The first paragraph of your article is a summary of the article's content. If you've transitioned your physical store to an online platform or launched an internet-based business and are not seeing the sales you expected, your website might be the problem. Many business owners often ask how they can increase traffic to their site. However, before you can start promoting your site, it's crucial to evaluate your website from your customers' perspective.
Customers always want to know what's in it for them. Your website should quickly and clearly answer this question before they lose interest and navigate away. Start by viewing your homepage as a stranger who is unfamiliar with you or your products and services. Does the first paragraph clearly state what you're offering and the benefits you provide? It should. Many websites fail to clearly communicate what they do, leaving visitors confused and likely to leave. Your homepage should also use compelling language that excites people and makes them want to learn more. It should be clean, uncluttered, and easy to navigate.
While many web designers might suggest using lots of Flash and other bandwidth-consuming elements, it's best to avoid these. The internet is primarily about information, and you need to deliver it without crashing your visitors' browsers or making them wait for a Flash intro page to load. Remember, "Content is king." If your site is packed with valuable information, you don't need fancy bells and whistles.
Always keep your target market in mind. For instance, if you sell saltwater fish and equipment, your site should include tips and tricks on livestock care, setting up a system, or even a helpful message board where visitors can share information. You want to provide your visitors with useful information, not just push your products or services. Show them the benefits they'll receive, and they'll likely become repeat customers.
Ensure your web pages include plenty of calls to action. Tell your visitors what you want them to do, whether it's to call now, click here to order, or subscribe to your newsletter. Your website pages should all work together under the same theme. The look and navigation should be consistent throughout the site and should reinforce your offline brand identity.
Another common mistake online marketers make is failing to update their websites or keeping the same look for over a year. Unlike a brochure, a website is not static. Its strength as a marketing tool lies in its ability to evolve over time, and you should add to it regularly. Experts recommend a total redesign every year to keep visitors from getting bored. An easy way to add fresh content is to add a news feed on a subject matter that matches your site.
The promotion process should not begin until your website works as an effective sales tool for your business. If your site is poorly designed and lacks content, you'll just be wasting advertising dollars if you try to market it. So, if your site sales are in a slump, take a look at your own website. You might be surprised at what you find.
Moreover and Web-Source are excellent resources for adding fresh content to your site. If you're interested in having your content appear on other people's sites, check out Master Syndicator.
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