To be successful with your online business,
whether you are selling your own product,
services or are selling for other merchants as
an affiliate, you need a Web site that focuses
on that subject alone. The site must be easy to
build, maintenance-free, low cost, credible, and
a powerful traffic-builder and
customer-converter.
Having
the right tools or product alone will not ensure the
success of your website. There are many factors to be
considered when designing your site. And unfortunately,
most of these are usually ignored by Internet business
owners. Here are eight simple steps to enhance your site
and make it profitable.
1.
Build It for Speed
There
is no denying that in this day and age that people are
in a hurry. You have between 10 and 30 seconds to
capture your potential customer's attention. To minimize
your load time, keep graphics small. Compress them where
possible. Use flashy technology (JavaScript, Flash,
Streaming Audio/Video, animation) sparingly and only if
it is imperative to your presentation.
2.
Target Your Market
Know
who your market is and make certain that your site
caters to their needs. It is critical that your site
reflect the values of your potential customers. Is your
market mostly business professionals? If so, the site
must be clean and professional. Is your product aimed at
teenagers and young adults? Then your site could be more
informal and relaxed. The key is to know your market and
build the site to their preferences.
3.
Focus the Site
Make
certain your web site is focused on the goal of selling
your product or service. If your business offers many
products, dedicate a unique page for each instead of
trying to sell them all from one page. This can easily
be accomplished through the utilization of subdomains.
4. Build Credibility
The
most professionally designed site won't sell if your
customers don't believe in you. Become an authority in
your chosen niche. The internet is all about
information, not just marketing. People go to the
internet to find information on a particular subject.
Providing clear concise articles focused on the subject
of your site makes you an expert in your field.
Providing a clear privacy statement is also away to
build your credibility. Provide a prominent link to your
privacy statement from every page on the site as well as
from any location that you are asking your visitors for
personal information. Provide legitimate contact
information on line, including your mailing address and
phone number. Don't hide behind a computer!
5.
Keep Navigation Simple
Make
site navigation easy and intuitive. Simple and smooth
navigation adds to the convenience of the visitors. Add
powerful search and catalog features. Many times a lot
of visitors do not have the patience to navigate through
the whole website to find what they are looking for.
6.
Keep It Consistent
Make
sure the site is consistent in look, feel and design.
Nothing is more jarring and disturbing to a customer
than feeling as if they have just gone to another site.
Keep colors and themes constant throughout the site.
7.
Make Your Site Interactive and Personalized
Make
your website interactive. Add feedback forms as well as
email forms that allow your prospective customers to ask
you any questions they might have pertaining to a
product. Personalization of your website is another key
element that can lead to customer delight and can
increase your sales. Personalization technology provides
you the analytic tools to facilitate cross-selling and
up-selling when the customer is buying online. It would
give you an idea of what products to cross-sell and
up-sell. For example, when a person buys a CD player, a
disc cleaner can also be offered.
8.
Content is King
Good
content sells a product. Ask yourself the following
questions. Does your copy convey the message you wish to
get across to your visitors? Is it compelling? Does it
lead your visitor through the sales process? Have others
review, critique and edit your copy to ensure it is
delivering the intended message. Always double-check
your spelling and grammar.
These
eight, simple rules will go a long way toward the
improvement of your website and most importantly, turn
visitors into customers.
About The Author
Alden Smith is an award winning author who has been
marketing on the internet for over 7 years. His site,
http://www.for-the-record.biz, is loaded with
articles and information for the beginning blogger and
internet marketer. Articles are posted daily, addressing
everything from CSS to blogging for the beginning
marketer.
