3 reasons I utterly destroyed my fist website
After advancing my knowledge here on Wealthy Affiliate, I utterly destroyed my first website. Now, I'm not recommending you to do the same to yours, but here's why I did it to mine.
Why I utterly destroyed my first website
I now treat my site like a plot of real estate. I want to put every pixel to the highest and best use, even the white space is intentional. I don't want anything that distracts the reader from the purpose, which is trust, content and call to action.
Too much wasted space in my header
The theme I started with took up too much real estate above the fold. What is above the fold? It's the content the reader see's when they first open your post without scrolling down.
I now incorporate A.P.P., which stands for Agree, Promise and Preview. I make an opening statement that the reader agrees with, then I promise to solve their problem and finally I tease them with a preview, which is usually a video.
All of this has to happen above the fold or I might loose the reader before they ever get to the solution or the call to action.
Too many distractions
I got rid of most of the content on my sidebar. I had a lot of distraction going on there with things like, recent posts, recent comments, a cool review widget that showed my most recent 5 star reviews, and a sign up form.
What the heck did that have to do with solving my readers problem? Absolutely nothing! My readers came to me for one reason only, to solve their problem.
I simply want to put enough in my sidebar to develop instant report and trust, which is my professional pic and a short blurb telling them who I am. That's it!
Unable to customize theme enough
Unfortunately my theme did not provide me with enough customization to control what I wanted my post to look like without getting into changing the CSS (Cascading Style Sheet).
I'm not saying you have to use a premium theme, but that's what I did. There was a bit of a learning curve to it but when it was all said and done, I got complete control over the way my site looks and feels.
I don't have the before picture but this is what my website looks like now https://thelandlordfix.com/
I have to warn you before making this move, DON'T DESTROY YOUR CONTENT!
Take time to learn how to change your theme before you attempt it. Your going to have to back up your database and save content in your widgets so you don't loose the vital content you've worked so hard to create.
Here is a link to a video that Jay did on changing wordpress themes. https://my.wealthyaffiliate.co...
Finally, and very important.
What I have shared with you today is considered fine tuning in my book. It should not be your primary focus. Your primary focus should be on your compelling content and your call to action.
Your job and my job is to bring every piece of knowledge we've learned to bear on every single post to solve a problem so that we get paid!
So that's it in a nutshell, that's my thinking and that's why I utterly destroyed my website (minus of the content of course :) )
Best of Success!!
Keith
Recent Comments
10
I understand what you mean! I am on my 5th website, but it was worth it. I have been able to add more from my knowledge and it is doing better in one month than any of the others did over months.
While it is scary to just wipe something out, it can also benefit in the long run. We learn from our mistakes which benefits us moving forward!
That's really good to hear that your site is doing better with making the changes.
I think the most beneficial change I've made to my site is improving my content writing technique.
Thanks for weighing in!
Very brave. You know what you want and it will pay back. Thank you for the information you have given.
Always good to do a few steps back and look at your website through the eyes of a visitor, besides, you want to be of help, you also want to detect where you want them to pay attention to, and better, what you want them to do
My website theme was on my mind quite a bit when I noticed that people I considered to be more experienced than me had very minimal sites.
Then, as I listened to Jay's, Bo Tipton's, yours and other training's, I realized focusing on writing problem solving content and call to action without distraction was my sites primary objective. At least that's what I took from it.
I hope this does not cause anyone to change their theme without considering all that's involved or to distract anyone from the most important thing... quality content.
Thanks for your input Loes
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You make some very valid points, Keith.
The Shiny Object Syndrome has many elements: if we present too many "bells and whistles" our readers make take a quick look, and go elsewhere.
what you said about being the final step, not the main focus, is crucial. I'm actually still in the process of revamping my site, but I've gotten sidetracked and not written as much as I should, so I'll definitely heed the warning.
Good tips, Keith. Thank you!
I know what you mean Veronica about getting sidetracked and not writing. That's exactly what happened to me while I was updating, but now I can just focus on writing. Yeaaaa
Thanks for you input!