If you’re reading this article then you’re probably looking for some tweaks you can make to your website to help you make more money online.
With the speed of technology and constantly changing / cutting edge online marketing tactics it can be hard to keep up with what’s working right now, what’s proven to work, and what are the passing fads that you should just ignore.
Once you have determined your site objectives and how you will make money with your website, you can add functions that will directly contribute to your objectives (most likely increasing subscribers, sales, or visitor engagement).
Here are some proven features you can add to your website to help it drive more traffic, build your email list, and increase your sales online.
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Add a User Forum to Your Website
Having a user forum on your website where members can help members, share ideas and receive support directly from your company is a great way to keep people engaged on your website.
While requiring an investment of time to moderate the forum, this can be an effective way to engage clients, and to generate significant website traffic – ultimately leading to more sales for your business.
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Utilize Social Networking Tools
People are spending more and more time on social media networks to connect with businesses and brands and get news and information. You can tap into these social media platforms to reach people and drive traffic back to your website.
Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn and photo sharing sites like Pinterest and Instagram are some of the top social media networks you can tap into to find and attract new customers.
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Add a Blog to Your Website
Though it can be time consuming, maintaining and regularly updating a blog on your website can be a very effective way to get free traffic from the search engines and a good way to keep existing clients up to date with your business, offerings, and sales.
A well written blog is a great way to build site traffic and share your industry knowledge and insight. Writing good quality content on a consistent basis is a way to get higher search engines rankings and get free traffic from Google.
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Use a Product Catalog
If you have a significant amount of products for sale on your website or if you’re primarily an e-commerce based business, then you’ll want to utilize an attractive product catalog on your website.
Without a properly built catalog, your prospects will abandon your site and move on to an easier to navigate site. The catalog should be searchable, both by key terms and by product category. Sometimes clients know what they want, and other times they want to see what you offer. A dynamic catalog offers the best user experience.
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Capture Email Addresses with Newsletter Signup
Similar to blogging on your website, an email newsletter is a great way to build client loyalty. If you’re already blogging on a regular basis then maintaining an active email newsletter is easy – you just email your subscribers announcing your new blog content.
Another best practice is to offer some type of free offer, like a special report or checklist, to incentives people to opt-in to your email list.
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Add a Media Gallery
Online media display your products in use, show product benefits, or actual users comments on how they used/liked specific products.
A photo gallery with multiple images of your product taken from different angles will help your visitors get a feel for the product.
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Display Advertisements on Your Website
Either through affiliate programs or directly placed ads, appropriate advertisements can add value to your site, and introduce your clients to complementary service providers.
This may sound counterintuitive, but having advertisements on your website can actually add value for your visitors; showing them relevant products and services that can help them solve problems and add value to their lives.
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Give them Free Content
Provide free content on your website in the form of downloadable pdf files. These reports are a valuable means to educate your prospects, aiding them in making a buying decision.
Its important to note that these reports should be written in a non-biased way. If it reads like sales copy, it will be thrown away (or deleted) and they’ll move on. But if it’s written with the purpose to educate, then your prospects will benefit and they’ll view your company as the expert – confident enough to give away valuable information – and they’ll reward you with purchases.
