Attracting people to your website is an important first step. An equally important second step is maintaining their interest. Let’s consider 8 elements that have proven to make people “stick” to your website.
How can a website RETAIN a viewer’s attention?
Whether you are attracting visitors through SEO ratings, paid advertisements, content marketing, or various types of social media, if viewers are clicking on your website, but not remaining on your site, the actual results of your website may have little impact on your company’s revenue. Attracting people to your website is an important first step. An equally important second step is maintaining their interest. Let’s consider 8 elements that have proven to make people “stick” to your website.
The more time your website takes to load, the more customers you will lose. According to statistics, more than 40% of people (Americans) will abandon a website if it takes more than 3 seconds to load. Although ‘”website loading patience” was longer in other countries, there is great importance in creating a website that loads quickly. Is your website overburdened with moving graphics, company videos, or other content? There should be a balance; your website should have many interesting/catching features, but if the features take too long to load, the idea is self-defeating.
When customers land on your page, they should know immediately the first action you want them to take. Do you want them to view your product line? Do you want to attract their attention to a specific place in your website? Placing your most relevant page predominately in the header and displaying a site map on every page in the footer will quickly explain to customers what they can do on your site. Customers are trained to look for a site map at the footer of your page; you should have a map waiting for them.
Customers should quickly know what your business does and what you can provide them with. A tagline, short description, company description, or a large product search engine will immediately answer questions people have about your site. People should quickly know the purpose of your business and what you have that will benefit them or improve their lives.
The methods people can contact your company should be easy to see and clear. Too many times a website will be excellently designed and quality products, but if the customer has questions or wants to contact the company directly, they may have a hard time finding the contact information. It is the people who want to connect with you who are your more serious buyers. You should make it as easy as possible for this small group of customers to reach you.
One effective way companies maintain their viewer’s interest in their website is to have a competition or a free product offer. If a user can get something from your website for free it makes their visit worth their time. This is also a good opportunity for you to exchange information with your customer.
The contents of your website should be regularly updated. You should give visitors a reason to visit your website again and again. One useful method for alerting people about new updates to your website is allowing them to sign up for RSS feeds. With an RSS feed, customers can sign up to receive updates from your website. They don’t need to provide any personal information to receive these feeds, making RSS feeds more appealing for customers to accept.
Your website should reflect and appeal to the interests of your target market. If well administered and updated regularly, including a blog or customer feedback forum can make your website more real. Talking directly with your customers make your website more life-like and is more appealing to customers. People enjoy talking to another person, not to an entity like a business. The colors, content, style, and text should also add to the personality of your website and will further separate your website from others.
Your website should offer many avenues for connecting with your customers. Some companies send out emails containing useful articles and publications which may improve their customer’s knowledge. Your website can give people the option of signing up to receive these monthly newsletters. Again, blogs, customer commenting, and initiating conversation on these types of interactive tools can greatly personalize your business.
Your website is your 24 hour “lead machine”. It can attract interest and communicate a purpose even while you sleep. If your website is correctly designed, it can allow you to compete with customers on the other side of the world. It is a tool should be designed to attract and maintain the interest of your viewers.
Get What YOU Want!
Whether you are finalizing a business deal, conducting a sale, interviewing for a job, or just trying to get your way, effectively channeling the power of negotiation can be a huge game changer for your life.
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