Why isn't there a site like this?
 

(I originally posted this as a reply but I figure it merits its own thread...)

It would be interesting to see a site where 100 designers are given the same materials to make tours from, same text, etc. They create their tours and join pages but all then go to same processor for same account. The tours all get rotated through the SAME traffic pool. Then the site lists the conversion results.

So the final breakdown would be
Design firm name, clickable link to their site, clickable thumb of their tour, their CTR score, their CTR to Signup score, and their pricing for such tour (range pricing)

Just a thought. (Since webmasterlabor.com doesn't do adult content-related projects anymore, we won't be implementing this... if that question crossed your mind :) :) )

Or maybe design is one of those things that YOU REALLY CAN'T COMPARE since it is more of an art... ?(although the item above compares not the "art" but the OBJECTIVE NUMBERS of the effect of such "art")


Possible domain names (I didn't check whois so they may be taken):
designercomparisons.com
designconversionratings.com
designreports.com


Anyway, post your thoughts.

If anyone needs any CUSTOM RESEARCH re new site ideas or MARKET VALIDATION/BUSINESS VALIDATION reports, email me at info AT webmasterlabor . com

Of course the traffic source mix would spelled out as well. With % if possible.

The benefit to consumer would be easy to see but what about the designer? Greater publicity for one thing. Also, even if the conversion number for the 1st month is down, it can still go up since the site is updated PERIODICALLY with a new set of materials given and new tours put up.

Your thoughts.

there ya go , get it going! :thumbsup

good idea, for someone that already deals in webmaster traffic... could have mainstream and adult...

I don't want to get it going cuz like I mentioned above:"(Since webmasterlabor.com doesn't do adult content-related projects anymore, we won't be implementing this... if that question crossed your mind )"

ahh , ok

bump for comments/discussion/thoughts/analysis

Hell, I'm game. :)

The key is that the site must be built by a neutral 3rd party. There can't be any appearance of partiality. Also, desig advertisements should not be allowed to avoid any conflict of interets or appearances of such.

bizzump for consumer comparisons

Maybe I should've clarified. Not interested in building such a site, I have enough on my hands as it is. I'm game for taking part in the comparison. :)

Would give me a great opportunity to prove that a loud mouth doesn't make your designs convert better. :)

Exactly. A place where the consumer (the program owner or affiliate webmaster) can make an informed decision and also see trends (since 1 design that does well in 1 month doesn't necessarily hold that spot over the course of months)

or it can be structured as a blog... to keep up the suspense?

and also due to the fact that getting tours from so many designers will probably not occur all at once and the designs would be 'streamed in'

so maybe do a feature special on each design firm as their entries are received?

$5 has got his thinking cap on today. Good idea.

Heheheh thanks. Any ideas, guys? Let's turn this thread into a collaborative document. Such a site would be good for the industry and provide revenue streams for both the site owner and the designers.

Very good idea, I like it. :thumbsup

pretty good idea, it's a win-win situation for all parties involved...

For this to happen you'd need someone who:

1. Has the knowledge and integrity to provide impartial management and reporting
2. Has the knowledge and resources to create the back-end
3. Has enough time and desire to venture into this.

You'd be the best one to fit the description, if it weren't for the no longer doing adult part. :)

Exactly. We're no longer doing adult. But I'm sure there's others on this board that can step up to the plate. BTW, 2 of the 3 domains I spelled out above are still available.

Another thought... maybe structure it like a site review site but instead of paysites, focus on design firms/designers. Have an interview. Design philosophy. Photos of their team, etc then the raw numbers.

The focus is EVEN IF THE NUMBERS are off, the consumer still gets a VIEW of who they are dealing with and perhaps still buy (since numbers fluctuate from month to month normally).

If anything, it will open doors for design firms.

Sorry, guys, I have my consulting hat on today so Im just spitting out ideas...


REVENUE STREAMS

1) non designer ads -- program ads -- webmaster resource ads -- etc
2) PREMIUM reports -- ie., OLD scores are hidden, only new scores are shown
so if you want Pattern/Trend info you have to pay
3) Sponsorships from programs--if the program converts, hell, why not flaunt it by having multiple designers do tours?
4) Set a standard contract where site gets a % of design sales (ie., tour is sold by firm to a program)

Pls critique

There's tons of other ways you can monetize this.

Next line of thought.. promoting the site.

Sounds like a great idea.

Stop.



It's BUMPING TIME.

btw, these ideas are FREE, feel free to EXECUTE. Also, help yourself to the domain name suggestions above.

Maybe a sponsor program can do this?

Interesting concept Gene :thumbsup

http://www.g3x.com/

does something very much along the lines of what you are proposing.

I guess you're referring to this http://www.g3x.com/Features.jsp#view_design Maybe the G3X can 'sponsor' 100 GFY designers for its BYOT type system and spawn off a site that is more along the lines of the 'designer review/showcase' type of site outlined above?

I think the idea is really good. However, at this time, I have a feeling that pretty much everyone, except maybe for designers, is having bigger headaches to deal with. I honestly don't see this thing happening anytime soon.

I agree that there's a lot happening recently (2257, .xxx, and possible legal changes in adult outsourcing in countries like the Philippines, etc). However, the task of getting enough info so as to make an informed graphics design/site design strategy buy will never go away. Perhaps, this could be the TOP resource for such buying decisions.

I remember this idea from last year. Didn't it come from you then too? :)

nice idea you got here $5 ..hopefullly someone will be able to make this happen..

Yeah, I hope so too. It will definitely SIMPLIFY some types of site design buying decisions while giving design firms/design guys a good platform. Also the site itself has differing revenue streams.

Bumping free ideas for others to execute and profit from (while serving the greater webmaster community).

Its an excellent idea, but it would take a bit of a invesment (money, resources, networking and time wise) to implement it in a good way

css could handle that
 

Hey hey

you know css zen garden (http://www.csszengarden.com/) has something going this reminds me of.

If it's truly to be a test of design's ability to seduce/convert traffic, then there should be no variables but the design & tour.

So price/range stays the same - in fact the way css zen garden does it they have something like 80 different designs (all called from .css files) and one html page that is affected by the different designs.

I'm playing with this myself at the moment... pretty powerful stuff css, though it requires that one's brain rewire itself away from html ...

did you go see the site?

Good ideas, dime a dozen now from $5 submissions :winkwink:

Props to $5 submissions, one of the more creative guys around. :thumbsup

A good idea but there are also a few designers out there that run affiliate programs / paysites tehmselves like dickmans who really know which kind of tours convert and hence are the best choice for converting designs / tours anyway.

It would be nice to have an objective site that can test proficiency in an easy to navigate consumer report type of format.

My brains fried right now. But a couple of obstacles to consider.

1. You would have to cover a broad spectrum of niches, which could literally be thousands of tours for the pool size you recommeded and a huge traffic base to test them properly.

2. The majorority of designers could not afford to invest their time into creating 15-20+ tours that won't produce any income and may not convert. So basically you're left with ony the top firms who could afford to allocate those resources.

Some things to ponder... Love the idea though!

You can just have 1-2 niches every month. I think it isn't about a one time project, but about an ongoing thing.

I could probably pull this one off, but I may have some trust issues since I'm fairly unknown.

One way some of the problems I posted could be solved would be by having a huge sponsor with a massive network and treat it similar to a BYOT program.

Maybe that's what Marc De has planned for the ARS BYOT re launch...