Many new online entrepreneurs waste thousands of dollars promoting their shiny new websites, only to be disappointed by the results. They are so excited about finally having arrived on the internet, they want to announce it to the world! And who can blame them.

If you are blushing right now because you have thrown away a lot of money promoting your website without getting the results you were hoping, read on … all is not lost.

When it comes to designing and promoting your website, my rule is simple. Use 20% of your budget on creating your website and 80% on promoting it!

Ultimately it comes down to having a website that gives your visitors what they need, when they need it. Before you spend any (more) money on driving traffic to your site, ask yourself the following questions:

1. Is my website visitor friendly?

In other words, can your visitors find the information they are looking for easily and quickly and that means great navigational system. People are used to seeing a navigation bar on the left or at the top, so it’s a good idea to stick to that format. Also consider placing another navigation bar at the bottom, to save your customers from having to scroll back up to the top.

2. Is my website search engine friendly?

Search engines try to list sites that contain good content, so you need keywords and phrases on your pages that best describe your service and products. For example, if you are a wedding celebrant, use the words such as celebrant, online celebrant, virtual celebrant, wedding celebrant, celebrant in Sydney, etc as many times as possible. To find out what keywords your customers may be searching, check out wordtracker.com – you may be surprised! Once you decide on the keywords, use them in:

(a) Your website’s domain name
(b) The title of your page – This is displayed in the top bar of your browser window
(c) The heading of your home page
(d) The first paragraph of your home page
(e) Meta tags – Keywords, page title, description
(f) Titles of your graphics

Whilst it is important to use keywords as much as possible, it is also important you use them only if they are relevant and do not sound awkward. Use Keyword Search Tools

3. Am I focusing on my visitors’ needs?

Rather than trying to “sell your business”, let your prospects know how your product/service is going to benefit them. Focus on the benefits and help to solve problems. Help your visitors, instead of trying to sell them products or services.

4. Am I cross-selling or up-selling?

If a customer is looking for a particular product, offer them details of related products. A company that does this exceptionally well is Amazon – amazon.com. Search for a particular book and you will find information on what other people who ordered this book also bought.

Make it easy for customers to go through the ordering process by providing them clear step by step instructions. Don’t forget to let your visitors know the delivery costs before they begin the ordering process.

5. Am I offering value to my customers?

Offer bonuses, free trials, discounts and prizes. List the cost of each bonus, so your visitors feel they’re getting an amazing deal. This will will help increase the value of your service or product.

6. Does my website include testimonials/product reviews/before & after

Include testimonials from your current customer to show your potential clients that you are trustworthy, reliable and that you offer great service and/or products. Ensure the testimonials are genuine and don’t forget to provide contact details of the customer.

You could also include before and after photos. Show the problem picture and beside it show the picture of resolution, with an explanation of your product’s benefits.

7. Do I offer a 100% Satisfaction Money Back Guarantee?

Offer a money back guarantee. The longer the guarantee period, the better 1 month, 2 months, a year or even a lifetime. You want to take the risk out of doing business with you.

8. Did I include media information on my site?

Include any information, articles, photos of your products, staff etc that have appeared in the media – print, TV, radio or internet. This is an incredible credibility booster!

9. Is there a Photo Gallery / Portfolio on my website?

Even if you do not wish to sell your products on-line, you may wish to showcase your goods or services in a special photo gallery. Some examples of photo galleries & portfolios include: – photographers – photos they have taken, – marriage celebrants – ceremonies they’ve performed, – entertainers – photos from their performances, – dress designers – garments they’ve designed – web designers – websites they’ve created – cake decorators – special cakes they’ve made and decorated, etc.

10. Is my contact information easy to find?

Place contact details in as many places as possible. Make it easy for your customers to contact you. Useful information includes: business name, street address or at least mailing address, phone & fax number, email address, emergency telephone number, website address.

Remember on the internet it’s about credibility. You need to prove to your visitors that you reliable and trustworthy.

So please don’t spend another dollar driving traffic to your website unless you can answer “YES” to most of the questions above. Submit Site to Search Engines for Free

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