PSD Chopstick - Perfect If You Can’t Code a Website (And Want Some $$)

Posted November 27, 2007

Converting a Photoshop image to a coded web page is kind of like using chop sticks - pretty freaking hard if you’ve never done it before. That’s why I love the name “PSD Chopstick” for a service that turns your PSD file into a standards-compliant, coded web page.

I also love PSD Chopstick because they have an affiliate program that pays a cool $29 for each referral! So if you place an order, I just nabbed $29!

Want to nab $29 for yourself? It’s simple. Just find some graphic designers that don’t know jack about building a proper website and pitch them this idea:

Hey Bobby, I saw you selling yourself short in some design contest, and since I genuinely like to help others even if I get nothing in return, I thought I’d take the time out of my busy schedule to let you know about this cool service I found.

It’s called PSD Chopstick, and if you send them a PSD file, they will turn it into a coded web page.

What could you do with that? Well, let’s say you do a design for $200. Then your client has to get it coded somewhere, probably paying someone another $100 or $200. Instead, you do your design, get it coded for $129, then sell it to your client for $500. It’s like creating an extra $171 from nothing, just by saving the client some hassle.

Now I know this tip is great and could lead to thousands upon thousands of dollars in added revenue for you, but all I want in return is the feeling of satisfaction from helping someone!

Oh yeah, here’s the link: www.psdchopstick.com

In case you didn’t notice, there are two very important parts to that pitch.

1) Emphasize how great of an idea it is for them and how you aren’t getting anything from it.
2) Add your affiliate link in there every chance you get.

It’s just a little fib, it’s not like it’s a lie…

OK, it’s a total lie, but how else do you expect to make money online?

Now that your pitch is ready, we’ll move on to the PSD Chopstick sales material…

See, your own sleazy tactics only go so far. Once you get the click, it’s up to the merchant to seal the deal. So before I promote a merchant, I analyze their sales process on my patented Sales Process Sleaziness Scale (SPSS for short.) The scale goes from 1 (couldn’t sell water in the desert) to 10 (could sell buckets of sand in the desert.) A merchant needs at least a 5 to pass.

Let’s look at PSD Chopstick:

Testimonials. Check. You have to have testimonials on your site, because to the visitor, that means someone else got suckered into buying this, so even if it sucks, they won’t feel so bad about buying it.

3D e-cover. Nowhere to be seen. That’s too bad, because even though they aren’t selling an ebook, they could make a little portfolio of “before” and “after” screenshots. The first would be the PSD, and the second would be the website they built. The graphics would be virtually identical, but it gives them a chance to impress visitors with 3D graphics, reflections, and drop shadows.

Hidden ways to make extra money. Check. Just take a look at their web hosting page, which recommends HostGator. Their HostGator link is “http://hostwithhostgator.com/” which is almost guaranteed to redirect through their HostGator affiliate link. Not only does this bump them up on the sleaziness scale, it shows they’re smart enough to diversify their revenue sources.

Huge order button. Nope. Just a simple form that does NOT scream “click here and give me all your money!!!” Too bad.

Catering to stupid people. Check. They sell Blogger themes for $209. Anyone paying $209 for a Blogger theme qualifies as stupid! (Not that I dislike Blogger or anything…)

Pricing. It’s good. They’re the cheapest I’ve seen and look very professional. There are other services that do the same thing but sound more complicated and are more expensive.

Overall… they get a 6.5 on the SPSS scale. Good enough for me

If it’s good enough for you, take a look at PSD Chopstick. And sign-up for the affiliate program while you’re at it, so you can use the pitch I gave you!