A lot has changed since the beginning of the web. When it all started out, pages were static and were nothing more than either a business card or basic information. Since that time a lot has changed. Websites are able to process orders, track air flights, change dynamically from information pushed and pulled from databases. All this sounds grand and like a lot of fun, but for businesses trying to gain more clients, how can this modern technology benefit Joe Business Owner. Here we explain the main factors that every good converting website should not be without.
1. Multiple ways to contact for a quote if service related. One of the worse mistakes any company can make is not giving people many options to contact them for further information. Nothing will lose potential clients faster than them having to search to find where to contact you. Our minds have been programed to look to the top right corner of the home page for a phone number to contact the company for further information. This is the first point of contact. The second point of contact should be a whole page dedicated to it called the "contact page". On this page you will want to include a couple different ways to contact you. Do this by including a local number, a fax number, a 1-800 number if possible, a contact form and a way to email you. It is important that the way they contact you by email is not by clicking to email. A lot of times what happens is this will automatically open up their mail program (outlook or mail.app). If they don't have this configured already then they will likely close it. Losing you the potential client. I know that you might get a couple of spam emails for displaying your email on a web page, however there is a way around it. There is a thing called ASCII Character Set. What it does it basically uses random characters in the code for the website to display letters when the website is viewed by humans. For example, to write ABC in this code we would use - A B C. When this is viewed by a web browser it will show up as ABC.
2. Testimonials- Nothing will help others trust you like having testimonials from other clients that have used your services. Testimonials with text and pictures are good, but testimonials with video and audio are even better. A good way to get testimonials is to contact some of your best clients and ask them. But everybody is busy nowadays, so instead of asking them to write it, instead ask them if it would be ok if you write up a testimonial and have them sign it. The best way to do this is inform them about it and tell them it will come through in an email. Have them print it on their letterhead and sign it. Then attached to that email is postage bought from stamps.com. They can just tape that to the front of an envelope and send it back to you. You can then scan this and put it on your website and have a hard copy to show to potential clients when they come to your office.
3. Something free to give away. This is a nice way to establish yourself as an authority in your field. A good thing to give a way is a free report about things that will help your potential client better understand what to look for when wanting to use your service or product. Try to use a number amount. For example "Top 5 Things Everybody Should Know About My Field". All they have to do to get this report is give you their name and email address. You obtain a lead and help to establish yourself as an expert.
4. A portfolio page or prior client page. This will be the most visited page on your website besides the homepage. People want to know what you have done to see if you can handle their job. If you have worked with some fortune 500 companies doing your service then you must display their logos to establish credibility. Or if you are an artist or photographer or anything that is visual it should be a given that you need a portfolio page.
With all of these element in place you will be on your way to having a website that will be able to pull in more conversions. But what has been explained here is pertinent to having a successful website. Without you are going to be losing business to the competition that is doing it correctly.
