How To Make Your Web Site Profitable! Six ways you can turn visitors into buyers!

I do a lot of surfing. I dont do a lot of bookmarking. For a site to earn a position on my favorites list, it has to meet a few of my "must have" requirements.

Hey, Im not that tough. Really. Im just looking for some basic stuff in a website that compels me to stick around.

If Im compelled to bookmark a site, chances are good its a place where Im comfortable spending money. Think about your own spending habits on the Internet. What it is about a site that makes you feel comfortable with your buying decision?

Its really nothing more than knowing youre doing business with a professional.

The following six tips are a sampling of the powerful strategies employed by professional sites to bring in repeat visitors and higher revenues. Read them over and see for yourself how they can help your site.

1) Get Your Own Domain Name

Having your own domain name tells your visitors you are a serious online presence. Perception is everything, and you lose some credibility with customers with an address such as: www.myfreehost.net/business/myname.

More than likely, that free host site is actually costing you more than you think. With your own domain name (www.yourcompany.com) comes an image of professionalism and longevity. Why give your potential customers a reason to think twice about doing business with you?

To get your own name and park it for FREE...
http://www.virtualis.com/vr2/bkrkossk/domain_search.html

2) Display a Privacy Statement

What will you do with the information your visitors share with you? Security is headline news nowadays, and for the serious buyer a full disclosure of your practices can mean the difference between a sale or no sale.

I put together my privacy statement in less than 30 minutes using the TRUSTe wizard at:
http://www.etrust.com/wizard/

3) Use the Power of FREE!

I see way too many sites that are nothing more than a sales pitch. My favorite sites keep me coming back with valuable, FREE information or services I can USE. Sure they want to sell something, but by sharing their expertise and assistance without asking for anything in return, theyve turned me into a repeat visitor. Will
I be more likely to make a purchase through repeated visits. You bet!

I have many free offerings at my website. My free download page is consistently one of the top five most visited pages. I also offer my time for free. By sharing my experience with visitors one-on-one, I have the opportunity to earn a visitors confidence, and build a long-term relationship!

FreeClutter.com is a great example of the pulling power of FREE. Their newsletter currently has 108,000 subscribers! http://www.freeclutter.com

4) Are You Running a Yard Sale or an Online Business?

Take a long hard look at the appearance of your site. Is it organized and professional or does it feel like youre walking through your neighbors yard sale? Ask a few people (not your family or friends) to give their honest and unforgiving opinion about your site. Shy away from being defensive towards their remarks. Seriously evaluate their advice for changes you can implement.

You might want to try this tactic... give away something free or enter visitors in a drawing in exchange for filling out a short form rating your site!

5) Start Your Own Opt-In Email List

If youre not asking your visitors to leave their address, youre missing out on the best leads youll ever get. Give visitors a reason to subscribe to your newsletter, "Coupon Alert", or "Hot Tip of the Week." Convince them to subscribe with hard-hitting copy that makes them feel as if they HAVE to subscribe. Let them know you are THE source for this information.

With regular mailings, your list subscribers become a great source of repeat visits. Be sure to give subscribers your best specials and newest deals, and theyll never have a reason to be disappointed!

For a really great guide and template to help you start your own opt-in list:
http://www.mbn-businesscomplex.net/NewbieGuide.html

6) Promote Your Site Like Crazy!

The Internet is a huge place with a capital H. Use multiple advertising tools to let people know how much they need you! Trade links with other sites, advertise in ezines, submit your article to ezines, get listed with the major search engines and directories, send out a press release,and the list goes on!

For more on promoting your site, try this FREE download from the Make Your Site Sell e-book:
http://www.homebiztools.com/sell.htm

So what do you think? Is your site lacking any of these items. Just pick one for now, and work through the list. No doubt youll be pleased with what they can do for the profitability of your home business!

© 2001 Brett Krkosska

About the Author

Brett Krkosska provides how-to advice on family and home-based work issues. Stop by his site for startup guidance, home business ideas and inspiration at: homebiztools.com For a Fresh and Original perspective on todays home business issues get Bretts ezine at: enews@homebiztools.com

webmaster@homebiztools.com
http://www.hombiztools.com