With the western world still struggling to climb out of a self induced recession, every business should be looking at key elements of their online marketing process from website conversion to traffic generation and often a few small changes to increase conversion are all that is needed.
A business website or blog should have a specific function whether it is creating sales, capturing leads or getting users to fill out a form. It is important to know what your websites main function is so that everything on that site can be geared to this main goal and if anything on the page distracts from that, then it should be consigned to the trash bin.
This can be a long process, but once a website is highly optimized for conversions valuable visitors stop getting wasted and the goals of the website will start to be realized. Sometimes increasing the conversion rate can be easier than trying to increase traffic. If you have 1 sale in 100 visitors and you want to increase to 2%, what is easier? Increasing your visitors by another 100 or increasing conversion to 2%?
There are hundreds of ways to increase conversions but let’s keep it simple and concise at 5.
1. Web Statistics – Implement Google Analytics show you can see what traffic is coming from where, what keywords you’re been found under. You can also tie this in with any Google Adwords Campaigns you’re running and track conversions and results. Using Website Optimizer with Google Analytics allows you to test and optimize site content and design and quickly and easily increase revenue and ROI whether you’re new to marketing or an expert.
2. Look in the Mirror – Take a long hard look at your website. Is it obvious what you are selling or can solve your reader’s problem? Are there distracting banners, links taking users away from your websites main goal?
3. Offer Value – In the current climate people are looking for value. Are you offering it? Giving something away for free, free shipping or a similar incentive to order may sound obvious but are you doing it?
4. Keywords – Is your website targeting the right keyword phrases? If your headlines don’t work or entice. For example: XYZ Florists offer Flowers for every occasion might be better as XYZ Florists of Bristol offer Flowers for Weddings, Funerals, (and depending on the season) Mothers Day / St Valentine’s Day. This would attract more localised results as well as people looking for flowers for a specific occasion.
5. Testimonials – Are you collecting testimonials from every customer, or as many as you can? Testimonials are a powerful incentive to new buyers. If you can ask for a more in depth testimonial the better. What was it about your service that they liked? How did it benefit them?
