People arrive to your website with a specific intent. This could be intent to learn more about a problem or a product. There are definite steps you should do to get your website to convert browsers into paying customers.
- Message: Make your central message clear. You have only a few seconds to communicate your benefits, how you are better than your competition. Use your page headlines, your graphics and your navigation to communicate your message.
- Initial Hook: Grab their attention with a compelling headline that includes the phrase they were searching for. Your objective is to grab their attention and pique a potential customer’s interest. Your opening paragraph should address the need they came to satisfy.
- Make it Clear: Make your graphics, your message and your navigation clear and intuitive. The message on your website needs to be clear. This means having an offer that is relevant, understandable and visual. This offer is your call to action.
- Call to Action: Drive your visitors toward a desired action. Make it clear and highly visible. Place your primary call to action where it can be easily seen without scrolling down. It needs to be highly visible to arriving visitors. Examples of calls to action include- “Buy Now”, “Order Now”, “Join Today”, and “Sign Up For a Free Report”.
- Build Trust: Show visitors that you are trustworthy. Show prospects there are no risks. Build trust at every step. Show your phone number and address. Post a guarantee. Have a no-risk returns policy. Show your privacy policy. At an action step such as a sign-up for, reassure with an excerpt from your privacy policy.
- Compelling Copy: Effective copywriting attracts targeted visitors and begins the selling process by attracting attention and building interest in what you have to offer. Website visitors come looking for answers to their questions or problems. Merely giving information or logically presenting your products is not enough.
- Social Elements: Using social media, merged with eCommerce is one way to improve conversions. This includes product reviews, ratings, consumer feedback, wish-lists, favorites, blogs, forums or chat rooms.
Hint: Start strong and finish strong. Grab their attention when they arrive, and astound them with your finish. Put your best material at the beginning and the end.
Tips are from SEO coaching and conversion expert Doug Williams
