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Interent Marketing News from
Janet Smith & Andrew Davis |
February 2008 |
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Contact Us |
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Rishworth,
W. Yorkshire.
HX6 4QR
Tel: 01422 823 075 | |
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Greetings!
No matter how good your business is, you can't guarantee regular new customers. You have to promote your products or services.
The great thing about a good website is that it can be used in conjunction with whatever other types of marketing you do. Even if all you do is give someone your business card: if it carries your web address and the right message, you can attract potential new customers to your website.
I hope all is going well with you. If you'd like to discuss your website performance or any other aspect of Internet Marketing don't hesitate to give me a call.
Janet
07785 255 042 |
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 #1 Having a Fantastic Website is No Good if No One Can Find it!
As with most website tips, they are equally valid in real life.
If you spent several £thousand on a stunning glossy brochure and then locked every single copy in your filing room, what effect do you think that brochure would have on your business?
There are over 8 billion websites in existence. No one knows for sure, but estimates are that several thousand new websites are launched every week: How is anyone ever going to find yours?
Around 80% of Internet users start looking for something using a Search Engine. In the UK, 70% of those start with Google.
You don't need to know how to do it, but you must familiarise yourself with the fundamental principles of Search Engines and ensure your website is built to be found by them.
1. Search Engines look for patterns of words to determine what a website is about.
2. The business model of a Search Engine is focussed on delivering the searcher exactly what they were looking for so that they will continue to use it.
TIP: Type a few terms related to your business into Google, take a look at the websites that come out on top, what are they doing that you could copy?
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 #8 Make it Easy to Contact You.
The Internet is wonderful; you can put loads of information on your website to answer everyone's questions - except mine!
I was speaking to someone once who told me they didn't put their phone number of their website because they didn't want anyone to call. In my book this person wasn't serious about their business; they felt they had more important things to do that answer enquiries from potential customers.
You never know when someone will see or read something on your website that really sparks their interest and makes them want to contact you.
From every page visitors, generally, want to do one of four things:
1. Find out more - by moving to another page.
2. Buy something.
3. Contact you.
4. Leave your website.
Make it as easy as possible for visitors to do any of the first three.
TIP: Put your phone number prominently on every page of your website. |
 #19 Describe Your Service from Your Visitors' Perspective.
Why do websites have pages called About Us, Our Services, Our Products and Contact Us?
As a website visitor I don't care about you, I care about me! I want to know what you can do for me!
I am currently working with someone who sells air-conditioners and dehumidifiers. Generally, visitors aren't initially looking to buy a unit; they are trying to get rid of condensation!
Identify the 'pain' your customers have and make sure your website addresses it and tells them you can help make it go away.
Again, this is no different on-line to age old marketing principles - you sell benefits, not features.
Ask questions that get the visitor thinking and identify with them, before leading them 'by the mouse' to taking action.
TIP: Write the copy for your website using 'You' NOT 'I' or 'We'. |
 #20 Give Visitors a Reason to Come Back.
How many times have you visited a website and in the news section is an announcement about the launch of the company's new website dated 'September 2005'?
If your website is like a brochure, visitors may read it, they may be interested in it, but like a brochure, once they've read it there is no reason to read it again.
Consider your website more like a monthly magazine. To keep you buying the magazine every month the content is different, there may be standard features, but they are fresh and up to date.
If website visitors are going to return they will need a reason:
Is the website an information resource?
Does it have regular special offers and promotions?
Does it offer advanced access to new products or services?
No, you don't want your website to become an administrative burden, but you should consider it as a live shop window to the world that is merchandised regularly because it is the most valuable sales tool you have.
TIP: Archive old news items (don't delete them) and add a new news item at least once per month. |
 #23 Get Your Customers to Work for You.
It is said that a satisfied customer is one of the best advocates a business can have. Business referred to you from a satisfied customer is usually the easiest to convert. The Internet makes this easy. A useful gift or discount on a future order if a referral becomes a customer is the most common route. It is easy to do, but also very easy to overlook. Getting you new business is not the priority of your customers. You must prompt them to do it for you and offer them an incentive for doing so. Also consider useful information as a referral technique. This is the fifth of five Internet Marketing tips I'm going to give you, but I have 30 equally valuable tips on a website at www.wsimarketing.biz. I'm going to ask you all to visit that website and: 1. Print out the whole list for yourself. 2. Sign up to my e-Newsletter. 3. Forward the page to a friend. If you have found this article useful, I would expect you are likely to go and get the full list, you are also quite likely to sign up to my e-Newsletter and I make it very easy for you to pass the list on to others. TIP: Ask your customers for referral business and make it easy for them to do so.
TIP TWO: Sign up for my e-Newsletter at www.wsimarketing.biz | |
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