Website Makeover: 6 Secrets to Turn Website Visitors into Qualified Leads!

Imagine what your business would be like if you could generate 50-500 qualified leads a month from your website. If it isn’t doing that now and doing it on a consistent basis then it’s not working hard enough. Unfortunately very few websites accomplish that goal. Why? Because many small business websites were created by designers, friends, relatives or “techies” not marketers. Your website should be more than just an online brochure, it should be a lead generating machine! Having a fancy website with pretty graphics or fancy flash videos might make you feel good, but if it doesn’t generate leads or get your visitor to take action, then you need to make some changes; and the sooner, the better. When I do Website Makeovers for my clients, I suggest dozens of easy to implement strategies that can turn website visitors into qualified leads quickly and easily. And most of these strategies do not require you to know any special website coding. Here are 6 secrets to get you started… Secret # 1 – Offer a Free Special Report Prospects visit your website for one main reason - to get information they can use to make their buying decision. That’s why the first secret is to give away free, relevant and helpful information. Well, not totally for free. Offer visitors interesting special reports or an e-mail course in exchange for their name and e-mail address. These special reports will not only educate your prospect, but also endear them to you because you are trying to help them make an educated buying decision. Special Report titles like “12 Critical Questions You Must Ask Before You Buy an ATV,” will attract the attention you want because visitors are curious to know what those 12 critical questions are. Offering special reports like this will help improve your chances of getting “opt-ins” or people who are willing to give their contact information. Once you have their contact information you will be able to send your marketing message to them again and again at virtually no cost. Secret # 2 – The Power of Testimonials Consumers like to buy; they just don’t like to be sold. So why not let your current customers do the selling for you using testimonials. Remember, testimonials are not ads; they are third party endorsements, which lend credibility to your claims which makes the buying and selling process easier for everyone. That’s the power of good testimonials. While many websites do use testimonials, most make the mistake of placing them all on one page titled, “Testimonials.” That is underutilizing an extremely powerful tool at your disposal. Instead, sprinkle your testimonials all over you site including your home page, guarantee section, in the products and services area, etc. Even using them as headlines can very be effective in capturing attention. Secret # 3 – About Us Page – One of the Most Visited Pages on Your Site Create an “About Us” page. In the final analysis, people don’t buy from companies, they buy from people. Becoming a “real person” on your “about us” page, humanizes you, your company and your website. Tell your visitors about how your business began, how it has grown from a 2-person office to over 50 people in just 5 years by providing excellent customer service. In many cases, the “about us” section is one of the most visited pages on your site. Make it work harder for you. Adding your photo or a picture of your office, customer service department, your fleet of service trucks, etc. can really help you connect with your visitor. Secret # 4 – Add an Audio Message to Important Sections of Your Website Hearing the owner/manager’s voice reviewing your no-risk money back guarantee or how he/she is available to answer questions, will help build trust and rapport with your visitors. Audio software programs are very inexpensive and easy to use and install even for novices. To see and hear an effective way to use audio on your website, go to http://www.streetsmartsalesandmarketing.com/MinuteStrategies.htm Secret # 5 – Creating a Unique Selling Proposition – (USP) Your website should clearly explain how your company is different from the competition and needs to answer the question – Why should I buy from you? Old phrases such as “service with a smile” or “satisfaction guaranteed” don’t impress people anymore. You need to make your unique competitive advantage clear and concise and your visitors need to see it as quickly as possible. Don’t bury it somewhere, put it right on the home page. Secret # 6 – Use “Tell-A-Friend” Scripts Make sure you add a “tell-a-friend script” to your website or on-line newsletter that let’s the reader forward the web page on to others. Many of the scripts are free, easy to install and let you get a copy of the e-mail address they send to. Now you have another e-mail address and prospect to market to. As you can see, just making a few minor changes to your website can increase your chances of gaining more qualified leads (opt-ins) and make the visit a much better experience for your visitor. To learn how get your own in-depth website makeover analysis go to http://www.streetsmartsalesandmarketing.com/WebsiteMakeover.htm