In our last blog entry, we discussed the importance of getting prospective clients to TAKE ACTION. To get in the game, you need a professional online presence with a well-designed website and a blog on a platform such as WordPress. But how do you stay in the game and get people to do what you want?
Although we offered an example of a real estate business website in our last entry, all types of businesses can take advantage of the following simple techniques to call visitors into action:
Avoid the long and winding road. Have a navigable website so visitors can easily find the what they want and pay you. If customers cannot easily locate what they need and find a secure payment method, you will lose them.
Give them what they want. We all think we have something important to say, but is it relevant to your visitors? Research your target market so you know what they want. If you give visitors what they want, they will come back for more.
Put yourself out there. Don’t be a mysterious, faceless business that lacks credibility. Provide contact information on your website, including a telephone number and physical address. Post testimonials from other satisfied clients. If you service high end clients, get permission to include their logo and/or testimonial on your website. Post photos of key business players. Offer money-back guarantees when applicable. Show you are taking security measures to protect the privacy all data shared on the website.
The only constant is change. Your website is always a ‘work in progress’. Use effective visuals to draw visitors’ attention to important information. Change your headlines, move around page elements and experiment to see what get the best results.
Get fresh. Update your content regularly. Ask visitors to provide their email address to get free email newsletters and updates. Provide valuable resources. Your visitors won’t come back unless you give them a good reason to. Each time visitors return, they are more likely to take action.
Get real. Bring your business, website and blog to life. Let everyone know about the real people who make the business happen. Talk to your clients in a friendly, upbeat way they can clearly understand. Don’t talk down to your visitors or become overly familiar. Keep your tone light, personable and informative.
Get to know SEO. Using Search Engine Optimized (SEO) content makes your website and blog rank higher on the search engines. SEO content includes relevant keywords so it’s easier for visitors to find you.
Time is of the essence. Encourage the buyer to take action sooner rather than later. Offer discounts for visitors who act right away. Discuss market developments and how the buyer is at a greater advantage if they buy now, before everyone else does.