How I Copy Designs of a Competitor

Excuse my English it's not my first language.

Just to make it clear. In no way I am promoting stealing or copying anyone.

For the past 7 years that I have been doing this. Most clients especially in the supplement game requests a copy of a competitor site. That's why most if not all of the skin, weight loss (garcinia), muscle pages looks identical or similar. Most of the time I convince them not to, especially copying the texts word for word and just replacing the names of the product and sometimes they just straight rip the page and just replace product shots/name. And in the rare occasion that I can do my own original version others would copy it as well so it's really just a common thing to do and it seems like no one cares.

For this sample I will use a current project I am working on (client agreed to this, he's not a member here and this is still not the final product since it's just a made up name/bottle for now so it's okay). So the client asked to a copy a site and wants do to do a version that is a bit diffent but same structure and content.

In order to do something like this, I really believe you don't have to be an expert in Photoshop. As long as you can remove a background from a pic decently and can find good resources, inspiration and a good eye for typography (look at a lot of inspiration designs from Pinterest and other website showcase gallery like SiteInspire etc.) This is really easy.

Let's start.

The first section of the page is this:


For this page I decided to do a black/yellow theme.

Browsed for some resources I can use like fonts, flames, a grunge wall background and the main image model. Positioned the grunge background and changed the opacity a bit and deleted the edges a bit to blend nicely with the solid black background color. Removed the backgrond of the model then I placed the fire behind it. I removed the watermark using the patch tool. And ended up with this.



Want to give back the little knowledge I gained in the years I've been doing this coz I'm waaay beyond being an expert I just find ways that makes the process a lot easier. And I was blessed to get connected with people that gives me work endlessly. This is one thing I know that is very important. Get connected with people that are in the higher level of the pyramid if you know what I mean.

Next section on the next post.

I believe that copying design work from other designer can improve your skills in designing, because you are also adapting their technique and what is in their mind. But dont copy 100%.

How others do it (might just be the same owner but others do it like this, straight rip)



Design update tonight for the next section.

Half of web design is about taking elements from other sites.

You've done a nice job on that as it's not a straight up copy. However, for something like this the real trick is to test to see improvements and get the best conversion rate possible.

Keep split testing colours, images, text etc and identify where you can improve things.

Thanks a lot for this information.
It is very helpful for people like me-not designers.

Great thread.

But who buys that? I mean I don't know what you have to promise them that they would buy this s*** lol

But who buys that? I mean I don't know what you have to promise them that they would buy this s*** lol

Click to expand...

Owners of this kind of pages makes a lot of money if they are promoting it right. I have worked closely with a Garcinia product years ago and I'm sure they bank on it bigtime since they are one of those that promoted it first.

Half of web design is about taking elements from other sites.

You've done a nice job on that as it's not a straight up copy. However, for something like this the real trick is to test to see improvements and get the best conversion rate possible.

Keep split testing colours, images, text etc and identify where you can improve things.

Click to expand...

Thanks. I agree most of these pages comes with several variations until they find what converts best. Some ugly pages converts better that pages that are better designed, it's just the way it is sometimes.

nicdsgn said:

Owners of this kind of pages makes a lot of money if they are promoting it right. I have worked closely with a Garcinia product years ago and I'm sure they bank on it bigtime since they are one of those that promoted it first.

Click to expand...

Years ago yes, but now? I don't think so...

I don't know about Garcinia today, but clients are still asking for these kind of pages so I guess they are still making money out of it, otherwise they won't. Well that's just what I think

yeah...people have money on themes like this..

what will the mobile version look like?

copy is good but not unique try to make somthing your own i think it will look better

Never knew Garcinia is still hot as of today.

Nice share mate, I also take inspiration from others designs

not copy, maybe, but find the way where to go..

For my work to be done I prefer to get inspired by other designers but copying is what I don't like very much. When you're just learning – yeah, that works, but when you do a job for a client it's completely another situation and it's better to work on improving your own creativity process instead of just a plagiarism.

Will update with the final design of the desktop and mobile version this weekend.

If the design is 30% unique then it doesn't count in copy design as per my knowledge. Between you have really done great job in changing the design.

I firmly believe that design should be unique along with most of content (of course, don't change tech specs ). You can take the structure and appearance, but as the result produce your unique touch and feel.

The original reference site was down already but this is an almost identical page:



This is what I ended up with.



A mobile version is being made as well for this one.

*********************************************************************************************************

This copying (well I really don't like it) is still widespread, others are really straight ripping a page and just replaces the product/name. I don't know how they get away with that since most pages are CPA offers. And I'm pretty sure they know their pages are being ripped. I think they really just don't care since most of these pages runs only for a couple of months (as far as I know).