Give Your Website A Chance

I often wonder how serious people are when it
comes to their websites. I thought that most
everyone knew that the phrase "Build it and
they will come" no longer applies on the internet
but I'm not sure how many people really believe it.

I look at sites everyday as part of my sales
strategy and I can't tell you how many of them
violate the obvious elements of good website
design and submission.

What even amazes me more is that they can't
figure out why they don't get sales or visitors.

Do yourself a favor and attempt to apply the
following tactics to your site. They won't cost
you a thing except a little time and effort to
apply them.

** About Page **

Always include an about page on your site.
Don't be afraid to tell your story and let
people know who you are and how you arrived
where you are.

Opening yourself up and letting people know
who you are adds an element of trust. It
exposes your personality, capabilities and
knowledge. All factors that let your readers
know you are genuine.

** Include all your contact information **

Let your visitors know that you are available.
Encourage questions, email and phone calls.
Include your name, address and phone number.
If you can, it's also helpful to place a photo
on your site. Familiarity is key and it can add
one more link in the ladder of trust.

** Headlines **

Create compelling headlines. Peak the interest
of your readers. This is your chance to grab
their attention and incite them to read on.

Don't be flashy or obnoxious. Simply tell it like
it is. Capture their attention with descriptive,
informative words. Get your readers involved in
your information. Ask questions. Make them think.

You might be surprised to learn that just one
compelling headline can bring instant sales almost
overnight.

**Create your meta tags **

This is the first place I look when people tell
me they aren't getting visitors. I often see
sites that have no title or description tag or
the tags don't follow the suggested guidelines
for proper setup.

Here's an example of how the tags might look for
a site that sells hummingbird feeders:

You will need to do this for each page of your site.
Each page needs to have it's own set of tags. I also
recommend focusing on one keyword per page, two at the
very most. Too many keywords can confuse what your
page is about.

Always make sure that your keywords are scattered
throughout your text as well, however don't sacrifice
good content for nonsense. Your text should be easy
to read and should not sound redundant. Make your pages
at least 250 words.

** Testimonials**

Solicit feedback from buyers you've had. Ask
them to write a small testimonial that you can
place on your site. This goes a long way to
help convince your visitor that your products
and services are sound.

** Linking **

Reciprocal linking is a common and effective
tactic for obtaining search engine status and
page rank but it's also the most time consuming.
It requires making contacts, following up with
contacts and updating your website.

While reciprocal linking is an excellent way of
establishing page rank it's not the only way.
Page rank can also be established by submitting
your site to directories, writing articles and
setting up blogs.

Don't underestimate the power of website
links. Take the extra few hours a day and
get your site noticed.

** Offer Guarantees *

Always offer your products with a guarantee.
This is often the extra boost a buyer needs
to make the purchase.

A good site will offer 100%, no-questions-asked,
money-back guarantees. People rarely take advantage of
such guarantees but it's this statement that may tip
the scales in your favor.

** Submit Your Site **

Last, but not least, don't neglect to submit your
site to the search engines. Many of them are no longer
free but the fees are nominal and worth the
expense. Google still offers a free submit and it's
easy, simply type in your URL address, however make
sure your meta tags include a title and description
tag first.

For the free search engines I don't recommend
using automated submissions. Submit them yourself
taking care to compose accurate titles descriptions
and keywords.

Elizabeth McGee has spent 20 years in the service and support industry.
She has moved her expertise to the world wide web helping businesses
find trusted tools, enhance customer service, build confidence and
increase sales. You can visit Elizabeth's sites at:
http://www.pro-marketing-online.com
http://www.homenotion.com

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