• Eight Strategies to Increase Web Revenue
• Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!
• Web Traffic - 5 Ways to Direct it
  to Your Site

Archived Issues

Eight Strategies to Increase Web Revenue

Most small businesses today have web sites, whether they are small “starter-sites” or big, elaborate, expensive sites. But what many small businesses haven’t figured out is how to make money from their web sites, no matter how big or small or expensive they might be. Often, web sites are seen as a business expense instead of a potential revenue-generator, making it easy to miss out on an opportunity to generate income for your business.

A web site can drive revenue at the site (e.g., online shopping or selling products online), motivate a customer to contact you so you can make the sale, or it can encourage visitors to go to your business or store and purchase at your location. Take advantage of your web site and consider using the following strategies to turn it into a money-maker for your business:

1. Make sure your site performs well in the search engines. Good rankings provide a steady flow of traffic to your site and create potential customers.
   
2. The Customer Experience – your site should have a clear navigation system and be easy to use. Consider adding a search box for additional convenience, and always provide a site map (which is good for customers and search engines, too).
   
3. A good first impression is critical. Be sure your site is clean and simple, with a professional look and feel. It takes a visitor approximately 7 seconds to decide if they want to stay on your site or move on.
   
4. Always provide a “call to action.” Tell your visitors exactly what they should do (click here, call today, sign up now, etc.). Give them incentive to take action, and make it easy for them to follow through (online forms, toll-free phone numbers, email links, etc.)
   
5. How “sticky” is your web site? Do your visitors want to “stick” around to learn more? Consider providing supplemental information like white papers or case studies, or adding online games or activities that relate to your business. Don’t forget about coupons, special offers, and give-aways, too.
   
6. Be clear about the “end-benefits” of your products and services. What makes you different from the competition? Why should a customer buy from you? Be enthusiastic and persuasive when describing your benefits – you want to motivate visitors to turn into customers!
   
7. Provide great customer service right from your site. Make it obvious and easy to get help, such as using an online support system or a support hot-line. Consider providing a FAQ page and making product documentation available online, too.
   
8. Build lasting relationships with your customers and keep them coming back. Ask for their email address so you can communicate with them after the sale with e-newsletters, special event announcements, seasonal sales and promotions, etc. Sending e-newsletters and other email programs keeps your name in front of customers on a regular basis, and lets them know you care about keeping them happy.

If your web site is living up to its potential, it can send many customers your way and generate a built-in revenue stream for your business. Make sure you’re not missing an opportunity to turn your site into a money-maker by making your web site the best it can be.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!

• Press releases can be used as blog entries for industry blogs that are relevant to your company.
• Use the information from your product data sheets as newsletter articles. If you don’t have a company newsletter that you send out on a regular basis, you should consider starting one.
• Use your newsletter articles as articles for web syndication. There are many article syndication sites on the web that specialize in distributing articles on the web.
• Always add press releases to your web site, and use your other articles (mentioned above) for an “In the News” web page. Visitors (and search engines) love fresh content.
• Put your most recent print ad on your web site. If appropriate, you can also use it in your company newsletter.

Your business probably has a wealth of information that can be turned into new marketing materials. Recycling helps you make the most of the work you’ve already done, while promoting a consistent marketing message at the same time.

Web Traffic – 5 Ways to Direct it to Your Site

So you’ve created a great web site, made sure it is a valuable resource for your customers, and tweaked and polished it until it is a stellar reflection of your company. So why aren’t the visitors showing up?

Web traffic can be difficult to get. With so many web sites to choose from, you must make sure that your web site stands out and can direct web traffic your way. Here are five tips you can use to help your site bring a steady flow of traffic each day:

1. Content Content Content!
   Create good quality, original content for your site – the more the better. Aim for 20 to 30 pages of useful information that is updated on a regular basis. Having ample content keeps the search engines interested, and gives you more places to add keywords and keyword phrases.
   
2. Clean Site Design
   Clean site design not only means pages that are well organized and easy to navigate, but it also means keeping clutter out of your html code. Use simple formatting, and don’t use frames. Flash animation should be an accent on the page, not a main feature, and don’t make the site too busy. Make it easy for your visitors to find what they need on your site, and keep it appealing with a clean, professional design.
   
3. Page Size
   Even in the age of faster broadband access, quick page-download time is still a priority, especially for your home page. Visitors will not wait around for your page to display, since they want to see right away if your site is worth their time. If your page is slow to download, visitors will likely move on to something else before they have had a chance to see what your site has to offer.
   
4. Update Your Content
   Keeping your web site content fresh gets you noticed by the search engines, and provides visitors with a reason to keep coming back to your site. A site that just sits there will not do well in the search engines, and could also send the wrong message to your customers. Show them you are committed to quality in all aspects of your business, including your web site. You should try to add new content each week, and original content is always best.
   
5. Submit to Web Directories
   Don’t underestimate the power of online web directories. Users rely on these directories to find information quickly, and directories also feed other directories and search engines across the web. Your company information can be propagated all over the web with very little effort on your part, and the more directories you are listed in, the more your customers will find you.
   

Five Sparrows values your privacy and will never share, sell, or rent your information to anyone, and you may unsubscribe from this publication at any time.

Copyright 2006 Five Sparrows, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
3889 Hartland Hills, Hartland, MI 48353
www.fivesparrows.com