First Poker Affiliate Site... comments please

[mdm13]

Online Poker for Beginners – Learn from a Professional Poker Player | Online Poker for Beginners | Learn to play winning online poker

Let me know what you think, it has some work to be done in the poker review section but I'm in the process of signing up to affiliate programs. A few other loose ends need to be tied up but it is essentially finished in terms of layout and content theme.

My main issues are with the poker guide navigation. I don't really like the way it is now with a big drop down that is only going to get bigger as I add more steps to the guide, but on the other hand I don't want a visitor who read the first 5 steps to come back looking for number 6 and have to go through a maze. I suppose changing the theme is an option but i really like the minimalist design and I've invested a decent bit of time figuring out how to tweak it so I'd much rather stick with what I have.

I'm also considering making the sticky post shorter so the blog content is more prominent.

Also there is a lot of stuff that I need to reference in the guide that is generic poker info, such as rules, terms, etc. I can't make up my mind on whether to do it in-house or just link to existing sites. LMK if my pro/cons list of doing it myself is about right.
PRO:
more pages for search engines
wont be linking to a page where user gets bombarded with competing aff links
can define terms and rules as i see fit for a beginner
page wont go down or be redirected to anything else

CONS:
content is essentially respun and provides no new value
will take a lot of work to write for potentially little benefit
not really in line with the theme of my site


Let me know what you think about anything. Thanks

[PokerCollege]

I like the fact that you are a poker pro and share your experiences with beginners to help them become better poker players. This could differ you from the other 100s of poker sites. Make sure you have an unique selling point. If you keep sharing your poker experiences and offer advice for starting players, you might get a lot of returning visitors.

TBH I don't like the minimalistic design but the most important thing is what will visitors to your site think of it. I think a more poker related design would suit your site better. Also I think it's better to do the basic stuff als rules/terms/hand rankings on your own site, you don't want to send your visitors to other affiliates websites where they might signup instead.

I also suggest to go with a network like PAS (afflink) to offer rakeback/VIP and promotions.

[pokerprop]

I think you're 100% on the right track because you're focusing on content first. In time when you have too much content that current theme can't contain it redesign it.

As far as your theme now, me personally I think it could use a few minor adjustments.
They're no need for such a massive header. I suggest shrinking that and tightening it all up at the top as well as eliminating (or reducing to only a few pixels) the top margin of the site. The idea is if you have awesome content bring a visitors eyes to it much sooner.

I also don't like the far right margin. imo reduce overall width, make the content area a little wider and then shorten then that right margin creating that why space.

Again just minor things but tightening your content so it defines you site. As it sites now mentally if feels like its lost in this big pool of unneeded space.

Regarding all that other stuff terms, hands etc. If you need it keep it on your own site and find some unique way to make it interesting. or create a page called poker 101, link off to something like youtube video of WPT or WSOP explaining hand rankings, link off to wikipedia or some other site without ads explaining this or that.

Poker terms maybe do them yourself and make them interesting.

Good luck the site and again think you're on the right track.

[pokerworx]

If you want to do a deal I can help you make a decent design (and show you how I do it so you learn a little) in return you sign up to some programs through me.

[mdm13]

thanks for the advice guys.
seems like the design is lame but i did the tweaks pokerprop suggested which does make it look a little more "full."
i guess ill switch designs later, but for now i think i should finish cranking out all of the static content first.

[aimiez_30]

I am also thinking of making my own I just want to ask if you can suggest better site that I can get good designs?

[bingoman]

nice content but very poor design.