[TIPS] Turning Your Website Into a Powerful Sales Tool

by George Qualley IV

When it comes to business advertising and providing pre-purchase information to potential customers, the internet has proven to be a game-changing medium. Unlike the phone book, direct mail, trade shows, etc., a website provides every business, no matter how small, an opportunity to provide potential customers with a virtually unlimited source of information at minimal cost. Yet, despite this valuable resource, relatively few businesses effectively exploit the sales power of the internet.

With the proliferation of the internet, the number of businesses that have no web presence at all has drastically declined. Most businesses have recognized that, at the very least, a company website (even if rudimentary) is a business necessity. However, a prospective customer who researches a business using the internet is no different than the prospective customer who calls or visits a physical location of a business. Each prospect is looking for the appropriate information about the business that will enable them to make a decision regarding the purchase of a product or service. Although this might seem like a simple concept, a relatively small percentage of businesses seem to recognize this concept when it comes to designing a website.

Far too many websites look like they are an electronic version of some sales paraphernalia that might be passed out at a trade show or sent out as a direct mail piece. Generally speaking, the goal of a good flyer or mailer is to entice the prospective customer to make some further contact with a business so that the prospect can be sold by some additional means. In other words, the flyer is the device that hooks the prospect, not the device that closes the sale. Websites are far too often designed with the same goal as a flyer or direct mail piece—to entice the customer to take some further action, e.g. contacting a sales person in person or by phone. To say the least, this approach underutilizes the potential that the internet offers to a given business.

In case you hadn't noticed, the quality of websites on the internet has vastly increased from the early days of the World Wide Web. While some observers have termed this phenomenon as “Web 2.0”, the fact of the matter is that people are starting to realize that a website can provide something much more valuable and engaging than just text and pictures on a page.

You may have heard the phrase “content is key” to building a great website. However, “content” increasingly comes in the form of interactive features and functions rather than traditional means—just look at websites like Twitter, Facebook, and Digg. With websites like these, chances are that your prospective customers aren't going to be impressed if they’re looking for information and all your website is offering is a price list and a sales brochure.

If you're serious about turning your website into a tool to drive sales, accurate, instant, and personalized information is key. Just like a top salesperson, your website needs to deliver information to a prospective customer according to that customers particular wants and/or needs. Upgrading your website from a static, one-dimensional design to a dynamic, sales generating engine might sound like a significant challenge, especially if you don‘t have a dedicated IT department. However, third-party tools can provide a cost-effective and low-maintenance way to enhance your website. In many cases, just adding a few lines of code to your existing website can give you (and in turn, your customers) access to sophisticated applications without the hassle and expense associated with custom development. In addition, many web-based applications provide seamless upgrades and feature enhancements with no installation or maintenance on the part of the user. In short, if you're looking to integrate the type of dynamic functionality that will significantly increase the value of your website, look to industry specific web-applications that work with your site.


Although the internet has evolved significantly since it's inception, many businesses still haven't mastered the art of effectively exploiting the web as a successful sales tool. If you're not providing your prospective customers with the information that they want when they visit your website, you're simply not taking full advantage of one of the most effective marketing channels available today. More importantly, if you're missing that opportunity, it probably won't be long before your competitors take advantage of your oversight.


About the writer : George Qualley IV, J.D., M.B.A. is the co-creator of SiteOMite.com, a web-based tool which allows special event service providers (e.g. DJs, photographers, videographers, etc.) the ability to offer dynamic, online price and availability quotes to their customers. Copyright (c) 2009 - Siteomite.com


Source: site-references.com
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[TIPS] First Impressions: Make Sure Your Website Follows These 10 Things

by Kimberly Reddington

When a visitor first sees you website, they form an impression about it within the first 10 seconds of its loading. Depending upon the feelings they get when viewing your site, they either decide to leave or to get a better look around. Here are ten items to think about when deciding if you are giving off your desired impression:


1. Your website should appear professional, clean and simple.

When you walk into a physical store, you are more apt to buy from a store that is clean, easy to walk around the aisles, sells quality products that are neatly placed on shelves or racks, and has a friendly yet well-established feel. Your website should have a similar look and feel. Avoid clutter, allow for white space around items and make it easy for the visitor to move around.


2. Your navigation should be easy and simple.

If your visitors are having trouble finding what they are looking for immediately, it is much too easy for them to return to their search and find a competitor with easier navigation. Keep navigation in a prominent location with simple to use tabs and links.


3. Select colors that are attractive and comfortable for the eye to look at.

Learn what colors your audience prefers, as well as the impression you are trying to set off. If you want to relax your visitors, then use subtle and light colors. If you want to excite your visitors, then use vibrant colors. Stick to colors and shades that work well together. Use a color wheel to see which colors complement each other.


4. Create a branding statement and utilize that statement throughout the whole website.

Your business should have a special brand that makes you stand out from competitors. Your brand is your unique look that grabs your visitor's attention. Place your brand prominently near the top of your home page or landing page. Make sure to keep you brand throughout the whole site to give everything a consistent look and feel.


5. Display what your business is all about.

It only takes visitors about 10 seconds to know whether they want to leave your site or continue viewing it. Make sure that they learn what your business is all about within those first 10 seconds. If your url or business name doesn't easily explain your business purpose, then make sure to create a tagline and use that as part of your branding statement.


6. Make sure that important "calls to action" are in places where the user can see them.

Most visitors will not read your entire home page. People tend to peruse a web page quickly. The use of colors and bolding can make important words and phrases stand out more and catch the reader's attention. Make sure that important links or buttons are easy to see, stand out, and are not too far down the page.


7. Prominently display quality graphics and images.

Graphics and other images on your website will grab your visitor's attention much more than text. Make sure that your images are high quality graphics and are optimized for fast loading.


8. Use photos to display the quality of your products.

Since visitors cannot pick up your products to look at them, they rely on images and graphics. Use attractive images and photos that are large enough to show important details.


9. Use stand-alone web pages.

Unlike a magazine or catalog, you cannot predict which web pages your visitor will read first, next, or last. Avoid having content in your pages that is dependent on your visitor having seen another page first. Make sure each page can stand on its own.


10. Test your navigation and links.

Test your completed design by showing it around to others. See how they navigate. Ask open-ended questions to get a feel for how they perceive your website. Are they having trouble finding certain features of your site?

Your website may be your visitor's first impression of you and your business. Colors, images, fonts, text and other visuals will bring out certain feelings and thoughts the second a visitor views their first web page of your site. You want to be sure you are sending out the right messages that are inline with what your niche is expecting.

Source : Website First Impression
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TDW University - Rencana Menjadi Kaya

Seberapa cepatkah anda menjadi kaya?


Keterangan :

Jika anda mau membangun rumah maka sebagian orang akan memanggil arsitek dan arsitek itu bersama anda membuat rencana. Tetapi ketika orang yang sama memulai membangun kekayaan mereka atau merencanakan masa depan, mereka tidak pernah mendesain rencana finansial untuk hidup mereka. Mereka tidak mempunyai garis besar rencana kerja untuk menjadi kaya.

Bahkan banyak orang tidak mempunyai rencana, mereka hanya menjalani hidup saja dan hanya bermimpi sewaktu-waktu mereka akan menjadi kaya. Banyak juga orang yang menggunakan satu-satunya jurus andalan, yaitu merencanakan untuk bekerja keras dan mereka tidak pernah kaya. Karena apa yang mereka kerjakan sekeras apapun memang tidak memungkinkan mereka untuk menjadi kaya.

Contoh,menjadi buruh pabrik atau kuli bangunan, walaupun sekeras apapun mereka bekerja akan sulit sekali untuk menjadi kaya.

Ada juga orang yang mempunyai rencana yang lambat untuk menjadi kaya, rencana tersebut yaitu bekerja keras dan menabung.

Dengan mengikuti rencana tersebut maka jutaan orang akan menghabiskan hidupnya dengan memandang keluar jendela dari kereta mereka yang lambat atau dari mobil mereka yang terjebak dari kemacetan lalu lintas menyaksikan limosin, helikopter, pesawat jet perusahaan, rumah- rumah mewah.

Dan yang paling menyedihkan ada juga orang yang mempunyai rencana untuk menjadi miskin. Begitu banyak orang mengucapkan kata-kata seperti ayah miskin Robert Kiyosaki “Ketika saya pensiun, maka penghasilan saya akan berkurang”. Dengan kata lain mereka merencanakan untuk bekerja keras seumur hidup hanya untuk menjadi miskin.

“Saya membutuhkan kecepatan.” Kata Tom Cruise dalam Film Top Gun.

Ide bekerja seumur hidup, menabung, dan menaruh uang dalam rekening pensiun merupakan rencana yang sangat lambat. Rencana ini bagus dan masuk akal oleh 90% orang tetapi bukan rencana bagi orang yang ingin pensiun muda dan pensiun kaya.

Berikut adalah beberapa ide tentang cara untuk membangun rencana yang lebih cepat:

1. Pilih strategi keluar anda terlebih dahulu . Kita harus mulai dari yang akhir, seperti yang dikatakan oleh Steven R. Covey dalam bukunya Seven Habits. Jadi kita harus menentukan dulu umur berapa kita ingin pensiun, berapa banyak uang yang kita miliki saat itu, atau berapa banyak pasif income kita pada waktu kita pensiun. Kemudian dalam logika saya sendiri maka kita harus;

2. Cari bidang apa yang kita suka atau mungkin kita akan suka yang bisa menghasilkan seperti yang kita tentukan sebelumnya. Apabila apa yang kita kerjakan sekarang tidak memungkinkan kita mencapai impian tersebut, Let It Go!

3. Kita cari orang yang sudah berhasil mencapai impian kita untuk diajak kerja sama atau belajar kepada orang tersebut.

4. Gunakan faktor kali atau leverage.
Maksudnya kita bisa menggunakan RICE (Resources, Ide, Contact, Expertise) dari orang lain.
Sudahkah anda membuat rencana anda untuk menjadi kaya, dan seberapa cepatkah rencana anda?

Semoga bermanfaat. Salam Dahsyat!

untuk melengkapi rencana Anda menjadi Kaya silahkan download materi tambahan : eBook 24 Prinsip Miliarder yang mencerahkan oleh Tung Desem Waringin silahkan klik DISINI
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