What is it about quick-buck SEO/get rich schemes/software sellers that drives them to make such rubbish looking sites?

http://www.seoelite.com/indexMichel.htm

I understand you are involved here Aaron but surely you must see my point - is it just me that thinks a good looking site might actually sell the product better?

The worst thing about these sorts of sites - and I see them all the time - is the fact that they instantly announce what they are. That dark blue background, the gaudy text highlights and ridiculous use of the underline tag, the preposterously long and narrow content area... these are all common to get rich quick junk sites, it's like even if the site isn't a get rich quick scheme (which I admit it isn't as such) the 'design' simply screams "BACK BUTTON!".

Two things:

About the comment above - who cares what the site looks like, all that matters in business is money. If the site makes money and the owner is happy with the profit, that's all that matters.

Only designers think that what a site looks like is more important than conversion numbers.

And you press the Back button? Who cares. Lots of other people order I'm sure. You're not a prospect. They were, and became customers.

And about that "bad copywriting advice". No copywriting is brand new. I assume he didn't mean copy you out and out, but when writing sales copy everyone gets ideas off everyone else. That's the way it is and always has been.

Luz is right.

If you claim "the only SEO book on the planet," and a partner/affiliate promotes you, why not use the claim you make to advance your sales?

And yes, as Luz pointed out, I didn't mean to copy the words verbatim but to use the ideas in the copy as sales points. As I said, "You can also USE copy from the site." I didn't say "you can COPY the copy from the site."

I don't doubt that it converts. My point is that it would convert more if it looked better, largely because it would inspire more confidence in the product. That is an undeniable solid truth, and if you can't see that you're missing a trick.

"Only designers think that what a site looks like is more important than conversion numbers"

I'm mystified as to how you can believe appearance and conversions are not inextricably linked?

An hour spent developing something a little more professional looking = more money. And that's a bottom line that even a quick buck marketer can grasp.