Being the proprietor of an online business, you may have noticed the competition getting a little more aggressive. In these tough economic times, all business owners need to find and keep their customers coming to them instead of the underdog. It might just be the right time to start winning your online customers over with these handy tips.
1) Attractive web design, informative content and easy website navigation are all points of concern when it comes to your online business. While you want to attract potential customers to your website pages, you don’t want it to be too overwhelming. Your website name is a great tool on its own, as long as it represents the correct image for the business you represent. Logos strategically placed which don’t take away from the products or services you provide can also be a fantastic addition to your webpage.
The information you provide on your website should be easy to understand, yet as complete as possible. The facts need to be accurate while the language needs to flow easily. It need not be two pages when one would have been enough, just as one page may not be enough to provide the proper amount of information. You need to be able to find the middle ground.
Layout and navigation are aspects which need to be as simple as possible. Your clients are going to want to make it from point A to point B without having to click on eight different buttons to get there. Not only it is preferable for you to have direct links to the different areas of your website, but a site map could be the difference between an easy sale and a frustrated client leaving without making a purchase.
2) Regular coupons are attractions which could keep your clients coming back for more. Oh, not the same ones which qualify to each purchase at any time! Those can be monotonous, and possibly result in your customer base looking elsewhere for a little more excitement. In this situation we are talking about coupons with a little bit of pop in their design, with a lot of value to your customer. Buy 2 get 1 free sales, or post-holiday discounts can truly entice your shoppers.
Hold a bring-a-friend day if you have a brick-and-mortar store. If someone from your list brings a friend they can, for example, receive 40% off their purchases for the day. Their friend can receive a lower percentage of a discount for having left her contact information with you.
3) Advance notice of upcoming product launches are fine, but you can make them even better by having a pre-sale price cut promotion. Just make sure you let them know this type of special is for list members only.
You could also sweeten the bargain a bit by holding a “members only” after-hours sale. When you hold this type of event, a percentage of the sales are given to charity. With this type of occasion, your list of members can not only profit from any sales they might find, but know they are helping a neighborhood charity at the same time.
