Feedback Complete.
The Linux Academy allows you to interact with a real Linux lab environment, giving you the ability to play, learn, and follow lessons on actual Linux servers.
Target Audience: web developers, small business owners, students
Website URL: https://linuxacademy.tv
No. of Feedback Providers Requested:Â 1
Feedback sought:
1) Look around the home page – what is your initial impression of what you see?2) Think of something you want to find on this website. Now try to find it. Did you find what you were looking for? Was anything confusing?
3) Are you encouraged to (create a new account, subscribe, sign up for a free trial, etc.)? Can you tell us why (or why not)?
4) Go to search engine of your choice and find one other company that offers a similar service. Compare the two companies. Which on do you prefer? Why?
5) Please share any additional feedback/comments you may have.
1. The home page is rather plain and generic, but it effectively presents what your web site is all about. A quick look at the home page is all it takes to figure out that Linux Academy teaches web developers how to use Linux servers.
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2. I decided to try to find out how much your service costs. I didn’t have far to look. Under the “Start Learning Linux Now” button is the pricing information. However, I think it’s worth mentioning that I didn’t see it right away because the text is a light gray that doesn’t stand out against the white background. Also, there seems to be a conflict between the price you listed on the home page, $9.99 a month with the first month free, and the price mentioned in the intro video, which is $5.00-7.00 depending on the plan selected. I didn’t see any pricing page in the navbar that would help clear this up.
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3. If I wanted to learn Linux, I’d be very interested in signing up. I like that you offer both tutorials and a Linux server to practice on. Your stated price of $5.00-7.00 a month is extremely affordable, and even $9.99 is reasonable. The free trial is a big draw too.Â
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4. I searched on the phrase “learn Linux online.” This brought me to a site called Linux Survival. Like Linux Academy, this is a web-based educational system, but it appears that Linux Survival is free. However, it’s hard to tell what you get with Linux Survival. They have a bare-bones site that doesn’t lay out what they offer; users simply have to load the modules and find out. In contrast, although Linux Academy charges for service, it explicitly outlines each lesson and states right on the home page that users will be working with actual Linux servers. There’s no way to preview the content of the tutorials on Linux Survival, but judging by the testimonials, it probably doesn’t provide actual Linux servers for real-world experience. My final impression is that I like Linux Academy better because the web site is more fully developed and the educational program seems to be more thorough.
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5. Here are my thoughts on your various pages:
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Home Page – Great choice of name and tag line! What could be clearer than Linux Academy and “learn to run your own Linux servers”? The logo should be bigger, though; I can barely see it.
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While the home page colors are bland and there aren’t any interesting images, at least it presents your service in a way that’s easy to understand. However, I have to say I’d prefer to see the text in a color darker than gray. The gray is somewhat hard to see, and it’s easy to miss things in that color, as happened to me with the all-important line about pricing.Â
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When I watched the video, I could hear the audio, but the only visual was a single screenshot from beginning to end. I would’ve liked to see different screenshots or other visual aids to accompany the audio. Also, it sounded like whoever did the voiceover flubbed his lines a couple of times. It would be good to edit out those mistakes. Â Â
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On the bottom left, you have a place for testimonials, but there aren’t any yet. I’d remove that until you actually have testimonials to display.
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Finally, as I mentioned before, there’s a pricing discrepancy between the video and the home page text. This needs to be fixed. Also, it would be nice to create a separate pricing page which visitors can find in the navbar.
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Courses Outline – When I clicked on this tab, I was surprised that I ended up on a site called Pinehead.tv. I tend to feel a little suspicious when I get redirected somewhere. It would be nice if this page could be incorporated into the Linux Academy site instead.
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The outline itself seems to be very detailed, which is great. I like to know what I’m getting before I pay for it.
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Blog – The blog posts seem to be about or related to Linux, which is good, but once again, I wish it didn’t redirect to a different site.
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In conclusion, I suspect that you have a very nice educational program here, but I think your home page does a “just ok” job of selling it. If you really want to attract customers, I’d recommend that you add some bolder color and at least one image to the home page (e.g., a smiling IT professional working on a Linux server), redo your intro video so that there are more visuals and no mistakes in the voiceover, correct pricing discrepancies on the home page and add a pricing page so people don’t have to search around for that information, and, if you really want to grab customers, show them screenshots of your Linux learning environment or let them log onto your Linux server temporarily to try it out for themselves. Good luck!
1) Look around the home page – what is your initial impression of what you see?
Clean minimalist website, with clear and concise explanation of what is being offered. Simple colors and large clean clear fonts. Easy one step “click here” button to get started. Simple and intuitive. Sample video, nothing left to guessing. Inviting and friendly interface.
2) Think of something you want to find on this website. Now try to find it. Did you find what you were looking for? Was anything confusing?
Clicked on course outline. Everything was there in a very organized format. Easy to understand, and easy to navigate. In addition, the “still not sure section” is a nice touch, that gives a visitor good reasons to want to use the service. First month free and low monthly after that is up front and clear. Did not see a thing that could be construed as confusing.
3) Are you encouraged to (create a new account, subscribe, sign up for a free trial, etc.)? Can you tell us why (or why not)?
Yes, if targeting Linux training specifically, this would likely be the place to go. Cuts right to the chase and offers video training. I would assume this kind of training would easily put one on the fast track to learning Linux.
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4) Go to search engine of your choice and find one other company that offers a similar service. Compare the two companies. Which on do you prefer? Why?
Bing:Â https://www.worldwidelearn.com/online-training/linux-course.htm
Google: https://beginlinux.org/
Both sites offer similar, but do not come across as quite the authority that https://linuxacademy.tv/index.php comes across as. i would again stick with https://linuxacademy.tv/index.php because it conveys a sense of being an authority site that will deliver the goods.
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5) Please share any additional feedback/comments you may have.
Overall, very nice site dedicated to Linux training. Would like to see a few testimonials of those who have used the service, as well as a 800# in upper right header area. Also, trust badges like eTrust in lower footer area would certainly be beneficial.