Hi guys, this is the most important page on my flat share website: Flat Share - Why do people Flatshare and House share? - RoomBuddies.com , i need your reviews, because i am getting traffic but very little conversions, am not sure if i am doing something wrong.

Thanks!

webdesigner1980

If I had to make a guess right now just based on a quick glance, I would have to say that you're suffering from a usability problem. I can't look at it and tell what the site is about in 4 seconds or less. The sidebar on the right has not white space between it and the ad copy. The ad copy just bumps into the sidebar before returning.

The front page, is currently more of an about us type page, or info page rather than actually selling the product itself. What I would do is move those three boxes in the sidebar, to an inline position along the bottom of page, or consider getting rid of them all together.

In terms of usability, the search engine is the meat, the potatoes, and the desert. Make it prominent. Lose the side bar, and move the copy that's there now to another page, something like a "Who is a Roombuddy?" type page.

Think Google. The search should be the most prominent part of your site, and it's actually very interesting once you get into the search engine. This is the part that will compel people to become members. 99% of the people who consider themselves "roombuddy" material are already well aware of it, and don't need to be told that they are. They will have found your site based on that firsthand knowledge.

Take advantage of that by giving them no choice but to search - Something like:

"Currently, 5,694 People Need Room Buddies All Over the UK! Search for Your RoomBuddy Now:" Then place all the search functions right there.

I would lose just about anything else on the site that doesn't support the search function. I like how, while you're searching you occasionally get the pop-up asking if they're ready to become members, but don't over use it. Once or twice while they're searching will be plenty.

All in all, I think you're on to something here. Just have to get the usability in line.