption those companies wouldn’t be attending a Site Review clinic. ;-)

]]> By: Gradiva Couzin http://www.smallbusinesssem.com/why-im-comfortable-site-clinics/1742/#comment-127987 Gradiva Couzin Sun, 15 Mar 2009 04:09:34 +0000 http://www.smallbusinesssem.com/?p=1742#comment-127987 Hi Matt! I agree with you on the whole - there is a TON of useful information that can come out of a 10 minute review. When you've been doing SEO for a decade, there are some things that just pop right out at you. However, your SEO example: "You have your company name at the beginning of your page titles. Those should be at the end" makes me think of an example to the contrary. One client of mine in particular has a large amount of brand loyalty, a major competitor who has nearly identical page titles, and rather long product names which their CMS requires be included in toto. Here's an example where I believe keeping their brand prior to the rest of the titles really works best. It's a judgment call which couldn't be made in the 10 minutes you get at site clinic. I just signed up for SMX advanced in Seattle - hope to see you there! Gradiva Hi Matt!
I agree with you on the whole – there is a TON of useful information that can come out of a 10 minute review. When you’ve been doing SEO for a decade, there are some things that just pop right out at you.

However, your SEO example: “You have your company name at the beginning of your page titles. Those should be at the end” makes me think of an example to the contrary. One client of mine in particular has a large amount of brand loyalty, a major competitor who has nearly identical page titles, and rather long product names which their CMS requires be included in toto. Here’s an example where I believe keeping their brand prior to the rest of the titles really works best. It’s a judgment call which couldn’t be made in the 10 minutes you get at site clinic.

I just signed up for SMX advanced in Seattle – hope to see you there!

Gradiva

]]> By: Kim Krause Berg http://www.smallbusinesssem.com/why-im-comfortable-site-clinics/1742/#comment-125821 Kim Krause Berg Mon, 09 Mar 2009 23:02:31 +0000 http://www.smallbusinesssem.com/?p=1742#comment-125821 All great points and well described! I think we both make a good case. I think small businesses are smart to get advice and with their limited budgets, free may be all they can afford, or a 5 minute alarm check. I wished to get site owners thinking. It's typical for new ones to approach anyone and ask, "What do you think of my new web site" and not understand what they're asking, or how to apply the feedback they get. Some have no idea if the feedback is accurate. All great points and well described! I think we both make a good case. I think small businesses are smart to get advice and with their limited budgets, free may be all they can afford, or a 5 minute alarm check.

I wished to get site owners thinking. It’s typical for new ones to approach anyone and ask, “What do you think of my new web site” and not understand what they’re asking, or how to apply the feedback they get. Some have no idea if the feedback is accurate.

]]> By: Karl Foxley http://www.smallbusinesssem.com/why-im-comfortable-site-clinics/1742/#comment-125666 Karl Foxley Mon, 09 Mar 2009 11:21:12 +0000 http://www.smallbusinesssem.com/?p=1742#comment-125666 It's so very true that an experienced eye can give you some great info in a ten-minute view of your site. It is also true that a 'deeper' look into the 'under-the-hood' workings of a site and the end-user-experience takes a bit longer... The combination of the two will give you some great feedback to work with. Another source of insightful information for your site is to let a total internet 'newbie' loose on your webpages; one of the best tests for ease-of-navigation testing around'. Give the user a few tasks and see how easy they complete them. Thanks for posting, Karl It’s so very true that an experienced eye can give you some great info in a ten-minute view of your site.

It is also true that a ‘deeper’ look into the ‘under-the-hood’ workings of a site and the end-user-experience takes a bit longer…

The combination of the two will give you some great feedback to work with.

Another source of insightful information for your site is to let a total internet ‘newbie’ loose on your webpages; one of the best tests for ease-of-navigation testing around’. Give the user a few tasks and see how easy they complete them.

Thanks for posting,

Karl

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