If you’re reading this, you’re probably looking for some website tweaks that will help you earn more money online. With the rapid advancement of technology and the constant change of online marketing tactics, it can be difficult to stay current on what is working now, what is proven to work, and which passing fads you should ignore.
Once you’ve determined your website’s objectives and how you intend to monetize it, you can begin adding features and functions that directly support those objectives. Here are 10 proven features you can incorporate into your website to increase traffic, build your email list, and boost your online sales.
Add a User Forum to Your Website
Including a user forum on your website where members can assist one another, share ideas, and receive direct support from your company is an excellent way to keep visitors engaged. While moderating the forum requires time, it can be an effective way to engage clients and generate significant website traffic, ultimately resulting in increased sales for your business.
Another popular related option (and one that requires less technical know-how) is to create a Facebook Group for your prospects and/or customers (as opposed to a Facebook Business Page).
Use Social Networking Tools
More people are using social media to connect with businesses and brands, as well as to obtain news and information. You can use these social media platforms to connect with people and direct them to your website. Additionally, you can integrate social media widgets and icons into your website, allowing visitors to connect with your social media accounts and share your content on their own.
Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, as well as photo-sharing sites such as Pinterest and Instagram, are just a few of the top social media networks you can use to reach out to and attract new customers.
While the majority of people view social media as a free source of traffic that requires considerable time to master, there are numerous paid traffic methods available through social media, including Twitter advertising and Facebook paid advertising. You can always outsource your social media marketing if you don’t want to learn how to market on social media or spend time managing paid advertising campaigns.
Add a Blog to Your Website
Though it can be time consuming, maintaining and regularly updating a blog on your website can be an extremely effective way to attract free search engine traffic and to keep current clients informed about your business, offerings, and sales.
A well-written blog is an excellent way to increase site traffic while also sharing your industry expertise and insights. Consistently producing high-quality content enables you to achieve higher search engine rankings and free Google traffic. To accomplish this, you should add at least one new blog post each week.
Capture Email Addresses With Newsletter Signup
As is the case with blogging on your website, an email newsletter is an excellent way to increase client loyalty. If you already blog on a regular basis, maintaining an active email newsletter is simple—you simply send an email to your email list subscribers notifying them of new blog content.
For your newsletter, you may want to use a third-party email autoresponder service, such as AWeber. A service like this provides tools for creating signup boxes for your website as well as robust tracking capabilities. Another best practice is to offer a freebie, such as a special report or checklist, in order to entice people to join your email list.
Use a Product Catalog
If your website sells a large number of products or if your business is primarily based on e-commerce, you’ll want to incorporate an attractive product catalog. Without a properly constructed catalog, visitors may abandon your site in favor of one that is easier to navigate. The catalog should be searchable, both by product category and by key terms.
Occasionally, clients know exactly what they want; other times, they simply want to see what you have to offer. The best user experience is provided by a dynamic catalog. If you’re considering starting an e-commerce business, you may want to consider partnering with a reputable e-commerce service provider.
Add a Media Gallery
Photographs, videos, and testimonials can all be displayed in media galleries. They can demonstrate how your products are used, highlight their benefits, or include comments from actual users about how they used and liked specific products.
A photo gallery featuring multiple images of your product from various angles will assist your visitors in getting a sense of the product. Host your images and videos directly on your website or through a media host (like Flickr or YouTube).
Display Advertisements on Your Website
Appropriate advertisements, whether through affiliate programs or directly placed ads, can add value to your site and introduce your visitors to complementary service providers. While it may seem counterintuitive, including advertisements on your website can actually benefit your visitors. By demonstrating relevant products and services that can assist them in resolving issues and adding value to their lives.
Improve Your About Us Page
Did you know that your website’s “about” page is frequently one of the most visited pages? Because humans are inquisitive creatures, inform your visitors about you—not just the standard information such as your name, address, and a list of your credentials (like education, certifications,etc.).
Rather than that, take advantage of this opportunity to establish a genuine personal connection with your visitor. Share why you do what you do, why you are passionate about your field, and how you can assist your visitor in achieving their goals. You’ll want to include a photograph of yourself so that your visitors can associate your name (and website) with your face.
Use Video to Show Online Demos and How-Tos
Depending on the product you’re selling, this can be beneficial for post-sale service by reducing calls to your support line, or it can help increase sales by demonstrating how a product is used.
Additionally, you can use videos to pique interest and direct traffic to your website. Marketing videos should be brief (between one and five minutes), whereas onsite content and training videos can be longer.
In general, you’ll want to upload your videos directly to YouTube and use the platform to drive traffic to your website. Additionally, you can embed YouTube videos on your website. Uploading your videos directly to Facebook can also increase video views and traffic, so you’ll want to include a video on your Facebook page.
Give Away Free Content
Provide downloadable pdf files as free content on your website. These reports are an excellent resource for educating your prospects and assisting them in making a purchase decision. Often referred to as white papers, this type of content empowers your prospects. By educating them, you assist them in making an informed choice.
It is critical to note that these reports should be written objectively. If it reads like sales copy, it will be discarded (or deleted) and they will continue their search. However, if it is written with the intention of educating, your prospects will benefit, and they will view your company as an expert—confident enough to share valuable information—and they will reward you with purchases.