In this article you will learn the importance designing your
website around your customers and their needs. A websites form
and content is what will determine if a visitor will stay just a
visitor or turn into your next customer. Today we will discuss
how to accomplish the later.
To succeed at your online business (whether you are sellingyour
own product/service or are selling for other merchantsas an
affiliate), you need a Web site created just for that - a
simple, focused site. One that is easy to build,
maintenance-free, low cost, credible, and a powerful
traffic-builder and customer-converter.
Having the right tool and the right product alone doesn't insure
the success of your website. There are many factors to be
considered while designing a site. Unfortunately, most of these
are easily ignored by Internet business owners.
Build It for Speed
It's a fact of modern life - people are in a hurry. This means
that you have between 10 and 30 seconds to capture your
potential customer's attention. Tominimize 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 important to your presentation.
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 mostly a teenagers and young adults? Then
your site could be more informal and relaxed. The key here is to
know your market and build the site to their preferences.
Focus the Site
Make certain your web site is focused on the goal, selling your
product or service. A site offering many unrelated products is
not necessarily unfocused, but this is often the case. If your
business does offer many products, dedicate a unique page for
each instead of trying to sell them all from one page.
Credibility Is Crucial
The most professionally designed site won't sell if your
customers don't believe in you. A clear privacy statement is one
way 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.
Navigation should be 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.
Consistency is the key
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.
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.
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 insure 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:
Clive Harman site has free ebooks, Free artcles, free
web-templates and an a bargain basement. Check it out here
http://www.site4information.com
