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Expert Answers to Biz Questions
Listen in! Pick up some expert advice to a reader's question that we selected from CyberSchmooz.
5 Secrets of Successful Websites That Sell
Often, I read that it takes passion and hard work to build a successful site that sells online. As I later discovered, that claim is false.
You must work hard, of course. But you need more to succeed online.
Hard work alone won’t help you build a site that turns visitors into customers.
And talking about passion, it’s not actually as import as you think.
According to Steve C of MyWifeQuitHerJob.com, “you don’t have to love what you sell when starting online.”
Even though Steve sold wedding linens online, he never had a passion for them.
Pat Flynn echoed Steve thoughts.
Flynn isn’t passionate about the security guard industry, yet he built one of the most visited security guard blogs in the United States.
To succeed online, you have to find a need and fill it.
How do you find a need?
And how do you fill that need?
This article will reveal the secrets of successful websites and what helps them sell.
1. Drive massive relevant traffic to your website
The success of any website depends on one thing: Relevant traffic.
I’m talking about a targeted group of people who care about a particular topic.
For example, Stuart Walker’s NicheHacks is a blog that receives visitors who care about niche marketing.
Darren Rowse’s ProBlogger is all about blogging.
Most visitors to ProBlogger are interested in blogging.
That is what I call targeted traffic.
If a selection of your site’s visitors are interested in business, and another interested in politics, then you don’t have a targeted audience.
Your visitors should have one thing in mind when they visit your website.
For example, Smashing Magazine is all about web development and design. That is what their visitors expect to read on the site.
You need lots of visitors that share common interests and goals when they are on your website.
Here are some common ways to drive traffic on the web:
- Guest blogging
- Search engine optimisation (SEO)
- Video blogging on YouTube
- Content syndication
- Facebook Groups
- Facebook Pages
- Forum posting
10.Answering questions on Quora
Your website needs targeted traffic to have any chance of selling.
2. Collect emails
For many years, email marketing has been the most effective way to cultivate relationships with prospects.
People rarely buy from strangers online.
Consumers buy from websites and brands they are familiar with.
When you collect emails on your site, it gives you the opportunity to continue engaging with prospects.
Through emails, you can send prospects relevant, interesting content on a consistent basis.
After doing that for some days, weeks or months, you can ask them to buy your product or services.
By using this approach, you have a higher chance of turning many prospects into customers.
3. Sell products and services people want to buy
Know what people buy and offer it to them. Then give them something better than your competitors.
When people sign up to your email list, ask them what they’re struggling with right now.
Asking web users what they are struggling with through email is like having a one-on-one conversation with them.
It makes them see you as a friend and expert.
When you know the prospects’ problems, you can create a product or service that solves them.
Then offer your solution to prospects for a fee.
This selling tactic has never failed smart digital marketers.
4. Use videos
Video marketing is the most effective way to engage with potential customers.
Fifty-five percent of people watch videos online every day.
Whether you have a B2B or B2C business, you can use videos to increase conversions.
Busy people still find time to watch videos.
Fifty-nine percent of busy executives said if both text and video are available on the same topic, they’re more likely to choose video.
Red Bull uses video to promote its products. The brand has close to 6.5 million subscribers on YouTube.
Videos let you show people using your product.
Consumers are more likely to take action after watching a video. That is why marketers who use video grow revenue 49% faster than non-video users.
Using videos on a landing page can increase conversions by 80%, according to a study by Eyeview Digital.
5. Offer a free trial or money back guarantee
If the price of your product is under £100, and you have a great offer, you shouldn’t have much trouble selling online.
But if you’re selling a product that requires a long-term contract and worth over £200, a free trial or money back guarantee will help you sell more.
Online shoppers are sceptical when buying a product or service that costs more than £100.
If your product or service sells above £1,000, it’s even more difficult.
That is why you need to offer a free trial, or at least, money back guarantees, in case the customer is not happy.
For example, Yellowfin sells a business intelligence tool that costs £1,337 per year.
A potential customer will want to ensure that he/she is satisfied with the product.
Offering a free trial will help you convert prospects who have doubts about your product.
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