jswrites

When you build a website, you're competing against 700 million other sites. That means there are literally 700 million other places your customer could be hanging out online. This number is growing every minute. While those odds may sound bleak, the fact of the matter is that a large percentage of those websites fail to impress their audience.

So what is it that the vast majority of these sites are getting wrong?

Your website is not your grandma's crockpot, you can't “set it and forget it”. You can spend weeks on SEO, but without engaging content, your bounce rate is still going to be high, and your conversion rate low. Customers have been trained by the best websites to expect exciting offers, landing pages, calls-to-action, social conversation, and content assets. Without these, you won't grow traffic and leads organically and are stuck relying on paid campaigns.

Question is, how do you make your site stand out as one that users want to interact with? If you're still trying to use your site like an online brochure, take a look at the following tips and see if you could benefit from some changes.

#1 Consider Your Design

This is the most obvious element, and the place where most website builders and business owners will spend the bulk of their time when setting up a web page. But, if you don't have a sharp and clean-looking design, you're already missing the boat. If you're unsure about how to build your own site, it's worth the cash to have someone build it for you. This is a key investment with a great return.

A clean design conveys professionalism and immediately establishes credibility. Don't make your customer work harder than they have to. Building a website that is easy to navigate and will allow your customers to find what they're looking for will keep them on your page. If they have to search for information or products, they're going to search elsewhere for the same product or service.

Remember loading speed when considering how many active elements to use on your page. It's difficult to get prospective customers to your page in the first place. Once they arrive, don't aggravate them with waiting for it to load. If you want to use videos, consider putting them somewhere other than the front page. At the rate of speed the internet is moving, customers have less and less patience. Think in terms of your own customer experiences, no one revisits a site that frustrates them. Everyone loves instant gratification.

#2 Add Some Testimonials

Once you have your customer on your page, if your service or business is new to them, they're going to be skeptical. How do you help instill trust and get them to feel comfortable getting out that credit card? One of the best ways to do this is show them other customers who are happy with your product. Shoppers are looking for security, and unfortunately there are horror stories about scammers and junk products everywhere you look. If you want to increase your conversion rate, show feedback. Allow a section for real people to leave honest reviews, ratings, and testimonials.

Most of us have shopped online at least a few times. When trying to decide between two products., it's often the story of the customer experience that sways us to purchase one product over another. Especially in a situation where the two can't be compared side by side, this feedback from other consumers can be the push your prospect needs to become a buyer or user.

#3 Awards and Certifications Matter

Hand in hand with testimonials are awards and certifications. These are a way of demonstrating that you are respected in the business world, and not some fly-by-night that will fold up and be gone tomorrow. Displaying your notable achievements isn't bragging, it's a way to establish another layer of security for your prospective buyer. Customers are more likely to feel comfortable giving personal information if you can show them you can be trusted.

Certifications include such things as the VeriSign Trusted business seal. This small detail can make an enormous difference, instilling trust that you won't misuse consumer information, and may get you that email address. (You are trying to grow that mailing list, aren't you?) Just telling visitors, “Hey everyone, you should trust us!” is not going to be enough.

#4 Let's Not Forget Social Media

Social media is a great tool for building trust. It's interactive, so you can talk to potential customers, and engage them, without throwing a sales pitch in their face. Not only that, but responding to queries promptly assures your visitors that you will also respond to any issues they may have just as promptly. Offering social media indicators next to your articles makes sharing easy, and shows that others are interacting with your page. This, in turn, encourages them to interact as well.

These social media assets can easily triple or quadruple your conversion rates. It may even encourage visitors who previously had passed up your business to have another look. It shows them you have legitimacy, and that offers up a little more security.

#5 Obviously, Your Business Information

But how much information do you really need? A phone number is essential, so that visitors know if they reach out, there will be a real live human being there, waiting to answer their questions and respond to their concerns. Giving your business address shows that you have an office or business space, and that you're not working out of your mom's basement or buddy's garage. If you supply a business address, you're likely to have employees. Also give your email address, as some customers prefer indirect contact. If you're hiring, make sure that information is visible, since proof that you are seeking out high-quality employees to grow your business lends credibility.

Putting all this information on an “About Us” page makes it easy for customers to find every means of contact. Add some employee information, pictures and names, provided your employees are comfortable with that. Show a little of what goes on behind the scenes, and make it personal. Knowing who they're buying from is becoming more important to your customers than ever before.

These tips may seem basic, but these are the most essential aspects of growing customer relationships, lessening bounce rate, and increasing conversion rate. These are the marks of a successful website. If yours needs more work that you can handle, put someone capable in the driver's seat, and watch your business take off!

Mikeaddy

I like Awards and Certifications Matter

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johnbrent606

Given points are really very beneficial for increasing the website conversion rates. Thanks for posting it here...

CCTV Camera Dealers

Cookie Monster

When dealing with trust you better write about yourself and your story. Place a picture of yourself, a way to contact you and also make the potential buyer feel that you're just like him, but with answers to his problems. You can also add a money back guarantee.
Thanks for the info, by the way

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Madhukar B

I agree with all the points you have mentioned above but I would say video testimonials and work portfolio may build strong trust and if we implement all the points defiantly we can build trust with visitors/customers also improves conversion rate.

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LDENetwork

Hi

I have create a page on this: 17 ways you can evaluate a vendors website. No affiliate links or ads. Sorry about the promotion. Check it out here.

All the best

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