How to Start a Website
How to start a website is one of the most important questions of your web site building. The "call to action" is the answer. Your site may have a compelling headline that grabs your web traffic visitors' attention. It may have well-written salescopy, great graphics, awesome navigation, fantastic testimonials, and an unbelievable opt-in
offer.
But all these things aren't going to mean squat if you don't include a clear call to action!
Take a moment to consider the purpose of your web site.
What is it you want people to do when they visit your site? Find out about the
benefits of your product? Sign up to receive your free newsletter? Make a purchase, perhaps?
Now ask yourself: Does your site tell your visitors exactly how
to do these things?
Your visitors need to know what you want them TO DO. If you don’t
tell them to purchase your product or subscribe to your free
newsletter, how can you be sure they’re going to take that action?
Be explicit about the actions you want your visitors to take. Your
straightforwardness will have a direct impact on your sales!
How to start a website
Just in case it's been a while since you brushed up on your
marketing lingo, a call to action is a strongly worded suggestion that
clearly states what action you want your visitors to take. It encourages
people to take that action and tells them what will happen if they do.
For example, the following phrases are all calls to action:
"Click
here to subscribe!"
- "Join
our affiliate program."
- "Add to your shopping cart."
- "Order now to take advantage of this limited-time offer!"
It's a good idea to include an emotionally appealing benefit in
your call to action. This convinces web traffic visitors of the value of your product
and encourages them to take the action.
For example: Read on to learn how you could
save tens of thousands of dollars on your next home
purchase.
You want to pique people’s interest and make them believe that
taking the specified action will offer them a direct benefit. After all,
who wouldn’t want to save tens of thousands of
dollars?
The most obvious and important call to action, of course, is the
one that asks web traffic visitors to make a purchase. This is the crucial
moment: asking for the order and CLOSING THE SALE.
You know, it's amazing how many people simply neglect to ask for
the order. This simple oversight can be deadly for your business;
in fact, studies show that you can increase your sales by at least 80% by
clearly instructing your visitors how to make a purchase!
How to Start a Website: Don’t Rush It!
The call to action that asks web traffic visitors to make a purchase is THE
make-it-or-break-it moment. However, closing a sale is like lining up a
pool shot - you don’t want to rush it!
It takes a LOT of work to close the sale, which is why you can't
just skip to this point right away. Before you get there, you have
to…
- Emphasize the benefits of your product or service by
answering the all-important customer question: "What's in it for
me?"
- Establish your credibility by citing credentials, including customer testimonials, etc.
- Overcome objections to buy
- Build value into your offer
- Back up your offer with a strong guarantee
- Offer valuable bonuses with the purchase
Once you've done all these things, then you can ask for
the order. In fact, you MUST ask for the order at that point! Otherwise,
all the great work you've done will be wasted.
How to Start a Website: Don't Beat Around the Bush!
Online entrepreneurs often make the mistake of implying what they want their visitors
to do, rather than explicitly stating it. Don't be coy!
You may wish to avoid coming across like you're ordering your visitors to do something,
but unless you blatantly explain what you want them to do, you're going to
see mediocre sales.
Make sure you tell your visitors exactly what you want them to do!
You have to spell it out as clearly as possible. Use direct,
action-oriented words such as:
- Subscribe (to a newsletter)
- Click (on a link)
- Fill out (a survey)
- Read (an article)
- Enter (a contest)
- (an affiliate program)
- Buy (your product!)
Don't leave it to your navigation to direct people. Most web traffic visitors
will only click on a link if they know it will lead them to something
they're looking for.
How to Start a Website: Make Them an Offer They Can't Refuse!
In your call to action, draw your visitors' attention to the
benefits of your product or service. Neglecting to emphasize the value of
a product is the number one mistake copywriters make!
Be sure to highlight benefits such as...
- Saves money
- Easy and convenient to use
- Saves time
- Good for the environment
- Children can't get enough of it
- Your dog will never have fleas again
Mention the problem your product addresses and present your product
as the only real solution to that problem. For example, you can urge
web traffic visitors to:
Order now - don't delay! or you can add a more
persuasive argument by stating:
Order now and boost your energy levels through the roof in less than a week!
Promise specific results and back them up with a guarantee. Instead
of saying,
By using this product, you'll increase your sales,
Your sales will increase by up to 20% in 30 days or less - guaranteed!
This establishes a higher perceived value in your product.
Whenever you can, include a persuasive tidbit that piques your
web traffic visitors' interest or adds to your credibility. For example...
- A link that says "About Us" is informative, but doesn't give the
reader a good reason why they should care. A call to action like:
"Discover why over 20,000 business owners trust us" is far more effective.
- A link that says this: Click here now to find the best
tool for the job.
Encourage website visitors to think of your product or service as something
that already belongs to them. Transfer ownership by actually including
them in your call to action: Order now and your mirror will
be showing a new you with a full head of hair in less than 60 days --
guaranteed!
Try to instill a sense of urgency so your web traffic visitors feel compelled
to make a purchase right away rather than leave and return to your web
site later. You can create urgency in several ways. For example, you can…
- Limit the time for which your offer is available: "Available for the next 5
DAYS ONLY!"
- Limit the quantity of products or services you offer:
Available only to the first 100 people who order!
-
Include a discount for a limited time or on a limited quantity of products.
-
Include bonus items for a limited time or on a limited quantity of products.
However, you have to follow through on any such claims you make, or
your credibility will be ruined.
How to Start a Website: It Shouldn't Take People any Longer Than 3 Seconds
After your headline, your call to action is THE most important element on your web site.
It should stand out from the rest of your copy and be easy for your web site traffic visitors to find. In order to draw attention to it, use bolding, a larger font size, a different color - whatever best suits the style of your web site.
To test the effectiveness of your call to action, ask some friends to look over your homepage. How long does it take them to find your call to action? As a general rule, it shouldn't take people any longer than 3 seconds.
Don’t forget, your call to action is what reflects the true purpose of your web site. It's the key that gets your web site traffic visitors to do what you want them to do. Take the time to craft enticing copy that really encourages your visitors to take action. If you make people an offer they can’t refuse, your sales will really soar!
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