Time For a Facelift
So many people ask me, “Who designed your blog?” Or, “Where did you get that template?”
Obviously, they do so because they want to copy it. They say they’ve looked for a template similar to mine but were unsuccessful. Little do they know that I’ve designed it myself.
From scratch.
Using the Kubrick design (the default design with WordPress), I used Adobe PhotoShop to design the graphics, and tweaked and twiddled with the CSS file until I got it right.
Consequently, I felt it was time for a change…
As you can see, I’ve redesigned the blog. But they are really minor changes, such as color schemes and a new header graphic.
But there are some new things you might notice. Or not. For example, I added the yellow “total comments” box on the front page with each post excerpt (it’s clickable, by the way), and removed elements throughout the site I’ve tested that have actually depressed clickthroughs.
I changed the top graphic to match my new theme and corporate look at The Success Doctor, Inc. Yes, the picture is a more recent yet sterner, more professional and authoritative Michel Fortin.
(Let’s call him “Michel Fortin 2.0.” ;))
I’m testing it, but the preliminary results on the corporate site are quite interesting. I’m getting more quote requests or website contacts that are of higher quality (i.e., larger projects, bigger quotes, less irrelevant messages, more serious clients, etc).
What do you think of the site design overall? Is there something missing? Or should I add or change something to make your stay here a little more pleasant? Go ahead and browse around. If there’s something I can do, let me know.
Post a comment below.
About the Author
Michel Fortin is a direct response copywriter, author, speaker, consultant, and CEO of The Success Doctor, Inc. Visit his blog and signup free to get tested conversion strategies and response-boosting tips by email, along with blog updates, news, and more! Go now to http://www.michelfortin.com.
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From Mike Sigers
What happened to your use of Semiologic’s theme ? Afterall you did pimp it pretty good and even gave us an aff link.
Author's Website January 28th, 2007
From Michel Fortin
Mike, I didn’t change it. I don’t use Denis’ themes. I use all the tools and plugins that come with the package. (Again, I only changed the design on this blog — I didn’t change any of the plugins. So I’m not really sure what you mean.)
Author's Website January 28th, 2007
From Dr. Andrew Colyer
Overall, nice look and feel of the new design/facelift/update. I just have one question: Why such a serious look on your face? Although we’ve never met, I’ve seen other photos and videos of you = and you look pleasant and attractive. The last picture of you wasn’t very good (kind of like deer in headlights), and this one is even worse. You and your wife are attractive people. If you want to attract more business, I think you should look more open and inviting. Right now you look kind of pissed off.
Author's Website January 28th, 2007
From John Walters
My first impression of your new photo was not favourable. I liked your previous one which appeared to me to present a person who was personable, approachable and friendly. And your writings support that impression.
But with your new picture my immediate thought was “Oh no - Michel has gone the route of every other “guru” on the web” trying to present himself as strong, tough and forceful to make up for the lack of content and thin and derivative advice.
Maybe I am wrong, maybe this is a cultural thing, after all you are selling very largely to the North American market and perhaps this will go over well there. Pity.
Anyway, Michel keep the content at the same quality and I at least will put aside my prejudices.
Best wishes
John
Author's Website January 28th, 2007
From Patty
Hmmm,
Were I an authority at reading body language, I would tell you that this “new” image represents someone who is “closed” to anyone and everything that enters his environment. And, that’s before looking at the too stern face.
Personally, I left the “my way or the highway” mindset when I left the corporate world.
Patty
Author's Website January 28th, 2007
From Mike Sigers
Michel,
I thought you used his theme back when you last redid your blog and also as the basis for your bands site.
I could be wrong.
You touted his package, which I’m sure everyone assumed to be the theme and the plugins.
Also, I’m subscribed to this post, but haven’t received any emails about the additional comments. Just thought you’d like to know.
Author's Website January 28th, 2007
From Abraham Lopez
Michel,
I personally like your new design and the header photo more.
To me, your picture conveys a sense of strength, knowledge, authority, and professionalism.
However, since your blog is a more personal kind of site and most people here know you as a kind, great guy it may be better to use a “warmer” picture on your blog header, while keeping the other looking for your corporate site, which looks truly amazing, just to give each site it’s own “feeling” - Your blog, a warmer Michel telling stuff about copywriting, marketing, and life, and your corporate site, an authoritative, professional Michel that creates powerful copy and doesn’t take just any project.
Hope my opinion helps.
Author's Website January 28th, 2007
From Craig Perrine
I’ve looked at the new pic and tried to see ‘pissed off’ in the expression, but I don’t see it. There’s no furrowed brow or clenched teeth or anything else that I see.
I see calm, authority, and commitment, even unflinching expression instead.
As for the crossed arms, I might like to see a shot with other positions for the arms, and I prefer the orientation in the header graphic as opposed to the ‘dead on’ look of the pic on this post.
Seem to me that the contrast between Michel 1.0 and Michel 2.0 is what is catching people more than anything.
Craig
Author's Website January 28th, 2007
From Andy Beard
The Semiologic theme is a great way of out-sourcing a large number of time consuming tasks when running a Wordpress blog. You get some very good themes, and Denis undertakes the very laborious task of gathering updates to plugins, tweaking them and packaging them for download.
That doesn’t mean once you have a little more experience, and feel comfortable modifying themes and integrating plugins, that you shouldn’t “step out of the mould” a little.
Everytime I visit Michels blog I go browsing around all the different kinds of pages looking for how he has been making changes, glancing at the code etc.
It isn’t just visual changes, for instance Michels 3 year old content is almost as prominent as content posted just a few weeks ago.
Author's Website January 29th, 2007
From Kammy
Nice, clean look to the site. I like the changes you’ve made to your photo. But as co-owner of a professional studio, I couldn’t help but notice how your arms are crossed.
If this is a professional photo, fire your photographer. If it’s a portrait you did yourself with a camera timer, here’s a little tip. For men, the outside hand should be tucked down into the crook of the elbow. For women the outside rests on the arm, like yours does here. Unfortunately, this feminine pose kind of ruins the serious, masculine look you were going for. Also, the lighting is creates harsh shadows that take away from your good looks.
You’ve obviously spent a lot of time and effort to make this new site top-notch. Why not make that effort complete with a bio photo from a local professional photographer who can bring out the expression and tone you really want. Usually bio photo’s aren’t very expensive, in most cases under $100.
Kammy
ANCHOR PHOTOGRAPHY
Author's Website January 30th, 2007
From Ray Edwards
I think you need a Duracell battery on your shoulder.
And then you need to say, “Knock it off. I dare ya.”
(Anyone old enough to remember that ad?)
Love the new website look, Michel! And the results speak for themselves, right?
Author's Website January 30th, 2007
From Jim Greene
Michael,
The post above by Kammy is excellent and definately something that I didn’t know.
However, the crossed arms are an outward sign of rejection. That is the first thing that I thought when I saw the picture. (What’s he mad about).
Most sales trainers teach to watch for signs from your prospect and one of the biggest signs is crossed arms.
Also, you might want to throw in just a little bit of a smile
Jim
Author's Website February 2nd, 2007
From brett borders
Nice job on the template hacking, Michael! It looks super professional to me.
How did you managae to get all those pretty social media tagging icons down there? Is that a plugin?
Author's Website February 4th, 2007
From Andy Beard
I believe Michel is using the Sociable Wordpress Plugin that has just been updated.
http://push.cx/sociable
He is however using a slightly hacked version that adds nofollow to the links. The new version of Sociable still needs this hack performed - I failed in convincing the author it was necessary, thus I will probably be producing a branched version in the next couple of days.
Author's Website February 4th, 2007
From Brendan
Overall, I think the design is sleek, although I couldn’t help but wonder off in various directions while reading article contents. At times there just seems to be too much on the page, so you might consider taking out all the extra “flashy” stuff. But then again, it might be just me
Author's Website February 13th, 2007
From Jim Greene
Michel,
I can’t seem to find your DEATH OF ARTICLE on your blog. However, I’ll just comment here. My thoughts about the article was that you were building interest toward a future LUUNCH of some sort og product.
You said many times that you had no intensions of launching anything from you DEATH OF article.
Recently I started getting e-mails about the brand new LAUNCH of your coaching program. It even has all the GURU style of: If you don’t get it today for XX dollars then tomorrow it goes up to XXX dollars. And God forbid if you wait 3 days because then you will pay XXXXXX dollars.
I really thought you were above this!
Jim
Author's Website February 13th, 2007
From Jim Greene
And after re-reading the above after hitting send I should probably enroll after seeing all the poor grammar, spelling, etc, etc.
Still have the same thoughts though.
Jim
Author's Website February 13th, 2007
From Sylvie Fortin
Hi Jim
The article you are looking for is here:
http://www.michelfortin.com/the-death-of-the-salesletter/
As to your comments…
I believe there is a misconception here. You seem to be implying that because Michel wrote a report on how salesletters should change their style to better suit the current mindset of the consumer, that this somehow means that he is never again allowed to promote any products or services himself…ever…under any circumstances. And that anything he promotes online in the future will somehow be connected to the fact that he did not write the report to promote any products.
Perhaps it is me, but I fail to see how you could have connected the dots in this way, and perhaps you could explain it.
His report was written and given away freely, with no requirement for anyone to even give him their email addresses, let alone money.
It is clear, from this, that he wasn’t using it to “build a list”, although he certainly could have. And thus, he clearly didn’t write it so he could later sell something to that list.
So, I’m wondering, how is it that you arrived to the conclusion that he somehow deceived his readers?
Of course he is going to continue to sell products and services via the internet. That is who he is, and what he will always do for a living. Are you suggesting that he not be allowed to do so?
The report never said that people should stop selling online, nor has he ever said that he was ever going to stop.
He said that the report was not an attempt to generate interest in a future product launch, and that has not changed in the least.
He is, as always, continuing to sell his services (and products) online.
Very confused…
Author's Website February 13th, 2007
From Jim Greene
Hi Sylvie,
Any promoter should promote what they do or what they are about to do in any way that they see fit. That’s why we live in 2 such great Countries. Right?
In reading DEATH OF several people pointed out that when so much effort was put into writing something a short time later they would normally Launch something even if it didn’t pertain directly to what they were writing about.
Now, wheather planned or not I think you’ll notice the similarity to the new coaching that is being offered and the elapsed time since DEATH OF.
I do not think that he deceived his readers, I never said that. It’s called promoting, and that type of promoting turns some people off.
If you’ll re-read my comments above you’ll see that my biggest complaint was the $XX now, $XXX tommorrow, and you must hurry or you might not get in at all.
Yes, scarcity is a good sales tool. However, I don’t think Michel has to use that tactic to fill up any class that he chooses to teach.
I wish Michel well…
And I wish you good health…
Thanks for commenting,
Jim
Author's Website February 13th, 2007
From Michel Fortin
Jim,
Reread your comment.
Elapsed time?
Please tell me Jim, what is the “appropriate” time that must lapse for me to promote *anything* after putting out a report? Particularly when I said I wasn’t using the report to promote anything — with the report itself.
The report is freely downloadable. You don’t have to join a list. And many people are offering the report on their sites who will NEVER see this blog or my post launching my coaching program.
You know what got me deciding to launch my coaching program? Because someone asked about it in my forum (even though I’ve had many requests for it for over a year).
Go to my forum right now and check it out… you will see someone posted a “suggestion” for me to launch my own coaching program. And I then launched a poll to find out if I should.
And this, a whole month AFTER I released my report.
Sorry, but I think you’re way off, Jim. WAY off.
And as for the scarcity, I guess you didn’t read my blog post, huh? I am not applying scarcity for the sake of applying scarcity. I’m increasing the fee as more and more students enter the program because I only have 24 hours a day. The same as you do.
I modelled my program after James Brausch’s Magical Email program. When James first launched his, it was $150 a month. Now it’s $500, in order to keep the number of students at around 20-30 (which is my goal).
No matter what I say or my wife says (I didn’t even know she responded until now!), you’re going to remain suspicious of me and my activities, Jim.
Sad, really.
So I guess you have a gripe against any and every store that uses discounts and such, too, right? I mean, not only are they using scarcity, they don’t even have a legitimate excuse for offering those discounts, let alone a report.
Author's Website February 13th, 2007
From Jim Greene
Michel,
I have been in an industry (jewelry) for 30 years that is rampant with false discounts and advertising. I bet you’ve seen a few of those.
I read an article a few days ago about people who do nothing but blast others that promote their business in various ways on the internet instead of concentrating on their own. Looks like I have fallen right in with them.
My apologies to you,
Jim
Author's Website February 13th, 2007
From Michel Fortin
Much appreciated, Jim. And I certainly do understand your frustration.
Author's Website February 13th, 2007