Site Review: drjerm.com

drjerm · #1 (**permalink**) 04-28-2008, 07:08 PM

Hey everyone, I've been working on a website for almost a couple months now and would like some feedback. Some simple background on me (or you can view the about me page on my website) is:

I am 30 years old, married, and have a daughter, Ellie, who is almost a year old
I've been doing web development since about 2002
I came up with this website because I have helped many people in life by just listening and sharing the information that comes to mind. And it has worked for people and they seem to understand what I say

The URL is:

http://www.drjerm.com

The website's focus is self improvement with an emphasis on simple and easy to use resources related to becoming better. I've made one video on youtube which I've placed on the home page. I've got an organized list of alphabetical links on the left for navigation. I have adsense ads and amazon related products on the right side. All in all, I've spent about 80 hours on the site now and everything has come straight from me.

The site is not built with Site Build It. I am compiling a list of search engine observations and things I am trying, which include much of what Lisa talks about on her website. Some of the obstacles I am noticing are:

Finding time to work on the site with a wife and daughter, this can be difficult - but my wife supports me and I am able to find some time
Finding quality images to use for the site. Any recommendations would be great. Images will need to play a big role in this website
A good video camera that hooks right into my computer with good video editing software would be nice. Any recommendations? I've been searching but haven't found anything yet
Capturing the interest of others. I plan to use a forum and blog in the future, but I am noticing that I need something unique to capture people's attention. Maybe a twist on self improvement or tackling it from an angle most people have not done
The site has about 65 unique visitors this month. I'd like to put a form on the main page that people can fill out, but I don't have anything useful to send them frequently yet. Any ideas besides ebooks and articles to send people?
Making interesting videos. I believe I will have to reherse and refine my ability to capture interest in front of the camera. I suppose this will just take time

I'll stop there. I am just looking for good honest (blunt preferred) feedback on the website. I do feel I can create a nice niche of videos, images, learning material, learning and interactive games/quizzes, and a blog and forums that will set me apart from all of the other self improvement websites I've seen out there. Thank you for your time.

Jeremy

lisa · #2 (**permalink**) 04-28-2008, 08:09 PM

Hi Jeremy,

First of all I love your colors. They seem to fit with your theme. I also like your background pattern. Very nice and good contrast. You're also using video... another plus. I love how you let people know who you are and what you're about upfront. You know I'm definitely partial to videos. LOL

The only thing I can see to change/update is perhaps a logo of some sort at the top. Seems like that would help with branding. It would go well in the top left where you have the leaves faded out.

James · #3 (**permalink**) 04-29-2008, 05:27 AM

Jeremy

Wow! I saw your site going from another one of your posts—but didn't check your "about" page, although I usually do—and am I jealous now that I see you are only thirty. I avoid using that word ("jealous") ordinarily and I will get over it, but I have to say there are not many people around who have the wisdom you have at your age. You have been fortunate to have picked up a lot of the knowledge and mind sets you have.

Unfortunately I was older than you are now before I was exposed to much of the kind of personal achievement information that I see reflected on your site. I hope a lot of the younger people on this site will visit your web page and take time to absorb the information.

This (Website Babble) is a wonderful site and I am glad you found it. I hope you will stay around and contribute your web site knowledge with the young people from all over the world who come looking for help. Many of them are looking for the kind of information that you can provide due to your personal technical background, but they also need the encouragement that comes from the insights you share on your site. You can be a real help to them.

Ulrich · #4 (**permalink**) 04-29-2008, 07:12 AM

Hi Jeremy,

I also like your site very much and I'm one of those younger folks (almost 19) that has bookmarked your site and I've read some of your stuff. Everything that I read to me is an opportunity to learn something new and this area which you're covering specifically is something that could benefit me and many others.

I have to agree with Lisa about your header however, if you could perhaps add a logo and some text with your website's name to engrave that into your regular visitors' heads. Brand Power

.

Good luck with your website man and thanks for sharing all that valuable information with us.

rwskate · #5 (**permalink**) 04-29-2008, 09:31 AM

And green happens to be my favorite color-

I have one of my blogs in green. Very, very appealing to the eyes. I really like your content, it's very personal and that's how your readers should and will take it. I say keep building on content since you're doing such a good job.

Now as far as an idea you could share by way of a form, I was thinking of some kind of daily motivational/positive thinking quote, something like that. Just my two cents.

Keep it up and welcome to WB!

Renee

drjerm · #6 (**permalink**) 04-29-2008, 11:00 AM

Wow, thank you all very much for your input, compliments, and suggestions. I love hearing that people get good use out of the website. I know when I started it a couple months ago that there would be a lot of work involved, especially getting it started, your encouragement is very helpful.

Thanks for the idea of a logo and brand. The upper left looks like a good spot and I will see what I can cook up to put there. I also like the idea of daily motivational and inspirational quotes.

It's funny how this site started, kind of like a bolt of lightning striking me a couple months ago and I new it was something I had to do. Thanks again for your input, I welcome it in any form.

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