Online merchants become highly discouraged when they discover that motivated, Internet consumers are not lining up at their website; to make online purchases. Very often, this can be corrected and greatly improved, by addressing 8 common barriers:
- Conduct Proper Market Research. Make certain that there is a market for the product or service that you are offering. Take the time to research what products / services people are searching for and, what search terms they are applying to their queries
- Provide The Solution. Often, when consumers begin their search for a product or service, it is driven by a need to solve an immediate problem or concern. Be certain that your website clearly defines the benefits of your product or service, and details the solution/s it provides.
- Drive Traffic To Your Website. The wrong kind of traffic is worse than no traffic. Be patient. Visit forums and Blogs that are directly related to your product or service and make meaningful contributions; tastefully mentioning your website, product / service, in an unobtrusive way. Social Bookmarking and Press Releases are two other effective methods of encouraging new customers to visit your website.
- Get To Know Your Visitors. Carefully monitor your website’s traffic. The statistics that are logged on your hosting account will indicate which pages, products and times are most popular with your Internet audience. This powerful information allows you to adjust your marketing campaign, to target the ideal consumer.
- Provide Engaging And Meaningful Content. Beginning with your headline, everything the visitor reads must be compelling. Your content must encourage the motivated consumer to explore your product / service; and ultimately come to the conclusion, that you have the solution they desire. This is known as a conversion and ultimately results in direct contact or an online purchase.
- Beware Of Falling Prices. Experiment with different prices for your product / service. Consider that if your price is too high, the consumer will leave to shop elsewhere. What you may not have considered, is the customer’s perception of a very low price. Consumers often see bargain prices as an indication of poor, or less than desirable quality.
- No One Likes To Wait In Line At The Cash. Make certain to streamline your check-out process. Remove all distractions and ask as few questions as possible. At no point should the consumer be given the opportunity to reconsider their purchase.
- Provide A Specific Sales Message. Do not include links to other websites, Google Adsense or other Banner Ads. These are highly distractive and directly encourage targeted and motivated consumers to leave your website. Your text should be concise, descriptive and slightly entertaining. It should provide enough valuable information in 300-500 words, to satisfy any questions your online consumer may have about your product, the benefits it offers and the solution it provides.
Connect with Kristoffer Howes for more Internet marketing and brand building tips, strategies and advice.
