Don’t be fooled: Just having a website does not mean your sales will increase. While you certainly do need a website these days, and you certainly will want to highlight all of your amazingness to your potential audience, making a profit on your pages isn’t quite as simple as just putting yourself up on the Web.
Before you start losing money on your internet investment, keep in mind that there are some tips, tricks, and things that your potential consumers are looking for that could make the difference between red and black when it comes to your bottom line. Here are some things to think about when you’re putting yourself up onto the world of the web:
- Functionality: Have you ever found yourself on a website that you just couldn’t quite navigate? If you’re like most of us, the overwhelming answer is “all the time”. As a retailer or service provider, the last thing you want to do is be unwelcoming to your online visitors. Functionality is key, and if you want people to make the most of their online adventure to your site, make sure they can navigate your pages easily and intuitively. Ensure that the navigation bar makes sense, and direct customers to the places you most want them to be. Do you have sales? Put that on the forefront of your homepage. Is a link not working? Make a goofy “oops” message that will entertain your visitors and diffuse their initial frustrations. Do you have a search bar? If it doesn’t really find anything, it’s not really doing anything, so make sure that your search function can really search for something. If it doesn’t, fix that functionality right away!
- Imagery: As the old saying goes, a picture is worth a thousand words. If you’re selling products online, make sure that your customers can see your products from as many angles as possible. Display your items in the places they’ll likely be seen in your customers’ homes, or have models showcase your clothing on a real body. Take photos that will allow your customers to visualize your products or services in real life. Our clients have seen positive outcomes by understanding the use of great imagery in conjunction with their products and services.
- Price: Your consumers are smart people, and they’re often utilizing the resources of the internet to get themselves the best deals. That said, if your prices are too high to be competitive, you can trust that your customers will find a better price. Keep in mind that the internet is a marketplace full of products and services, and your competitors’ costs are easily found at customers’ fingertips. If you want to stay competitive and not lose sales, make sure that you’re not turning off your consumers with prices that can’t compete with the market.
- Inventory: Once you’ve nailed down a competitive price, pay attention to your inventory. Don’t advertise something that you can’t sell; if you’re out of inventory, remove that product from your site, or clearly mark it as “Sold Out” (or something similar) so you don’t leave potential customers frustrated by a lack of availability. If you have tons of stuff that people would have a hard time finding elsewhere, advertise that fact! You want to make it as easy as possible for your consumers to turn into real-life customers, so the more products that you can offer them, and the easiest you can make it for them to know that, the better off you’ll be!
If you’re looking for a way to make the most of your web site’s real estate, don’t go it alone! Our team at OSO is well-versed in converting probabilities into best practices that ultimately can produce profit. Want to learn more? Contact us today!
