Testing Blog features

DJ

Conversion Optimization / Fund Shortage

I totally forgot to write in this yesterday!!

Anyhow, since I can’t remember what happened yesterday, I’ll just write todays accounts.

I am eagerly waiting to do the QA (quality assessment) for KEMS.TV tomorrow. This is the first time for me to actually see the site live and be able to test out the functionality.  (I’m just hoping there was a purpose in this delay…)

I just received a v-mail and a email from my developer that he still needs info on the directories b/c the ftp client is not letting him upload or edit the directory which means he won’t be able to do the proper uploads tonight to meet our deadline for tomorrow’s QA… which means I will not be able to see the site again… Another delay… (this upload process has taken 3 months!!!) Anyhow, I think the problem was resolved. Please please… let this upload process be finally finalized!!!

Two days ago, I received an email from a friend of mine who has started his own online company. He shared information on “Conversion Optimization”. It was a HUGE eye opener for me and it made me rethink the whole layout and functionality of KEMS.TV…

Conversion Optimization is about creating an experience for a website visitor w/ the goal of converting the visitor into a customer. In my case, into a subscriber/member of our site.

Optimization requires daily review of analytical data which could include:
-customer data/3rd party data
-numeric/text-bassed
-nominal/ordinal
(data could be based on geography, contextual, frequency, demographic, behavioral, customer, etc)

From analyzing data and testing the different theories in real time will help us make better decisions on what works and what does not. Which will eventually help us to clearly define our business goals and how we can achieve those goals in the most efficient and productive manner.

Right now, we have google analytics set up w/ KEMS.TV which we will use simultaneously w/ google website optimizer and google Adsense.

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My mind right now is very messy… this is my first time doing something like this… and I lack every possible requirement to make it work. Top three reasons why it won’t work:

1. I am working by myself…
2. I am not an expert in this field…
3. I don’t have money

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I have also read “Design website for Increased ROI” which I found pretty helpful for this novice.

To sum up what I learned:
1. use active words throughout the site:
“learn” “ask” “browse” “signup”
-use “you” “your” instead of “we” “our”
2. get first click
-keep things short and to the point
3. call visitor to action
-make sure they always know what to do next.
-don’t give them too many choices
-add calls to action on every page
“learn more” “help me choose” “compare” “next step”
-gently lead them through the conversion path
4. simplify conversion steps
-consider how much info visitor will ask for and don’t overwhelm w/ too much info

MAXIMUM ROI = Effective Marketing + Content Optimization

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Getting that Conversion Click
1. design custom landing pages
-create SPECIFIC landing pgs for every AD & paid search term
-DO NOT INCLUDE NAVIGATION BAR on landing pg b/c it can distract from your conversion step to goal
-make sure to include branding elements that will help visitor know who we are & what we are offering
2. Images – Size matters!
-have clear sizable images in full color
-pic of ppl can also increase conversion rate
3. Gain trust
- place 3rd party endorsement on landing pgs
4. Keep registration forms simple
-keep font size over 10pt type
-use one column of copy
5. Newsletter subscription
–keep registration short and simple
-limit field to 6-7 fields
-include email privacy info

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Anyhow, one of the things on the list of To-Dos today was setting my monthly and yrly budget. The only problem is that, I don’t have much to last more than a month! I’m in deep trouble…

I have a monthly budget of $3,896 going out each month…
-Hosting: $250/m
-Emails: $19.95/m
-Server Admin: $25/m
-Development: $2,095/m

not only that, this coming Feb is the last month of my renters… that means I’ll have a lot of cash going out…
-citiMortgage: $1,000/m
-HOA: $300/m
-security deposit: $2,700/m

I’m in deep trouble… b/c I don’t have the cash for all of that!!! So budgeting is completely out the window right now…

Other things on my list of To-Dos before tomorrow is defining keywords in En/Kr (10 each). I am still thinking if I should do this by geographic regions/demographic/language/… b/c we are a niche market, I am thinking maybe to start very specific…

Next, define brand/subtext. Right now, I do have a kems.tv logo and the subtext is Asian American info & Entertainment network… It’s so long.. It will be on every page… and I’m wondering if those are the right key words for the subtext…

Next, define user/visitor/customer…

sigh… I’m definitely over my head…

bad good times?

I decided to start a real blog.. a real blog? yes… a REAL blog that I hope will last the span of my period here in SJ.. I call this the real blog b/c I have several lost blogs somewhere in the great world wide web that I’ve started but kept it up for I don’t know.. .couple of entries.. just to start new ones again with the same sad ending…

But this time it is real.. after chatting w/ a friend in Italy via skype about our current happenstance (which you will know as you read this blog), I decided the best way to keep my sanity intact, trace my progress, personally and professionally would be to keep a disciplined form of a blog – being very transparent… I almost want to give a third point perspective on the situation so that I can criticize, praise and laugh at myself… but really, right now I feel like I’m me, myself, and I here… argh..

Anyhow, my rule of thumb is to keep things short and only do one entry per day at the end of the day… b/c knowing myself, I will do all the entries all at once and stop. So, in the spirit of discipline.. I came up w/ a few rules that I need to follow:

1. only one entry per day at the end of the day, make sure to write everyday even if it is one sentence

2. be as objective and descriptive as possible whether that means using words, pictures, videos, etc… but make sure everything written comes from my own train of thought..

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on that note, I leave w/ a thought:

when a person becomes broken, he is not made incapable but capable to do the work that seems impossible.

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