Ideas for improving landing page?

[instinctive.de]

Hi!

I've recently rolled out a site where people can upload photos, have them "optimized" (levels, lens distortion correction, perspective correction etc.) by graphics people, URL is:

http://www.pixelprofi.net/

Unfortunately, it's in GERMAN But I'm planning to make an English-language version in the near future.

I'd like to ask if any of you have recommendations for improving the frontpage; clearly, it must suck, because I have a bounce rate of around 90% Any graphics/layout/text ideas for improving it? (If you need a translation, just let me know The title says "Individual photo processing by graphics pros".

ALSO: The site name I have in mind for the English-language version would be "pixelpartner.net" - does that sound very stupid in English, or is it OKish?

Thanks for your suggestions (if any

[pauland]

"I have a bounce rate of around 90%"

What exactly do you mean by that?

[instinctive.de]

I mean that 90% of my visitors don't look at anything other than the landing page (they don't click on anything on the site)

[steve.ledger]

How about a button "Please do NOT click this button"

Seriously though. I'm not sure what kind of client you are trying to attract, but while neatly set out - it's cold and uninviting.
The fast moving slideshow is distracting and doesn't tell me anything about the site.

I don't really care about Welcome messages, polite as that may be, I just want to scan the page quickly and know that there's something there I am interested in or not - otherwise, I'm off - after all, there's plenty more on the web to see.

[pauland]

90% walkaways may not be that bad for the "casual" visitor population - what percentage of your visitors do you think are actually at all interested in the service that you offer?

I'm not criticising what you do, just saying it's very much a niche service.

I go to a lot of websites and don't go past the front page.

I don't know what your visitor count is, but essential the web is a numbers game - either volume via casual visitors - low interest/conversion rates, or targeted visitors, higher interest and conversion rates.

I really think that the principle reason for the lack of interest beyond the first page is that you have a very niche product.

For things such as this I'd be tempted to look beyond the technical offering to the desired result that your customer wants - which isn't a better image. Your customer wants a good return on their investment - in this case knowing that paying you for the service will help them sell or rent their property (I'm assuming that's what this is really about). To that end some testimonials will help convince them that using your service is a worthwhile idea. If you have some happy customers and testimonials, I would add their testimonial to the "after" image. "We used pixelprofi and sold our house straight away - people could see that we had a great property on offer".

So that is my only real suggestion - try and emphasise the end result for your customers rather than the mechanics of what you do.

Paul

[instinctive.de]

Paul,

thanks very much for your exhaustive analysis

Well, actually, I do think that the product that I'm selling (individual photo retouching in a *professional* manner so that the end result is pretty much the maximum technically achievable) IS something that a lot of people - yes, especially real estate agents - do need.

The problem is that they probably don't KNOW that they need it.

The average "for sale"/"for rent" ad on the various real estate sites has incredibly bad photos of the property, most of which would be easily fixable with some post-pro. And I know that people look at photos, they don't look at data. So, I actually think that vastly improving the property photos would noticably improve sales for those guys.
So, using pixelprofi.net would actually have a good ROI - the question is, how to tell them?

Concerning the testimonials: I would do that, but I'd think that nobody believes those testimonials anymore?

[pauland]

The problem is that they probably don't KNOW that they need it.

Well, this is your primary goal then to explain to them - very quickly - that your service will make them money.

The average "for sale"/"for rent" ad on the various real estate sites has incredibly bad photos of the property, most of which would be easily fixable with some post-pro. And I know that people look at photos, they don't look at data. So, I actually think that vastly improving the property photos would noticably improve sales for those guys.
So, using pixelprofi.net would actually have a good ROI - the question is, how to tell them?

Yes, it is going to be difficullt and there is also another consideration as to why I as an estate agent wouldn't use your service.

With my estate agent hat on, I have pressures on the money I have and have let staff go because of the economic downturn. Consequently, I am working very hard. At the moment, I take the image and print it and put it up. Job done. I am a very busy guy because I have fewer staff.

Using your system I have to send the stuff to you, wait for you to do it, arrange payment and then I go back to my workflow. Is the disruption to my business and the extra cost worthwhile? Hmm. It's easier for me to just carry on as I am.

Concerning the testimonials: I would do that, but I'd think that nobody believes those testimonials anymore?

Well, I don't know. Perhaps some case studies will be the way forward.

I think that website aside, your service has to demonstrably add enough value to make the disruption to an existing workflow worthwhile.

I hope it works out for you.

Paul

[instinctive.de]

Well, thanks for the insight. I'm in general a total marketing and PR idiot, so this does actually help me.

[pauland]

Well, thanks for the insight. I'm in general a total marketing and PR idiot, so this does actually help me.

I have no specialised insight, and no special talents in marketing or PR either.

Good luck.

[Nomac]

Thank you a lot of