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How to Make Better Use of Your Website
Traffic
© 2003
by Angela Wu
Every online business is faced with the challenge of
finding some way to get their web pages noticed from among
the billions of others online. So it's understandable that
much of our efforts go towards getting 'traffic'. Without
it, a website has no prospects and thus no sales.
But instead of a constant push for more traffic, why not try
to make the most of the traffic you already have? For
example, you might currently make 1 sale for every 200
visitors. With a few changes, you could make 1 sale for
every 100 visitors, effectively *doubling* your sales!
Here are a few suggestions. Test each one to see which
methods work best for your business - and don't be afraid to
modify them, too! The only way to know what's going to work
for you is to try it and track the results.
BEAT the Cold Winter of 2007 ARIZONA'S NEWEST WONDER
Kartchner Caverns State Park opened in 1999. This stunning limestone cave system is one of the top in the world. Visit Sunny Southwest this cold winter |
__1. Experiment with Popups or Popunders.
Many people have a strong dislike of popup or popunder
windows, so please use them judiciously. Some suggestions on
how you can use them include:
* A subscription box that appears only once per day
for each user (or once a week, or whatever time frame you
would like to use).
* A window that appears only as the visitor leaves
your site.
* A 'timed' popup that waits a few seconds or minutes
before it appears on the screen.
* A 'countdown' popup box that makes a special offer
to the visitor if he or she takes action within the next 5
or 10 minutes. The visitor can only click on a link within
the window if he or she wants to take advantage of the
offer... otherwise the window closes and the offer doesn't
appear again for a week.
There are many free scripts available all over the web.
However, if you would like a custom script written for you,
freelance programmers are one way to get professional and
affordable help: http://buildyourhomebiz.com/rd/gethelp.html
.
__2. Experiment With Site Design.
* Add a select image or two. Do you sell an eBook? Or
perhaps offer a newsletter? Get a custom 'virtual cover'
designed for you. Or try using a prominent 'order now'
graphic.
* Simplify your page. More choices is not necessarily
better. Try removing some of the 'clutter' to help your
visitor focus more on what you'd like him to see. For
example, you could remove links to help minimize
distractions.
* Make your page more visually attractive. For
example, use black lettering on a light background (this is
easiest on the eyes). Use HTML tables to properly lay out
your site. Limit your use of different fonts and colors, but
at the same time use SOME color to add visual interest.
BEAT the Cold Winter of 2007 ARIZONA'S NEWEST WONDER
Kartchner Caverns State Park opened in 1999. This stunning limestone cave system is one of the top in the world. Visit Sunny Southwest this cold winter |
__3. Make the Ordering Process Clear and Simple.
The ordering process should be as easy as possible -- make
it difficult, and your visitor can leave with a simple
click-of-the-mouse!
* Clearly state the price. It is very frustrating when
the only place to find the price of the product is on the
order page.
* Reassure the visitor that your order form is secure.
(if it's not, it should be!) Many people still worry about
placing an order over the Internet, so anything you can do
to alleviate their worries can only help.
* Tell them what's going to happen after they order.
Will they be able to download your product instantly? Will
it be physically shipped to them, and in what time frame?
* Provide a clear ordering link. I've gone to websites
before where I'm ready to buy -- only I can't figure out how
to place my order! It only takes me a second to leave the
site and go to a competitor.
__4. Build Credibility and Trust.
Ordering online can be very impersonal. Your visitors don't
know who they're dealing with, so it's your job to show them
that you're a business that they can trust.
* Give your visitors a way to contact you. And when
they do write or call you, answer them promptly,
courteously, and helpfully.
* Consider a FAQ page (Frequenty Asked Questions). If
there are common questions, for example, about shipping
time, fees, package tracking and delivery, etc. then a page
with the answers to these questions will help to eliminate
any uncertainty on your customer's part.
* Display testimonials from happy customers. This
helps to show new visitors how good your product really is,
and also helps to dispell any lingering doubts they may
have.
__5. Touch Up Your Sales Copy.
This is the most obvious and arguably the most important
part of your website. The best product in the world won't
sell unless you can successfully show your prospects how it
will benefit them. Work particularly hard on your headlines
-- they'll determine whether or not your prospect continues
to read the rest of your sales copy (one good tool for
quickly generating effective headlines
-- based on your answers to four questions -- is Headline
Creator Pro: http://onlinebusinessbasics.com/hcp/
).
A good sales letter can make a significant difference to
your bottom line.
A reasonable amount of traffic is obviously necessarily if a
site is to make sales. However, you can still improve your
profits, just by making better use of the traffic you
already have!
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Angela is the editor of Online Business Basics, a practical
guide to building an Internet business on a shoestring
budget. If you're tired of hype and just want solid,
down-to-earth information, then click here now -- and in
moments you can have access to loads of instantly useable
tips, specifically chosen for beginners!
http://onlinebusinessbasics.com/article.html
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