About 21 million people in the UK go online at least once per day, and 72 percent of those people use the Internet to shop.
The Office for National Statistics reports that in 2005-2006, British consumers spent over £103 billion on internet purchases.
However, a recent poll indicates the following for UK SMEs:
The typical website is four years old; only 23 percent of those sites have been updated since their initial release. E-commerce functionality was present on the websites of only 8% of respondents. 38% of businesses had no allotted funds for website maintenance, and the yearly budget for those who did was only about £250.
You may be tempted to engage in “the blame game” if you’ve created a website only to discover that it isn’t bringing in the targeted traffic or sales you had hoped for. Creating a website is easy compared to creating one that generates revenue.
Too often, website creation is viewed as a purely design or technological problem, leading to widespread uncertainty about the site’s purpose, intended audience, and intended outcomes.
All too often, “getting the website up” is the primary goal, and the site merely serves as a reflection of the company and its various divisions. Users, however, don’t give a hoot about “producers” and instead prioritize an intuitive and straightforward interface. You can use these ideas to make your website more efficient and productive.
Have you glanced at your competitor’s websites to see what kind of online presence they employ? Do you know who is “running the show”? Many companies success rates are public knowledge, and learning about others’ experiences can give you a sense of what does and does not work in your field. It’s dirty, dull, and requires an expert in your industry; designers and coders probably aren’t the best fit. Instead, look to engineers, salespeople, and marketers. They are the ones who will see the “big picture” and understand how everything fits together.
Is your website easily accessible? If you don’t tell people about it, what’s the point? It won’t draw in customers if they can’t find it. Q E D. Create a website promotion strategy. Assume (or at least try to comprehend) that your website is the most critical thing you sell. How would you promote it, if at all? What do you think it would cost you? You can use PPC, banner advertising, email, viral campaigns, social bookmarking, social networking, and more after ensuring your site is search-engine friendly and registered with virtual directories.
Third, aim, aim, aim. Who exactly is your intended readership? Why should they care? Most site guests seek out details. Please permit me to restate that. Most site guests seek out pieces. They can make a more informed choice with access to more information about available options and their associated costs. And that’s precisely what you’re after a verdict.
Is it simple to get around on your website? With no more than seven top-level links, users should be able to navigate the site with a single click easily. More than seven links, however, can be confusing. It seems apparent to suggest consulting with potential customers about the best way to organize content and encourage purchases on a website, but many businesses overlook this step.
Does your website feature relevant information? This is a critical point. Not only for visitors but also for SEO to boost natural search engine results, through which more than 80% of all websites are accessed (even if bookmarked; people adore Googling). To succeed online, you must cater to a specific group with content that answers their questions and solves their problems.
Is it easy and enjoyable for people to use? Does it remember who they are and what they like on the site? Suppose you want consumers to return to your website and make repeat purchases. In that case, you’ll need a safe way to save their information so they can avoid repeatedly entering the same information whenever they make a purchase or donation. Get their approval for any further marketing efforts as well.
When they finally part ways, how satisfied are they? Are there helpful indicators and follow-up e-mails to inform consumers what to expect? You will find out shortly. How? When unwarranted client messages arrive in your inbox or your phone, forcing you to take offline action.
8. Trust. Make sure customers can reach out to you! Why should I trust you if you don’t provide adequate contact information? Give out contact information, such as a phone number and a location, for your business. Is there trust and confidence-building material about policies and terms and conditions available on your site? Consumers are eager to learn. Keeping information hidden will make them suspicious, if not furious.
Who creates the content? Contrary to popular belief, copywriters who understand how to organize content to highlight its most crucial points are worth their weight in gold. Cutting corners is simple. It’s usually a waste of money.
Does your website have a professional appearance? Making a good first impression is crucial. Don’t try too hard to attract attention; make your intended audience feel like they’ve found the proper place.
11. Web hosting is required. Even with broadband, there are still many instances where the user must wait for a page to open. Finding a reliable service provider is crucial. People lose attention if the page doesn’t load within a few milliseconds.
Is it possible to see your website? It may sound obvious, but just because your website displays correctly in one browser doesn’t mean it will work in others. It must be compatible with Mozilla’s Firefox and Microsoft’s Internet Explorer since these computers comprise more than 95% of all users.
Keeping tabs on thirteen. Quantify the results of your efforts. Is there someplace besides your website where you refrain from doing this? Your site’s marketing success can be gauged by the percentage of visitors who purchase. You can learn a lot about your website’s audience and how they use it from the data collected by your web analytics software. Especially if your website is crucial to your company, you must have access to this data.
Upkeep and modifications, number 14. Do you regularly add fresh material to your site? What’s the inventory situation like? What would you think about going to a grocery store and finding everything expired? Would you try it out? Strangely, many websites are supposed to function without any upkeep whatsoever.
Richard Hill, a seasoned veteran of senior direct and interactive marketing positions, is a director at ECRM [http://www.e-crm.co.uk]. You can increase your loyal customers by working with ECRM, an online marketing firm, which can be found at.
Read also: The Best Way To Drive Traffic From Social Media Marketing To Your Website
