Web Development Information

7 Killer Ways To Increase Your Online Sales


Every online entrepreneur I talk to is asking the same question, "How do I increase my online sales, NOW?"

Online selling is essentially a numbers game. The more visitors to a site, the more sales that site will make. The number of sales made divided by the total number of visitors to a site is called the conversion rate. A typical site will have a conversion rate of between 1 and 2 percent, or 1 to 2 sales per 100 visitors.

It is obvious that if the number of visitors increases, and the conversion rate remains the same, then sales will increase. Traffic is the first variable that most online marketers attempt to influence when they begin their online marketing campaigns.

There are two basic problems with the increase traffic method. The first is that it is expensive to run advertising and improve a site's ranking in the search engines. The second, and subtler issue is that there is no guarantee that the conversion rate will remain constant.

So what about increasing the conversion rate? Using the example above, if the number of buyers could be increased from 1 or 2 per hundred visitors to 2 to 4, sales will have doubled! So what can be done to increase a web site's conversion rate? Below I list 7 techniques designed to accomplish this goal:

  • Provide plenty of testimonials

    These testimonials should be from previous customers and should include specifics as to how the product or service helped them solve a problem.

    Obtaining testimonials is no problem, just ask. People love to be asked what they think; most will be willing to share their thoughts on your product or service. Implement a process of following up with your customers with a questionnaire. Leave plenty of room for their comments and make it clear that their comments may be used in your advertising.

  • Improve your follow up

    Many people will not buy the first time they see your product. In fact, some experts claim that people must see your message seven times before they are ready to buy. Autoresponder courses are a great way to follow up with the potential customer. There are many free autoresponder services on the web. I use FreeAutoBot.com.

  • Give away free samples

    By letting your customers try before they buy, you can significantly increase your sales. If you sell an information product, provide a few paragraphs or even the first chapter by autoresponder. This technique also helps to improve follow up by guaranteeing you obtain contact information.

  • Give a bonus product

    Everyone likes to get something for nothing, especially if that something is perceived as valuable. E-books make a great bonus, especially if they contain original content. If you are unable to create your own e-book, you could give away someone else's. Free-eBooks.net is a good resource for finding E-books to give away.

  • Focus the web site

    Use the Direct Response Site model. A direct response site is one where the customer's choices are very limited. Essentially they can buy the product, bookmark the page, subscribe to your ezine, or leave the site. The more options a visitor has, the less likely they are to make a purchase.

  • Follow on sales are crucial

    It is well known that successful businesses make 75% of their sales to repeat customers. Start a free ezine and get your customers to subscribe. Get their permission to send them information on upgrades and new products. On their receipt, mention a product that compliments their purchase. Don't have a product to offer for follow on sales? Find and join an affiliate program offering products of interest to your target market.

  • Change the web site copy

    Appeal to target emotion rather than reason. People respond more intensely to emotional appeals than to intellectual discussion. Design your copy to focus on the visitor's dreams, desires, fears or goals. Position your product to appeal to their emotional needs.

    Implement these seven tips, and watch your online sales increase.

    About The Author

    Copyright 2002 Tony L. Callahan, All Rights Reserved Tony L. Callahan is president of his own Internet marketing company, Link-Promote.com. He also publishes Web-Links Monthly, a newsletter full of tips, tricks, tools and techniques for successful web site promotions. http://www.link-promote.com/wlmonth/subscribe/index.html.


    MORE RESOURCES:

    Community goal-setting
    Tracy Press, CA - 1 hour ago
    ... it was a goal setting session — before a dozen or so Mountain House residents and made it clear what they’d like to see happen over the next few years. ...


    Is goal setting enough?
    Let's Play Hockey.com, MN - 20 minutes ago
    By Kim McCullough, MSc, YCS Have you set your goals for 2009 yet? Hopefully, you set goals for what you wanted to achieve back at the start of the season. ...


    Commission strategic planning, goal setting follow-up workshop ...
    Navarre Press, FL - 26 minutes ago
    The Santa Rosa County Board of County Commissioners will continue strategic planning and goal setting during a workshop on Thursday, Jan. ...


    A strategic plan for goal setting
    Santa Rosa Press Democrat, CA - 21 hours ago
    The council has done goal setting, but it seems that there are usually goals focusing on pet projects or pet issues of individuals, but there never has been ...


    Team and a Dream Announces Goal Setting Teleseminar for Web Businesses
    PR.com (press release), NY - 9 hours ago
    Team and a Dream (www.TeamAndADream.com) is announcing a Teleseminar workshop on January 12, 2009 entitled “Is your Web Business Failing to Capture Clients? ...


    Goal-setting programs make for more active co-workers
    DailyIndia.com, FL - Jan 7, 2009
    "They had individual goal setting - a common technique - but they also had group and organizational goal setting, which provided the peer encouragement that ...
    Wellness programs benefit from management support Business Insurance
    all 4 news articles


    Frugal Duchess: Goal-setting
    Bellingham Herald, WA - Jan 6, 2009
    Goal setting is an annual exercise as we try to whip our home and other fiscal assets into better shape. And so we crunch numbers and try to tone up our ...


    Employer-Sponsored Workouts Boost Workers' Health
    Washington Post, United States - Jan 6, 2009
    Key to the program's success may have been the use of group and organizational goal-setting along with individual goals, because they provide vital peer ...


    Missoula officials offer New Year's goal setting tips
    KPAX-TV, MT - Jan 2, 2009
    Missoula City-County Health officials say the new year is a great time to re-commit to new health goals. Here are some goals they recommend striving for ...


    Workplace program ups employees' exercise levels
    Reuters - 1 hour ago
    The findings suggest that similar workplace programs, focused on exercise goal-setting, could help more adults become physically active, according to lead ...

    Goal-Setting - Google News

  • home | site map | ArticleGecko | A ClashX Production 2006
    © 2006