Good Free Site?

[Llam4]

I'm thinking of submitting my free site to link lists soon, but since my last free site didn't go smoothly I'd appreciate it if some of you could let me know if there's anything rejectable about this freesite.

http://www.velvetbook.com/sites/Girls_Love_Girls/

If it's acceptable:
Link list owners, if I submitted this to your LL, would you place me among the top, middle or bottom entries for the day? I did spend a lot of time trying to design it better than a vast majority of the free sites I've seen linked in LLs before. What would warrant a higher placement?

Thanks, all.

[Receptor]

Quick glace over you main.html - you have 4 outgoing links - usually LLs allow 3 outgoing links.

[Llam4]

How are there 4 outgoing on main.html? I only count 3, what am I missing?

Edit: Nevermind, I see. The thumbnail and link were seperate. Changing it now. Thanks

[MrYum]

Originally Posted by Llam4

I'm thinking of submitting my free site to link lists soon, but since my last free site didn't go smoothly I'd appreciate it if some of you could let me know if there's anything rejectable about this freesite.

http://www.velvetbook.com/sites/Girls_Love_Girls/

If it's acceptable:
Link list owners, if I submitted this to your LL, would you place me among the top, middle or bottom entries for the day? I did spend a lot of time trying to design it better than a vast majority of the free sites I've seen linked in LLs before. What would warrant a higher placement?

Thanks, all.

I'm not sure what makes you think this site is designed better than the 'vast majority' of free sites out there, but we don't need to go there

A few comments that may help you;

I see the site is designed for 1024 wide. While that's not a problem with some lists (mine included), I suspect there are still some reviewers hanging on to the 800 wide rule. Definitely something for you to consider while setting up who you want to submit the site to.

That spammy keywords meta, with irrelevant terms to boot, isn't going to help you. And may in fact cause declines with reviewers who check such things. Here's a thread I did a while back on metas...

Free Site Meta Tags Tips

You 2257 link almost vanishes on mouseover. Probably not an issue that would cause declines, but can't help matters either.

As mentioned, most lists allow up to 3 outbound links per page, I'd think of a way to get one more ad on those galleries. Perhaps something about that gigantic image at the top of the pages, which by the way is pretty pixelated and not really doing you any good.

If you really want to design something that's better than most of the sites I see, try changing up your metas on every page. Same story with the on page text, change it up on every page. Building unique pages will pay long term dividends

Other than those issues, the site looks fine. But, it could use some tweaking to really be better than what we see every day

[Llam4]

Thanks for such a descriptive reply, it was very helpful.

Originally Posted by MrYum

I'm not sure what makes you think this site is designed better than the 'vast majority' of free sites out there, but we don't need to go there

Most sites I've seen on LLs look generated, and I guess they probably are. They're just tables within tables and contain only text except for the content. Nothing wrong with that, I just think a graphical layout speaks better about the site I'm promoting.

Originally Posted by MrYum

I see the site is designed for 1024 wide. While that's not a problem with some lists (mine included), I suspect there are still some reviewers hanging on to the 800 wide rule. Definitely something for you to consider while setting up who you want to submit the site to.

I don't figure 800x600 users (if they're still around?) will be swayed too heavily by high definition vides that are bigger than their screen. Either way, I've always designed for 1024x768 and higher. If I have trouble submitting, though, I will lower it.

Originally Posted by MrYum

That spammy keywords meta, with irrelevant terms to boot, isn't going to help you. And may in fact cause declines with reviewers who check such things. Here's a thread I did a while back on metas...

Free Site Meta Tags Tips

Wow. I had no idea meta tags were taken into consideration while reviewing. I honestly didn't think it really mattered at all these days. I've fixed all of my meta tags.

Originally Posted by MrYum

You 2257 link almost vanishes on mouseover. Probably not an issue that would cause declines, but can't help matters either.

Fixed.

Originally Posted by MrYum

As mentioned, most lists allow up to 3 outbound links per page, I'd think of a way to get one more ad on those galleries. Perhaps something about that gigantic image at the top of the pages, which by the way is pretty pixelated and not really doing you any good.

I'll probably add a banner or link back to my main site to take advantage of expert traffic, but I'm still deciding.
As for the big pictures, that wasn't pixelation (Unless I've mistaken the reason you said it was). I overlayed the pictures with lines of gradient, because I've seen it done elsewhere and liked the result. I've taken it out of all three of the big pictures, so it shouldn't look pixelated anymore.

Originally Posted by MrYum

If you really want to design something that's better than most of the sites I see, try changing up your metas on every page. Same story with the on page text, change it up on every page. Building unique pages will pay long term dividends

Done and done. Meta keyword and meta title are different from page to page, and no page has matching text.

Originally Posted by MrYum

Other than those issues, the site looks fine. But, it could use some tweaking to really be better than what we see every day

Other than what you've told me so far, I guess as far as design goes, what tweaking are you referring to? I guess I was mistaken when I assumed the majority of free sites you receive look like the ones I've seen in a lot of LLs: Generic and designless. I figured creating a nice layout (that resembles closely the site I'm promoting's layout) would put me at an advantage.

Thanks again for your review, it was very enlightening

[secretagentwilly]

I'm still not the best free site designer so I don't have too much to offer other than a compliment. My curiosity was aroused when you said "better than most" so I had to see. And yeah, it's pretty good...

[Llam4]

Originally Posted by easymama

I'm still not the best free site designer so I don't have too much to offer other than a compliment. My curiosity was aroused when you said "better than most" so I had to see. And yeah, it's pretty good...

Thank you! I really appreciate that!

One more question for you, LL owners: I know loading pictures in HTML pages is looked down upon, but does the same go for videos (provided the video is the only thing on the page, no ads or links)? Frankly, it's the only way I know how to allow the video to be seen while disabling .mpg hotlinking by referer.

[MrYum]

Glad to help

Well, most free sites are definitely template based. So yes, there is some similarity in design. And I do indeed see a lot of those sites, but I also see some very nice clean sites by my trusted submitters too

The thing with free sites is to keep the goals in mind at all times. The first goal is to get listed with the majority of the sites where you submit. The next goal is to convince the surfer that the paysite you're promoting is the best thing since sliced bread

Therefore, the KISS principle comes into play. Keep It Simply Silly (actually the last word is supposed to be Stupid, but I don't know you and have no reason to be offensive toward you ).

In any case, the principle does apply. There's no reason to get overly fancy or make free sites that are graphic heavy. Keep your eye on the prize(s)...get listed, make sales

To that end, you'd probably be better served by using more text on your pages (galleries especially). Use your text to warm the surfer up...convince him he NEEDS to click through to that paysite. Banners are largely ignored these days, it's your text that's going to make sales (for the most part).

Yea, a lot of lists have moved on to 1024 wide, but I haven't checked stats on that in a while. Just be aware of looking for any that are still restricting to 800 wide as you're building recip tables and you should be fine

Some look at metas...some don't. I don't look at em all the time, but prefer not to say when or why I DO look at em. Let's just say you'd be AMAZED at the despicable crap some folks try to sneak in there

Besides, it's pretty common knowledge that keyword stuffing metas hasn't working in years. Nor does keyword stuffing alt tags. It only accomplishes 2 things these days...one is it 'could' be deemed spammy to the search engines, and nobody wants to link to spammy stuff. And 2, it pisses off reviewers like me when we're trying to quickly scan all those words for really 'bad' stuff.

Ah, so what I thought was pixelation was an artsy fartsy thing

Again, for your third outbound on the galleries, consider a nice block of juicy text, with a hyperlink at the end...or even in the middle of the unlinked text. I've seen that technique work quite well, when the linked text jumps out in the middle of unlinked text

Hmmm...perhaps even a solid colored bg table cell overlaid on the upper portion of the big image at the top. Then, drop a few lines of promo text into the table cell...2 unlinked...1 linked...2 unlinked. Just a thought

Sorry if I misled, the only tweaks I was really referring to were the comments already stated. Don't get me wrong...you're on the right track for sure. Your site is cleaner than many I see, but I also see some damn fine sites from my regular submitters. That said, I would also add that for someone new, you obviously have the skills to build damn nice sites

Oh, and I doubt anyone will give you grief over loading mpgs that way

[Llam4]

I didn't expect this much help, especially from just one person. You've answered all of my questions and I feel I'm much better off because of it. Thank you!

I will try overlaying my top picture with a DIV of some sort and loading it up with juicy text, transfer it to a new server (The one I'm on is only 50GB/month, switching to 1000GB/month) and adding 4 more videos. More videos should definitely help LL listings and conversion rates.

Thanks again.

[MrYum]

Originally Posted by Llam4

I didn't expect this much help, especially from just one person. You've answered all of my questions and I feel I'm much better off because of it. Thank you!

I will try overlaying my top picture with a DIV of some sort and loading it up with juicy text, transfer it to a new server (The one I'm on is only 50GB/month, switching to 1000GB/month) and adding 4 more videos. More videos should definitely help LL listings and conversion rates.

Thanks again.

No worries man...glad to help

Just don't have time to do so as much as I'd like these days

As to adding content...something for you to ponder. You don't want to give Mr Horny Surfer enough to get off on. Think 'tease'...get em warmed up...definitely. Give em enough to stroke off to...nope

Minimum requirements for vids on the vast majority of link sites is still 120 seconds (I think)...your site is right at that now. If you add any, I wouldn't add more than one more vid per gallery. And I'm not aware of any link sites that will give you a better listing because you have more content.

[Lemmy]

Your site is decent and you shouldn't have a problem getting it listed most places.

As far as unique and artsy/graphic design is concerned, that's all well and fine and it's appreciated, but I'm not sure it will make you more money. Pumping out as many quality sites as possible with universal acceptance will. After a thousand or so sites even the best freesite builders get a signature look that is easily recognizable.

[ronnie]

I think it looks pretty good. One thing to remember though, your doing these to make money and you might not be making much with lack of advertising.

[spacemanspiff]

I guess I'll throw in my two cent's worth. It's a great looking site and you can tell that you spent some time on it, but as Mr. Yum said, Johnny Jackoff is not going to whip out his credit card because he appreciates your design skills.

The one thing I like to see that you don't have is text above the recip table, whether it's ad text or just some warm up stuff, I think it helps. I always do a site:domain.com search on new submitters. I do this because I think the SEs reward you for linking to unique content and may penalize you if you link to a site that's duplicated many times in the DBs. If all you have is a top banner, a recip table and some warning text, you can end up with some pretty spammy looking serps.

I like to see text similar to what you have on your second page on your first page, just under the top banner. And ideally, each doorway page would have different text and a different title.

I know that's a bit of extra work, but I think it's worth it, both from a "getting listed" and from an "increasing your chances of SE rankings" point of view.

[Llam4]

I've made a few more now, and I'm gradually trying to improve my chances of: Getting listed, getting SE rankings, and making sales.

This is my latest: http://www.gosusites.com/Dykes_With_Dildos/

How does it compare to the FS in my initial post? Better was the target.

Edit: Also, what exactly is a site:domain search?

[Simon]

What we mean by a "site:domain.com" search is to do this at Google:

http://www.google.com/search?q=+site:velvetbook.com

or the longer version to be sure the filters are off:

http://www.google.com/search?q=+site...e=off&filter=0

HTH


.

[tigermom]

Not sure what other FS you made, just thought I'd mention how you really shouldn't be submitting to the same category all the time. I think once a week per category is the rule, more or less.

[spacemanspiff]

Originally Posted by tigermom

Not sure what other FS you made, just thought I'd mention how you really shouldn't be submitting to the same category all the time. I think once a week per category is the rule, more or less.

Excellent point!!!. If you target one category and submit a site for it every day, you'll find that a large percentage of you're sites won't get listed. Link list owners generally don't want any one domain to "own" a category.

[Llam4]

Yeah, today's gallery is hardcore and I'm not sure what tomorrow's will be, but it'll be different.