Step-By-Step Blueprint To Create Websites That Sell
When creating your website remember this is the marketplace for your services and products. Your visitors are “window shopping” and you want them to like what they see so they will make a purchase or want to come back to shop in the future. If your content is of high value they will enjoy their experience while on your website. Here is a step-by-step blueprint to create websites that sell.
Step #1 Create an interactive website
The internet is growing by leaps and bounds. Design a website wherein you provide a community around your business. You want your visitors to feel like they are part of the experience on your website. Here are a few ways you can do this:
- Include polls or surveys
- Provide a means that enables your visitors to review and rank the content on your page.
- Consider creating a forum providing interaction between your visitors
- Create a blog related to your website requesting feedback and comments
- Research shows that video marketing converts more than the written word alone. People will be able to know, like and trust you more if they can see you in action!
Step #2 It is important that your website content is providing your visitors value
Think of the reasons why people go online. They are either researching an item for a purchase, looking for ways to solve a problem or just want to be entertained. Create a website that provides services and products, useful information and is written in an entertaining manner and you will have satisfied all of these requirements. You can provide value to your customers and prospects in the following ways:
- Create articles that review current popular products
- Write how to articles, including videos on the subject
- Provide case studies, including workbooks, reports and information shared by an expert
Step #3 Design your website so that it will be easy to navigate by your visitors
With the first 20 seconds a person is on your site they will decide whether they will stay or click on to something else. The more time a person spends on your site, the more chance you have of them purchasing your services or products. Even if they do not purchase on their first visit, if they like what they see there is more of a chance that they will return in the future.
To make your site easier to navigate consider:
- Keeping your site design simple
- Make sure there is uniformity in the options and appearance throughout your pages
- It is a good thing if you have a lot of content, but you may want to consider using drop down menus for easier access of your various topics
- The availability of a search function can assist your visitors in finding the products, services or topics they are looking for on your website
- If you have several pages to your site consider utilizing a way for your visitors to easily return to previous pages.
- Test your website on different browsers
I speak from personal experience on the subject of testing your website’s appearance on the various available browsers. What shows up picture perfect on say FireFox may not show up at all on Chrome.
Step #4 Make your website easy on the eyes
There are several things to take into consideration regarding this subject. When you are designing your website, be conscious of the size of your text and compatibility of the colors you are using. When a person clicks on your website you do not want it to be a painful experience with excessively bright colors. The readability and atmosphere of your site is critical to selling your products and services.
Strive to achieve the following:
- Colors that are easy and appealing to the eyes
- Your graphics and content are not so busy that they are distracting
- If your formatting includes underlining, bolding or italics, keep it to a minimum
- Make sure you include adequate spacing between your sentences and paragraphs
- The font that you are using is large enough and easy to read
Step #5 Use a soft sell strategy
People visiting your website are looking for a sales pitch. You do not want to make it a hard sell. You can accomplish this by providing adequate information, how to solve their problems and share with them the benefits of your products or services. Allow them to come to a “buying” decision feeling like it was their idea as a result of information on your page. People will be more receptive under these conditions.
Your website is going to need to be structured and provide a pleasant experience for your visitors. Once you have created your website share it with your family and friends for their opinion and ask how they feel with the information and manner you have presented your products and services. Consider their comments, make the necessary changes and you will be ready to present a website that will sell.
