The definitive top 7 roadblocks preventing you from owning a profitable website that drives daily sales.
Most websites fail due to the same reasons. We see it over and over again. And the result is always the same ‒ the business loses out on valuable income. Avoid these common pitfalls and your website will deliver a return on your investment.
#7 YOUR WEBSITE COPY IS LONG-WINDED
Web users scan-read. They’re not going wade through streams of blah-blah-blah just to get to the golden nugget of information hidden at the end.
Successful websites address any concerns and objections their potential clients may have. The burning pains. They also engage visitors by using lots of headers, short paragraphs, bullet points, break-out boxes and call-to-actions. And more and more they’re using videos instead of text.
TIP: Make sure your homepage has at least 500 words, just to keep Google happy
#6 YOU’RE USING A CHEAP BUT SLOW WEB HOST
Website speed is a BIG factor as to whether someone stays or leaves your website. Many people abandon a site that doesn’t load within three seconds.
If your site takes three seconds to load, then you need to improve it pronto! Try a better web host, or pay your current web host for more bandwidth juice. A website redesign and getting rid of those old fashioned Flash intros will help big time.
TIP: Here’s a quick online test you can take: www.webpagetest.org
#5 YOU HAVEN’T DESIGNED TRUST AND CREDIBILITY INTO YOUR WEBSITE
First impressions matter. If your website is ugly and confusing, your visitors will take one look and head off to somewhere that's less of a downer.
When we’re building a website for a client, we know that they’re not just paying us to throw a few attractive pages together. We’re there to build the company’s online image.
TIP: Some of the things that help build credibility and trust include: great design, customer testimonials, professional membership logos, returns policy information and contact details.
#4 YOU DON’T HAVE AN EFFECTIVE SALES CONVERSION PLAN
We call the page with your key call-to-action the ‘goal page’. When the web visitor leaves without hitting a goal page, we call that ‘a leak’.
An effective conversion plan focuses on the kinds of things that reduces leaks, such creating good first impressions through great design, easy navigation, benefits-driven copy, accessible pricing and a highly visible call-to-action.
TIP: The conversion plan should also consider the sales funnel to pull your web visitors from an initial simple action, right through all the stages of engagement to becoming a customer.
#3 YOU’RE NOT GRABBING THEIR DETAILS BEFORE THEY LEAVE
So . . . you’ve got all these hot web visitors looking through your well-designed website with the bang-on web copy and fast load times. But how do you get their attention?
Easy. You offer them a bribe ‒ a ‘lead magnet’. Something they’re willing to hand over their email address for. Give away a bunch of free resources and tools. Checklists. Cheatsheets. Your brother’s phone number.
TIP: Make sure you include a‘request a quote’ button or link with your lead magnets. Give them an easy way to get in contact with you.
#2 YOU’RE NOT TELLING THEM WHAT TO DO
Contrary to popular opinion, people like being told what to do. They don’t want too many options either.
Don’t give your web visitors 13 options. Give them one straight-up call to action that tells them what to do next. It could be an image, a button or a line of text that prompts your visitors to take action.
TIP: Make your call-to-action big and bold. Without a strong call-to-action, your website is just a pretty brochure site that does nothing for your bottom line
#1 YOU DON’T FOLLOW THROUGH WITH SMART EMAIL MARKETING
Email marketing is a vital part of any website strategy. Many people forget this. The brand new prospect that just handed over their email address then disappears into the deep dark abyss.
Email nurturing is a great way to build trust ‒ a way for you to connect. It also helps the them work out whether or not they want to do business with you.
TIP: You might need to contact them at least 10 times before they’ll become a customer. But keep at it ‒ email marketing works...
So . . . how does your website rate?
Is your website making one or all of these seven mistakes? Do you feel as though your business is losing out on valuable income?
Claim your free website audit today.
Simply click on the big LEARN MORE button below, and we’ll give your website an expert critique and identify the specific things you need to change to make it more profitable. Some of them you can do yourself. Then see your website inquiries double, or even triple, in a under week.
