1 registered user for every 100 unique visitors.. help!

ticketauction · #1 (**permalink**) 09-26-2004, 11:35 PM

Hi I run the site Ticket-Auction.net Our traffic is around 150 unique visitors a day and 1600 page views. We run an auction site so signups are crucial and for some reason we only get about 1 in every 100 new visitors to sign up.

I am confused because all of our traffic is highly targeted. The majority of our visiotrs come from search engines on the searches 'ticket auction' or 'ticket auctions' and all the sites that link to us also include a description. The average visitor looks at 7 pages so I don't think they are hitting the home page and leaving so what is the issue?! Is it trust? Is it design? Please help!

ArnoldoT · #2 (**permalink**) 09-27-2004, 05:48 AM

how about a link (image or text) called
"Register for FREE"?

i dont really like the design, but... there is nothing wrong with it either. maybe i just dont like online auctions.. hehe, sorry, no pun intended

im not sure if the registration has a fee, if it does.. thats why you are not getting more people in, but try changing the "register" for something more attractive... like "register for free"

that should help a little

good luck

janeth · #3 (**permalink**) 09-27-2004, 02:29 PM

I would play around with the design and layout of the site some.

Along with text and the way it is linked.

But 150 is not very many.

ticketauction · #4 (**permalink**) 09-27-2004, 04:05 PM

thanks, in what way could I change the layout and design of the site? (when I submitted the site to have the design reviewed everyone seemed to think it was fine...)

Also, I will try changing the link to say register for free, because it is free. And I know 150 is not many per day but with over 8000 auctions on the site and 150 targeted visitors a day I think I should be getting more then one signup...

bhwebby · #5 (**permalink**) 09-27-2004, 05:36 PM

Featured auctions could be much higher on the page.

Shrink "HOT TICKET" section to 1/4 the height.

Your logo "Aution.net" on other pages should take you directly back home.

Highlight Free Registration.

Tighten up the use of space on your website.

Good luck.

Rosalind · #6 (**permalink**) 09-27-2004, 06:20 PM

Like forums, something like this will be affected by the network effect. If there are few people in the network it won't be worth it for many people to join, so they won't bother.

Design-wise there's a little too much vertical scrolling, so it's not too easy to read. You might point out the benefits of signing up, because even if it's obvious it helps to make a call to action.

ticketauction · #7 (**permalink**) 09-27-2004, 09:23 PM

Thanks guys, I am going to start with the logo linking to the homepage, I cannot believe I dont have that doing it right now.

Quote:

Like forums, something like this will be affected by the network effect. If there are few people in the network it won't be worth it for many people to join, so they won't bother.

As for my network we know that this is a huge issue, so we got sellers first. There are over 8000 auctions on the site for almost all major events in the country so I dont think that a lack of tickets is scaring buyers away.

Quote:

You might point out the benefits of signing up, because even if it's obvious it helps to make a call to action.

This sounds like a great idea, I tried to do this in my 'whats new box' BUT that is probably not a prominent enough place to put it. Where else would I put the 'benefits/call to action'

Thanks again

ticketauction · #8 (**permalink**) 09-28-2004, 09:55 PM

*bump* (this is very important and interesting to me so all feedback is appreciated!)

cyanide · #9 (**permalink**) 09-28-2004, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ticketauction

thanks, in what way could I change the layout and design of the site? (when I submitted the site to have the design reviewed everyone seemed to think it was fine...)

Whoever said your site was fine, should have their head examined. It is far from fine and is exactly why you are not converting.
SEO doesn't mean a thing if you can't convert visitors to users/buyers, as you are finding out.

Your frontpage, being the most important, should be your number 1 priority. As mentioned above, it's way too long.

First you make me scroll down 4 pages, then after clicking a few of those links that lead nowhere(a faq / search box) - I'm feeling pretty frustrated and annoyed at this point, and I'm looking for a quick exit.

Your script and the general look of your site needs some revisions. I found myself blankly staring at most of the pages, not really knowing what to do.

You are definitely not doing anything to encourage sign ups.

I like your logo, though

ticketauction · #10 (**permalink**) 09-29-2004, 07:08 AM

Quote:

Your frontpage, being the most important, should be your number 1 priority. As mentioned above, it's way too long.

Alright, the homepage wasn't intended to really be scrolled down all the way if you found what you were looking for at the top. But of course I see what you mean and I will try to paginate it.

Quote:

First you make me scroll down 4 pages, then after clicking a few of those links that lead nowhere(a faq / search box)

Which links lead nowhere? You mentioned FAQ and search box but I am not sure what you mean. My FAQ is imbedded in my help and there is no seperate link to it and my search box is at the very very top of the page. I think both of these work but I really wanna find out what ya mean...

Quote:

Your script and the general look of your site needs some revisions. I found myself blankly staring at most of the pages, not really knowing what to do.

As for blankly staring at most of the pages, whats the best way to fix that? Add directions, change design or layout? Something else?

At this point our SEO is at a plateau, we own the keyword market for anything including ticket auction and while this isnt huge traffic (150-200 people a day) TO start pulling in tougher keywords would be hard. And as you said SEO is nothing without me being able to convert the traffic, which is why I started this thread. Every little bit of critizism should go a long way to me actually accomplishing this so keep it coming. This is the kind of stuff I was looking for in the site design forum.

ticketauction · #11 (**permalink**) 09-30-2004, 07:12 AM

we are beginning to work up some of the changes suggested so any other comments on what to fix while we are at it would be cool :)

handry · #12 (**permalink**) 10-04-2004, 12:24 AM

your site are to long vertical down to scroll there. May be you can renovated it to be more simple pages.

ticketauction · #13 (**permalink**) 10-05-2004, 11:56 AM

were gonnna kock off the long list at the bottom and change it to links to various pages. I have to see if SEO wise this is a good decision but even if its not, Design coems first.

Dean Phillips · #14 (**permalink**) 10-10-2004, 07:45 AM

Hello:

I checked out your website, and quite frankly, it's just plain boring! Add some pictures! Make those "hot" tickets and "featured" events sizzle! Simplify your site and trim the fat. Add some excitement! Give your site some buzz! Perhaps a contest or give something away for free!