Keep Content Coming
Your website is finally built. It's professionally designed,
has compelling content, and it has vast amounts of helpful
information about your products or services. But, and this
is an important but…is your website working for you?
Your offline tools and advertisements may get your customers
and prospects to go to your website home page once. But you
want them to return many times. Here are some things to improve
your website's sales power:
1. Update Your Portfolio: If you have a portfolio of your
work (photographers, architects, landscapers, designers, writers,
etc.), keep your "latest and greatest" work current. Send
an enthusiastic e-mail to your customers to let them know
it's been updated.
2. Write Articles: You are an expert in your field. Customers
are hungry for the information only you can provide. Give
them helpful advice and tips. On your homepage, let website
visitors know about this section.
3. Add a Discussion Forum: Your website designer can help
you add a discussion forum. This allows visitors to communicate
with each other, and your staff can provide helpful answers.
4. Create a "Links" Page: Customers like being able to find
out more information regarding their purchasing decisions.
With a links page, you can map the way for them to visit other
related websites.
5. Publish an Ezine: Publishing an ezine will help position
your business as an expert in your field. In addition, you
will be providing tips to your customers that will help them.
It sets you apart from your competitors and instills confidence
and trust in your readers, making it easier for them to do
business with you. Archive your articles on your website on
an ongoing basis to refresh your content for business.
6. Ask Your Site Visitors: Is there something in your business
you are considering? Do you want some feedback on a service?
Why not ask for your customers' opinion? You can post an online
opinion poll and down the road, post customers' responses.
7. Start a Blog: If you are committed to posting regularly,
a blog can be a great way to build relationships with your
customers and leads. You can give them advice about services
or products, you can offer them helpful advices, and you can
give business updates. Best of all, a blog is easy to set
up and update!
ACTION ITEM: This week, look at your website. Would a visitor
want to come back? If not, write down several things you can
add to your site that will entice people to return. Take the
necessary steps to get it in place. Then, update your site!
About the author:
Wendy Maynard, your friendly marketing maven writes Kinetic
Ideas: A Marketing Blog at http://www.wendy.kinesisinc.com |
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