"log in" - confusing?

I finally got to exposing my site to small circle of friends and relatives - for feedback purposes (I am dying for some income but I don't want to prematurely expose it to the general public).

I was expecting some feedback on the design, shopping experience, product descriptions, the products themselves - and even on the registration process.

Instead, I was surprised to see that the first few replies that I received were: "How do I register?"

"Huh?" :huh:, I thought, "isn't that obvious how to register?"

Well, for me it is obvious, but I cannot argue with quite a few people not understanding that reaching the registration page is done by clicking "log in".

Did you have similar experience? If so, how did you solve it?

(to the forum moderator: I hope that this is the right forum to discuss this. If not, please move it to the one that fits best in your opinion. Thanks.)

Did you ask them for more details? Perhaps change the login link to Register?

Yes, I did - and changing "log in" to "log in (or register)" seems to be real easy for me (after all the heavy customization work I have done so far).

The reason I post my question here is simply to share experience regarding this seemingly minor issue.

Before posting here I actually searched the forums for similar threads but couldn't find any. It seems to me strange that I would be the first one to encounter this.

If I am the only one to get this feedback from (test) customers, then what does this mean? :blush:

I agree with your approach as it seems the simplest and most intuitive

I do have to laugh though about this line.

Instead, I was surprised to see that the first few replies that I received were: "How do I register?"
( No not laughing at you )

I find it funny that your test showed people are looking for away to register.
when you hear so many people here saying that they are losing business because customers have to create an account....

to me it just goes to show that real honest to god testing with live subjects is better than reading something in a book and believing its the gospel.....

best of luck hope the rest of your testing goes well...

its good to see that there are people out there that want to get it right and not subscribed to the " If you build it they will come" mentality