By Vishal P.
Rao
When you run an online home-based business, your web site is
more than simply a company location. It's also your primary
source of advertising and marketing. If you've noticed that
sales are lagging or if you're simply looking for ideas for
a site you're building, the following five tips can help you
boost revenue and develop an even more successful web
presence.
1) Stress Your UPS
In this case, UPS isn't referring to the delivery company.
Instead, it stands for Unique Positioning Statement and it's
one of the most important ingredients of your business. Your
UPS is basically a statement of what sets you apart from
your competition.
Think of it as an answer to the question: Why should I do
business with you? You may choose to focus on service,
price, or any other special feature of your business that
would appeal to customers. Whichever feature you choose
should be stressed in all your web site's content. Don't shy
away from telling others what sets you apart.
2) Add Interactivity
Consumers are shying away from passive activities where they
just sit and watch. Instead, they want to be a part of the
action, so you need to give your potential customers several
ways to participate at your site.
Possibilities include message boards, polls, chat rooms, and
surveys. By adding these types of elements, you are giving
visitors more of a reason to stick around, to return, and to
recommend your site to their friends.
3) Stress Credibility
No one wants to buy a product from someone they don't trust,
so building a sense of credibility with your site is crucial
to your success. You can accomplish this in a number of
ways:
* Adding an "About Us" section
* Providing complete contact information
* Offering a money back guarantee
These methods work for several reasons. An "About Us"
section allows visitors to get a picture of who they will be
doing business with while the contact information gives them
the security of knowing they can reach someone in case there
is a problem.
Furthermore, the guarantee expresses your confidence in your
product and that confidence is contagious. Testimonials,
client lists, and awards are also effective for building
credibility.
4) Test Everything
The problem with most unsuccessful business owners is that
they jump right in to things without ever taking the time to
test their site, their product, their layout, even their
links. The result is that too much money is spent on things
that do not work.
Any changes you make to your site need to be tested before
being adopted permanently. For example, if you change your
headline on your home page, compare your sales for the week
of the change and the previous week.
If the numbers drop or stay about the same, go back to the
drawing board. If the numbers go up, check one more week's
sales numbers and if the numbers are still high, you may
have a winner.
5) Provide Reasons to Return
While it may only take a visitor to your site once trip to
make a purchase, you want to give them reasons to come back.
Otherwise, how will they know when you add new products? The
key is to continue to update your site, perhaps with
articles or news, that may be of interest to your target
audience.
If your site becomes one of your visitor's primary resources
for the latest information on a subject they are interested
in, you can be sure they will bookmark your site and come
back frequently.
Also consider having a mailing list. A mailing list will
allow visitors to provide you with their email addresses so
that you can send them notifications of updates, specials,
and changes to the site including ads and marketing
materials for new products. These email messages will also
provide them with a reason to come back.
When you do business online, your web site takes the place
of your sales force. If it's not pulling in the numbers you
had hoped for or if you've seen your numbers going down
recently, you need to evaluate your site and decide where
changes can and should be made.
Content, layout, graphics, even navigation all play a role
in the success, or failure, of your site and your company.
Don't let a small problem with your web site become the
reason you go out of business.
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Vishal P. Rao is the owner of
Home Based Business Opportunities
- One of Internet's leading website dedicated to starting,
managing and marketing a home based business.
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