[Jasmine250]

We've had a website designed by an agency - www coolapproach com - aimed at teens/students. It's been live for a few months - good number of hits due to a viral game we created - Kiss or Miss - but signups have been poor.

So we're looking at this again - we can see the site's not getting the right message across from home page, and it should have been coded better, but also wondering if this concept will work: social community site with the usp of being able to tell someone that you like them - in secret by sending clues to them. clues are created using a character creator (MiniCools). You can also check to see if someone fancies you and try to guess their identify.

There's loads of stuff for kids to do- downloads/games/advice/online chat etc.

It's currently limited to the UK market, as students sign up to UK schools/colleges but in time we're looking to expand.

Just don't know if the whole concept's going to be a winner - is the cost of redesign (and then marketing) worth it?

Cant really stretch to a total redesign, so any comments on the current design would be great as well.

Thanks

[JonoMarshall]

Stop using the word "cool" in everything, teens/students are used to complex forms of communication that describe/offer more than what they currently have/had... IMO that's what your missing here: clever idea/execution.

Perhaps you could play more on the temperature side of "cool approach", although it's still not really subtle or intelligent enough. What can you offer that no rivals can, etc, etc?

[sub]

The aesthetics of the site are pretty good. Appropriate to the target audience.
As JonoMarshall said, look at the language you use to appeal to a young market. Define the USP of the site that distinguishes you from your competitors.

A prominent call to action on the homepage may pull in a little more interest.

And for god sake look in to the build of the site.
Horrendous table based layout and bloated code will do nothing to add to your search engine position.

[Nik Manning]

I think your site designers did a good job, not a great job but good. I also agree that you use the word "cool" way to many times. The idea is not bad at all but it sounds more like a facebook app or myspace add on than a completely different social network. Also how about an events page? Some folks actually leave there computers every now and then.

[PartDigital]

I agree with sub, get rid of the tables.

[stealthcow]

social networking is dead - any "new" concept that a client comes up with to set them apart from the giants can be replicated in days if it has potential

yes, there are always new players to take the crown away from the leader (e.g. facebook stealing myspace's prowess) but it takes a lot more than a small feature or gimmick to achieve this

[SEO Freelancer]

There is a few things that stick out right when I take a quick look at the website as far as the site design goes such as; the navigation menu, login area placement, graphics, logos, content distribution. When it comes to the marketing message it is good but not great to really capture the teen audience attention in a persuasive way. There is defiantly more to it but its going to take more than a message to explain it so feel free to contact me for more info.
Boston SEO Freelancer - MA SEO

[nini]

social networking is dead - any "new" concept that a client comes up with to set them apart from the giants can be replicated in days if it has potential

i am afraid that is simply not true. I am freelancing for a company now that specialises in social networking sites. there are loads of new ideas in the pipeline.

[stealthcow]

the only future for social networking as a business is to target a niche - the amount of people we get ringing up each week wanting the next facebook is ridiculous

some of them have good ideas, but they are all adaptations of the existing model and targeted to a specific user group

[nini]

the only future for social networking as a business is to target a niche

thats quite right at the current time. Theres that new travel site for business users who are travelling doublr or something..

Though I think myspace and lastFm can be kicked for something more usable/pretty.