Your website - does it lay there dormant?

A checklist of the important things to consider when designing your business website.

When was the last time you had a good look through your website? Do you update it weekly, or is it sitting there dormant, not getting much in the way of TLC?

A quality website still is such a powerful way to connect with your prospective clients, so having a ‘brochure’ type website really isn’t going to cut it these days.

This week I’ve been speaking with my mentor clients about what the critical ‘must haves’ are for their websites, and I thought I would share these with you.

Must have #1: Engage with your prospective clientsr
When writing content for your site, you really want to engage with your prospective clients. You want them to be sitting at their computer reading your copy, and ‘talking’ back to you, agreeing with what you have to say. Your aim should be for them to realise that you provide the solution to their current challenges.

To be able to do this, you need to understand who your ideal clients are – know their psychographic profile and write specifically to that special client.

Now that you have their attention, and they’ve remained on your site exploring the various pages, don’t forget about…

…Must have #2: Have a strong call to actionr
Now that you’ve got their attention, what do you want them to do? Do you want them to keep flicking from page to page, and then leave your site? I hope not!

You’ve engaged with them, and they like what they are reading, so now you want to tell them what to do next.

If you have specific products or services that solve current challenges for your ideal clients, then tell them what they need to do to either buy or work with you. What is that next step – take them through this, and make it easy for them to buy from you.

In fact, don’t let them leave your site, without…

…Must have #3: Be able to capture their detailsr
The most important MUST HAVE is making sure you capture their details before they leave your site.

One of the easiest ways to do this is to make sure you have a free offer/give-away or something of value so that they will want to provide you their contact details.

It can’t just be ‘sign up for my newsletter’! Your prospective clients will be savvier than this, and these days people aren’t giving away their email details ‘just for a newsletter’ – they want value, they want something that will make a difference to their life or business.

Take time to think about what it is you can offer them that is in-line with your business purpose, and then develop it into either a free report, audio or video product for them to opt-in (sign up) to download.

Building your list, allows you to have a database to communicate with. You stay in contact with them regularly by providing value-added information via your newsletter, and keeping them updated on your products, new offerings, and more.