Increasing Conversions

What are conversions? A conversion is when you take a raw visitor, and turn them into a buyer, member, or reader, depending what your final goal is. Increasing your rate of conversion is pivotal in running a successful web site. Here are some tips on how to increase your conversion rate.

– Explain your product in detail. Shoppers do not want to ask questions if they do not have to. Give the shopper all the information they need to make the decision to purchase. Some shoppers will leave if they do not find the information they are looking for.

– Include your phone number, or a link to your contact page on all pages throughout your site. It is especially important to include it on all product information pages and payment pages.

– Price your product according to the market. Do some research; make sure your product is competitive in the market. It is extremely easy for someone to shop the competition online, so make sure you know what they are going to find elsewhere, and that your product is better.

– Make sure your site is attractive. A user needs to feel secure if they are going to buy online, if your site is not attractive, they will not feel secure, and will not buy.

– Provide multiple payment methods. Allow a user to pay in many ways, such as PayPal. Consider allowing checks, and use a payment provider that allows for e-checks.

Following these very simple tips will help you increase the effectiveness of your online marketing campaign.

Marketing with Ezines

Electronic Newsletters or Ezines are a must have for any growing online enterprise. A well-planned ezine is a way to build your website's traffic base, as well as generating income through advertising.

Success for any ezine rests chiefly on growing your readership. Here are five ways to do that:

1. Include a link or form within the navigation menu on your site, ensuring maximum exposure and build your list.
2. Add a link to your ezine subscription on all outgoing e-mail with a signature file.
3. Trade ad spots in other ezines to promote your website. Track subscribers if possible.
4. Post articles to other ezines, with a link back to your site to generate interest in your own ezine. As well as increasing your link-backs, for online publications.
5. Encourage your subscribers to refer and/or forward the publication to their friends.
6. Make the newsletter useful and unique. Be sure that the newsletter provides a service or information that is in demand.
7. Comply with anti-spam regulations. The last thing you want is to have your list blacklisted due to being considered spam.

For a list of some of the Ezine Submission Sites and Ezine directores from around the Web, visit TrafficZap.com

Building Website Traffic

There are many ways to build traffic. In this tip we will explain a couple free sure fire ways to increase your traffic.

– Add interactive features to your site, such as guest books, message boards, online polls, postcard services, or chat rooms. These features increase the "stickiness" of your site, that quality that causes user retention ... in other words, repeat traffic.

– Encourage your visitors to participate in the creation of your site. For example, add a classified ad section, or a links submission page, or a feedback form that allows users to post their comments.

– Provide valuable information. This may sound like an obvious piece of advice, but it is surprising how many websites really don't offer much else than a glowing tribute to themselves. Do some digging, offer real information about the topic of your site, like recipes for a cooking site, or a photo swap service for an automotive site.

– Offer links to other sites that offer services you may not be able to provide. An example might be a link to a free search engine submitter for a webmaster-related site; or a link to a currency converter on a travel site; or a link to a mortgage calculator on a real estate site. It's amazing but true that people will remember your site as if you were actually providing the service.

– Join a traffic exchange program. Most of these programs work by exchanging links, or popunders with other sites, which in turn increases your overall number of "unique" visitors.

– Increase word of mouth. Don't ever underestimate the power of word of mouth. You can help this process along by using a tell-a-friend service, where users can quickly and easily email your website URL to their friends, without leaving your site.

With these tips, you will have your counter spinning in no time at all!