Do you have the Virtual Edge with your business? That
website that when people go there they say, Wow, I want to
work with that company. If not, here are a few pointers.
Packing a Punch
Your website is the one thing that defines you and your
business and has the potential to draw the entire virtual
world to your products or services. How important is it?
Well, I just recently had mine redone, and I immediately
starting gaining more clients. Also, because I added a more
professional edge to my site, I started getting clients who
were a higher caliber and who paid more, now it don't get
any better than that.
Here are a few pointers I think you might find useful:
§ The First Glance - Hook Them!! Keep in mind that
the first thing listed in the main body of your site should
be the best you offer. The main thing you are bringing
people to the site to see. It has to clearly state what is
it you want to sell, offer, feature, etc. Go look at your
site, have you done it?
§ Buttons That Tell & Sell - Those side and top
buttons-you need to clearly set up so that people want to
click on them and find out more. Also, you need to have
these labeled correctly so they know what they are clicking
on to see. That name is critical to making them take the
time to check out that page. § Bullet Power- Clients
often skim sites and rarely read through the entire site.
They look for items that interest them. If you list
paragraph after paragraph, it won't get read. Think back,
do you read those paragraphs. I don't! Therefore use
bullets or symbols instead. And try the slanted bullets or
a different bullet style for more eye appeal.
§ Chose Your Words Wisely - Every word on your site
should say something important. Absolutely you need to use
keywords, but you also need to use convincing words to sell
you and your business. Don't get so caught up in keywords
that you lose the focus of the site. Write the text, edit
and delete, and repeat that last step over and over until
you have it just right.
§ Convenience -- Clickable Links -- In the body of the
website itself, whenever you are providing a reference to a
site, make sure you have a clickable link, even if you have
it on the side panel. People often won't take the time to
go look for the button, so make it easy for them. §
Colors Are Cool -- Match your colors to your business or
your book. For example, for one of my clients who has a
science fiction book with an awesome green cover, I
designed the website to match. Now you immediately make
the connection.
§ Front Page Magic - Offer Something FREE - On your
front page, it helps to offer something for FREE. I offer
a free booklet on obtaining clients in a pdf format. How
about a free 10 ways to do whatever it is you do? That sort
of thing. Let people long after they leave your site
remember you and want to come back to you with their money
and business.
§ Contests - Come One- Come All -- Yes, we know they
work. They get people to your site and that adds to your
traffic. But, here's a tip to make them really successful.
Follow-up each response with a personal e-mail. Now, the
key is not making it a hard sale sales letter they will
never read. Instead, a "Hi, thanks for entering the
contests, I'm sorry you did/didn't win, but I'm ..." And
then give them something special, including a coupon off of
your services. Make them feel special.
§ Newsletter -- List your newsletter on numerous pages
if not all. This is what is going to be reconnecting you
to your clients and potential clients. § The Eyes Have
It - I strongly suggest you have another friend or business
associate view your site and offer opinions. It's
incredible what they can see that you don't as you are too
close to it.
§ Eyes -- Take Two -- Right now, stop and check out
your site. Have you looked at it from a potential client's
viewpoint? What did you think? Did it clearly define you
and what you offered? Did it spark your interest?
I hope these tips help you to get the virtual edge you need
for your business.
----------------------------------------------------
Diana Ennen, Author; Virtual Assistant the Series, Become a
Highly Successful, Sought After VA, and Corel Word Perfect
Office Ready Virtual Assistant Solution Pack
(www.corel.com). She's the president of Virtual Word
Publishing, http://www.virtualwordpublishing.com , offering
publicity and book marketing. Article is free to be
reprinted as long as author's bio remains intact.
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