website feeling- authentically amateur vs. businessy and sleek

Saturnin · 2009-08-15, 07:01 PM

I'm doing a redesign on a site which I started about four years ago. I used Go Live, didn't know much about what I was doing, and has continued to make business over the years. Most of the old structure is outdated and can't handle RSS or the like. Further, Go Live doesn't exist anymore, and my only copy is on my wife's laptop.

So, I got a sleek new template and all things Adobe to work from. The result is a lot slicker with all kinds of bits and bobs, much more businesslike. I asked my wife's opinion, since she's part of the business too, and she kinda likes the new site, but thinks the old one is more charming and shows a sense of personal authenticity. (Kinda the "I did all this myself" type feeling, despite having CCBill and all the usual mem section, etc.)

Any thoughts on what sells better with customers... or just a question of run it up the flagpole and see if they like it or not.

NY Jester · 2009-08-15, 11:51 PM

Umm do you have URL of both versions of the site? Kind of hard to express an opinion without seeing what it is you want us to discuss.

Saturnin · 2009-08-16, 10:55 AM

True, true. Am just monkeying around wit the new one now....

rooty · 2009-08-16, 12:53 PM

I have been pondering about this exact same question for a long time now.

and there are lots of ways to look at it..

it can be compared to OLD vs NEW in a way.

with the amateurish look ... you get the authentic "i am a porn surfer like you" feeling

with the new top end designs web 2.0... you get the "this is a savvy site like you are" to a surfer. which i would say are more likely to impress the younger generations

so it all depends who you cater for I would say...

personally I have been working on a lot of sites that have that new web 2.0 look... but then again the old i-made-this-myself look works as time has proven..

but recently I have learned the following

* the user DON'T want to find anything.. it should all be right there for them to click on... fewer clicks to EXACTLY what the user wants is better
* a few silly pictures or video with a crappy description WONT arouse the user into buying... you have to SELL the porn to them... ( this ain't 1996 any more)
* seo is important but don't serve pages made for robots because that wont sell

let your users stand before SEO bots but don't leave them out of the picture.

perhaps some things to consider irrelevant to the new vs old look

Saturnin · 2009-08-16, 05:39 PM

Them's some good words. Am still sitting here trying to figure out which is best. However, reducing the number of clicks on the site may win out in the end.

Going to do some updating before postings the URLs... more to ponder.

2009-08-15, 07:01 PM	#1
Saturnin A woman is like beer. They look good, they smell good, and you'd step over your own mother just to get one! Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Edge of the Universe Posts: 53	website feeling- authentically amateur vs. businessy and sleek I'm doing a redesign on a site which I started about four years ago. I used Go Live, didn't know much about what I was doing, and has continued to make business over the years. Most of the old structure is outdated and can't handle RSS or the like. Further, Go Live doesn't exist anymore, and my only copy is on my wife's laptop. So, I got a sleek new template and all things Adobe to work from. The result is a lot slicker with all kinds of bits and bobs, much more businesslike. I asked my wife's opinion, since she's part of the business too, and she kinda likes the new site, but thinks the old one is more charming and shows a sense of personal authenticity. (Kinda the "I did all this myself" type feeling, despite having CCBill and all the usual mem section, etc.) Any thoughts on what sells better with customers... or just a question of run it up the flagpole and see if they like it or not.

2009-08-15, 11:51 PM	#2
NY Jester ICQ:147079406 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: RockMEHardplace Posts: 2,996	Umm do you have URL of both versions of the site? Kind of hard to express an opinion without seeing what it is you want us to discuss. __________________ The Sexy Side of Porn

2009-08-16, 12:53 PM	#4
rooty A woman is like beer. They look good, they smell good, and you'd step over your own mother just to get one! Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 51	I have been pondering about this exact same question for a long time now. and there are lots of ways to look at it.. it can be compared to OLD vs NEW in a way. with the amateurish look ... you get the authentic "i am a porn surfer like you" feeling with the new top end designs web 2.0... you get the "this is a savvy site like you are" to a surfer. which i would say are more likely to impress the younger generations so it all depends who you cater for I would say... personally I have been working on a lot of sites that have that new web 2.0 look... but then again the old i-made-this-myself look works as time has proven.. but recently I have learned the following * the user DON'T want to find anything.. it should all be right there for them to click on... fewer clicks to EXACTLY what the user wants is better * a few silly pictures or video with a crappy description WONT arouse the user into buying... you have to SELL the porn to them... ( this ain't 1996 any more) * seo is important but don't serve pages made for robots because that wont sell let your users stand before SEO bots but don't leave them out of the picture. perhaps some things to consider irrelevant to the new vs old look __________________ Nothing to see here really - My boring blog

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2009-08-16, 10:55 AM	#3
Saturnin A woman is like beer. They look good, they smell good, and you'd step over your own mother just to get one! Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Edge of the Universe Posts: 53	True, true. Am just monkeying around wit the new one now....

2009-08-16, 05:39 PM	#5
Saturnin A woman is like beer. They look good, they smell good, and you'd step over your own mother just to get one! Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Edge of the Universe Posts: 53	Them's some good words. Am still sitting here trying to figure out which is best. However, reducing the number of clicks on the site may win out in the end. Going to do some updating before postings the URLs... more to ponder.