Internet marketing is a tricky business and knowing where to start is the first step in making it a success. The most important decision, when starting any online business, is determining what type of website is best to represent your products or services. How many products will be sold? Will your website be an online store or a gateway to a single sales page? What method of payment will be accepted? Choosing the format for your particular site will make the design process much easier.
Before you can make any decisions, you first need to know your product. Whether it is an e-book, a t-shirt, or a series of cookware, you need to know everything about what it is that you are selling. This includes knowing the bad things because even the negative aspects of a product can be turned into a selling point. Once you have acquainted yourself with your merchandise, then you are ready to begin designing your website.
How many times have you followed a link to a webpage only to immediately close it out because it looked like either a scam webpage or an infomercial gone wrong? Remember what your browsing habits are and use those to lead you in the right direction. There are millions of sites that are traps and do not achieve the desired results. You know the sites because you either avoid them like the plague or have been unfortunately trapped on one. They are the ones that have those annoying pop ups that tell you “Wait a minute! I’ve got a great deal for you!†and do not allow you to navigate away from the page. Avoid doing this on your own website at all costs. It will not only deter people from visiting your site in the first place but it can also get you reported as an attack site.
The main mistake that many marketers make is rushing headfirst into a project without thoroughly thinking it through. This is not the way to maximize sales, obtain repeat customers, or create a successful business that provides a steady income. After you have picked a name for your store or product and have purchased a domain, ask questions of yourself and others before starting so that you have a good jumping off point. Here are a few guidelines to follow when designing your new business website:
1. Ask yourself what catches your attention. What makes you look further when you first open a website? Is it the color? Is it the layout? Is there a particular font used that makes you want to read more? The answers to these questions will provide you with a good base to start with and give you a particular insight into what attracts attention.
2. Research what colors are most inviting to web shoppers. There is a bevy of information available that is easily accessible and most of all free. Colors often time can influence buying trends or behavior, so do not ignore the most basic choices. And do not assume that because you like the way that purple and yellow look together that this is the best palette for your site.
3. Find a few sites that you know are successful and mimic the elements. Larger corporations have done research, customer panels, and consulted experts on what works and what doesn’t. Look at their formats and you will have a visual representation of what is going to not only attract customers but keep them returning.
4. Know your target audience and make sure your decisions are made with them in mind. This one is probably more important than you think. Having a product is great, but knowing who you are selling it to gets you that much closer to actually accomplishing your goal. Imagine what would happen if companies that manufactured denture cream made their advertisements with toddlers and teens. Targeting a particular group does not exclude other audiences. It actually helps each individual that comes in contact with your product because it guides them and gives them an appropriate roadmap towards building a relationship with your service or merchandise.
5. Keep it simple. A website should invite users to explore, to delve into the meat of the matter. Scrolling is not your friend. Customers do not want to have to scroll and scroll AND scroll to get to the bottom of your page. Make an informative index page with comprehensive links and keep the content visible without scrolling.
6. Make your website easy to navigate. How many times have you visited a website and were confused as to how to navigate it and just closed it out? A quick search will produce and endless list of sites like this that wind up forgotten, unused, and unsuccessful. Create an easily accessible link bar as well as visible navigation points within the text and titles. This not only helps users but will also aid with SEO. It is a fact that consumers prefer sites that are easy to browse through.
7. Search Engine Optimization is not a foreign language and is not extremely difficult either. SEO can be achieved by following a few simple rules that will get you ranked higher with search engines and also make your site more user-friendly.
8. Update your website frequently. Once you have mastered what will make your website a success and have created your own design, update the information on a regular basis to keep it fresh and to keep customers coming back. Consumers want to have a relationship with the products that they purchase, an ongoing dialogue that makes them feel comforted by their purchases. A website that is stale and static does not encourage repeat business.
9. Creating a buzz about your website is the next logical step. Getting your website known and talked about is not as difficult as it may sound. However, it does take work. Write articles, blogs, press releases, reviews, and forum posts that talk about the product, or the website. Make sure to have a link back to the site in your signature or within the body of the article.
10. Never underestimate word of mouth and old school advertising tricks. Make flyers that prominently display your URL, create business cards that you can leave in restaurants, stores, and businesses that relate to your product or service, and tell all of your friends and family to spread the word as well.
Following this simple guideline will get you well on your way to achieving your goal. A productive website is not made in an hour and successful businesses are not achieved overnight.
When it is all said and done, the most successful businesses are those that take the time to think about the consumer. Whether you are marketing an e-book or opening an online store, the formula is the same, think about the customer and the customer will think about you.
