The trick is to make visitors feel right at home so that they explore your site, ask questions and maybe tell their friends about what a fascinating site they’ve just discovered.
You also want a web site that has a professional look and feel, because that builds consumer confidence and generates leads.
You can achieve all that in just four easy steps:
Step One: Determine how your current and potential customers will use your site
What kind of information will visitors want to find on your site? This will determine how your site should work and what features you have to set up. If visitors will require a lot of general information about your product, then perhaps you should have a section on frequently asked questions.
If visitors need to know more about your product or require a product demonstration, your site should mention how this is possible and what kind of customer service you have available.
If visitors will likely want to visit your store to see your products for themselves, perhaps you should have a map to the location on your site, especially if you are difficult to find.
If visitors will be comfortable buying your product online, then your site should be set up to do just that. Meanwhile, if your visitors will likely want to know the latest developments about the products you offer, then a regular online newsletter is an excellent way to keep them informed.
These are the types of things that can make your site and products appear to be professional and dependable.
Step Two: Determine what you want your Web site achieve and spend accordingly
What are the goals you want to achieve through your Web site?
You have to make projections about the number of leads and online sales you want to achieve through your site. These figures will help you determine how much you can spend on development costs vs. the potential profits you will reap from your site if your goals are achieved.
Your goals will also relate to what customers can expect from your site and the type of customer support you have to provide to meet these consumer expectations.
Step Three: Set up images and videos
Any web site can benefit from having photos and videos because these appeal to the most powerful senses: sight and sound. Your entire product line should be supported by attractive photos while your best-sellers should star in their own sales videos.
Nothing sells a product quite like a video that shows it in use and how it benefits consumers. A video is also a major help if you want to show that your product is easy to assemble or use.
If your video is interesting enough, you can release it on several video Web sites or distribute it to friends and current customers, but make sure it has a link leading back to your site.
There are many examples of amateur videos that have created a buzz online, resulting into powerful word-of-mouth advertising for its business owner.
Step Four: Market your site aggressively
All businesses should receive a boost from marketing in order to be profitable over the long term.
There are many Internet marketing tools available that can spread the word about your site and attract new leads. You can try advertising, direct marketing, online publicity or article marketing. You will be surprised at how inexpensive Internet marketing can cost.
Marketing tools such as publicity, article marketing and direct mail can be tapped for free. Hundreds of businesses are now also promoting their products using blogs, which can also be tapped for free.
