This article was prompted by some customer support work I was involved in for a private members site. One of the paid subscription members wanted someone to look over his website and give an opinion of what we thought of its design.
It was clear from the email that they had been online for a while (over 3 years) but hadn't seen any results from their efforts and were frustrated. Understandably so!
This person had created his own website in which to promote an online Opportunity. The purpose for having your own web site, rather than a static page, (one that you can't personally change, like the ones the most biz opps provide) is it to "Brand YOU".
After all, your site visitor is getting involved with something you recommend and in effect will want you to help them succeed.
Your site should not be to *sell* them that's the job of the company you represent. The purpose of your site is to *refer* them.
Anyway, the first impression of this member's site was the lack of having it's own domain name, its own presence. Not a good start and that was even before I visited the site. So before I arrived, my trust as a prospect was wavering.
On arrival I found that the site "rammed" the opportunity down the throat of the visitor, if anything the site scared me into running away as fast as possible.
Also this member quoted their website "hits" as a picture of how many "visitors" there were. Let me explain why this can be misleading.
Hits occur from the amount of files loaded when a visitor arrives to a web page. This means if a web page (which is 1 file) has 10 images (10 files) then they count as 11 hits; the web page plus images. You can see that it can be misleading to quote hits.
It gets worse if the visitor goes to more than 1 page because then any additional images (and the next page) count as more hits. Make sure you always count "unique visitors" when assessing a conversion ratio or stating statistics.
I drafted a long email reply, explaining why I thought this site may not be effective, and is not getting the results they wanted. I did my best to provide advice by explaining how to build a relationship between them and the prospects and then how to refer the prospect on the company.
Around 24 hours passed when I received an answer formatted in all CAPS (which for anybody that is not aware, it's like yelling in an email). It seemed this member had taken offence to the suggestions.
(Side note here: The suggestions were very constructive and aimed to provide support and help progress, nothing more.)
It short I received an "attitude attack". It seems their mind was "not open to change" or new ideas. Now folks, you are allowed to make mistakes, nothing wrong with that, but when you ask for help, and then decide that the help is wrong (even though what you are doing is not working)... well things aren't going to change are they?
So what's you attitude like? Are you open to information? I am not talking about school learning (I was really bad at that) but taking advice, applying it, and measuring results. It's also learning from those who have already made all the mistakes for you. Trust me, anybody who has any success has got it wrong many times!
So what do you do when you are frustrated and things are not going where you want them to go? Look for someone who will help, someone who has been where you are. Now to do this can take a lot of time, so if you want the best advice you are going to have to pay -that's just the way it is.
Anybody who thinks they can have a successful business without spending any money is dreaming. I am not saying you need to spend a fortune, but you need to invest in your business, especially when it comes to getting visitors and the right help.
A private members site is likely to get you the information you need. This way you get access to someone who wants you to succeed, and you become a higher priority, because you are a customer. Also you have shown some commitment by paying where others won't take that step.
I have just become a member of Jim Daniel's make a living online site, now I get a response from a proven successful business online person.
Jim has been online for a long time and built up a large following and an email optin list over 150 thousand. He knows his stuff:
Check it out here:
http://www.make-a-living-online.com/
You won't be disappointed.
Lots of people are still in "job mode" turn up and get paid. With any business, its more like, turn up, work, make some mistakes, learn, move forward, learn more, and improve what you are doing. There will be some struggle, which makes success so much better but the pay you get in the end can be overwhelming.
Expecting huge success quickly will frustrate you, instead, expect progress inch by inch.
And what of our business owner who wrote in? It's likely they are to be frustrated for a while longer and likely to become an "Internet knocker" saying that the Internet business doesn't work, well for him, his is right until some changes are made. A for attitude? More like an F.
About The Author
Paul Easton is a self confessed Internet Marketing Nut and Editor of "Power Promotion Plus" -An ezine dedicated to web site promotion tools that work with 3 free gifts for subscribing. Check it out here: http://www.CreateToolbar.com
Your site is getting traffic, but conversion rates are horrible.... Read More
RIVERSIDE, CA August 4, 2004 ?- "Historically, small business owners... Read More
An additional benefit of website accessibility is an improved performance... Read More
Web sites are an Ongoing Part of Business.All too many... Read More
Most web sites are more like stage sets than real... Read More
Functions and Subroutines in ASP If you read... Read More
Your website conversion rate should concern you. This simply refers... Read More
There's been widespread speculation about the new legislation being introduced... Read More
Do you need a web site? Are you considering getting... Read More
Many small companies choose not to invest in a professionally... Read More
Web sites are not just places to sell things; they... Read More
Is your website Really useful?I had a 'rep' in yesterday... Read More
When most people build a web site, they think one... Read More
Designing and creating your own website does not have to... Read More
If you are living in a country that its native... Read More
Everyday thousands of new businesses make the leap and take... Read More
It never ceases to amaze me how many people set-up... Read More
Most interactive websites nowadays would require a user to log... Read More
Many web developers today are starting to KISS their website,... Read More
Below, I have listed 8 simple steps that you can... Read More
A system development process can follow a number of standard... Read More
1. SiteSpinner V2 - On Sale www.deprice.com/sitespinner.htmSiteSpinner is a user-friendly... Read More
1) A marketing necessityI still hear it said from time... Read More
I've heard several prominent web marketers mention in their classes... Read More
Most people know they need a website in order to... Read More
From early days of www, the Internet sites that are... Read More
Like wine cars get more attractive to collectors as years... Read More
Huge Mistake #1: Creating a Website with Flash -- Did... Read More
When you consider the billions of individuals and companies on... Read More
Starting an internet business can be confusing to non-veterans. The... Read More
Analyzing traffic to a site is a key factor in... Read More
"I am a writer, not a business-person. I don't want... Read More
You want to give your site's visitors a way to... Read More
"'Page Not Found' on this Server. Check the URL and... Read More
With more and more countries around the world passing laws... Read More
As increasing numbers of people search for information on the... Read More
Succeeding with an eCommerce website is a dream for many... Read More
The needs of screen magnifier users are overlooked when implementing... Read More
When visitors add your web site to their Favorites or... Read More
Starting and maintaining a business is challenging enough without the... Read More
1) Word of Mouth The single most powerful form of... Read More
"Don't Sell the Steak, Sell the Sizzle."Have you heard of... Read More
Q1.Why would I need a web site? A1.- Improve my... Read More
How popular is online shopping? And is there room for... Read More
So you finally decided to invest in a web presence... Read More
How can we add Word Rich Content to our Websites... Read More
What is the most important part of your online business?Many... Read More
If you have some experience in web site design and... Read More
If you are developing your website on a host that... Read More
One of the things that many people overlook when building... Read More
Thousands of people are now making a living online and... Read More
An Introduction to Server Side IncludesBeginner? That's OK!While much has... Read More
There are millions and millions of websites on the Internet.... Read More
You work hard to build traffic to your web page.... Read More
Creatively marketing your corporate site takes time in the set... Read More
Just starting out, you can start with a simple informational... Read More
So your traffic is going through the roof yeah? It's... Read More
If you're anything like most small business owners, you probably... Read More
If you've been developing websites on Mars for the past... Read More
A common dilemma most small and medium businesses face when... Read More
"I have a small business with just a couple of... Read More
Globalize Your WebsiteThe Internet has unlocked a wide array of... Read More
If you haven't made the sales and built your clients... Read More
More and more non-profit organizations are developing websites to help... Read More
There are hundreds of millions of Web surfers today. Each... Read More
If you're an up and coming graphic/web designer just out... Read More
Web Development |