Top 10 Guide to Boosting Profits Online

1. Develop a site that clearly states what you sell and how your are different from your competitors. Example www.lululemon.com

2. Provide product write ups. Don’t just show images. People buy based on emotion. Make them want to come to see your products in person. Example: www.vangasfireplaces.com/section.asp?pageid=5571

3. The more pages of text on your website the better. Google more highly ranks sites that provide relevant content. Part of how it determines this is by how many pages of text a website has.

4. Update your website at least once a month. Having current content is important to visitors. Major search engines give preferential treatment to sites that are updated frequently.

5. Subscribe to Google Analytics (www.google.com/analytics). It’s free and it will provide you with invaluable information on what pages users visit the most. Review your web statistics monthly to determine what products are of most interesting to potential buyers. This can impact how your merchandise your store more effectively and what type of products you choose to actively promote.

6. Post testimonials on your website. People want to know that others had a good experience and are happy with what they purchased from you. Example www.procoachsystem.com/pages/testimonials.html

7. Include a frequently asked questions (FAQ) section to your website so potential customers will know more about you without having to ask. Example www.alvinlaw.com/faq.htm

8. Make sure every page of your site contains your contact information. A tough to find phone number could frustrate potential customers. Example www.twinfishcreative.com/index.php

9. Be responsive. Assign one or more employees to respond to incoming email requests within 24 hours. If you can’t respond within 30 minutes of the email, be sure have an auto responder set up to notify the prospect that your company will respond within one business day.

10. Don’t treat your website like an island. Consider all your marketing efforts as a whole if you revamp your website. Hiring a strategic marketing expert can make the difference between getting the biggest bang for your marketing buck or simply having an online brochure.

Written by Jen DeTracey and published in the latest edition of Business In Vancouver’s Black Pages.

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