Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Marketing In Difficult Times: Improve Website Traffic

By Michael Fleischner

Internet marketing is often a complicated process of direct marketing campaigns and improving online conversions. Determining the right mix of advertising, online campaigns, and managing a budget is more difficult than ever before. However, if you have a good marketing strategy and manage the details of your online campaigns, you can significantly improve your marketing results.

If you are an established business with a well designed website, you may be wondering what has happened in the last few month. Many websites are seeing less traffic or fewer conversions. No matter what ails you, all websites can benefit from a more granular analysis to determine better ways of keeping website visitors on the page or converting into customers.

As times get tough, so do marketers. Through trial and error, I have implemented a number of campaigns via my website to improve the conversion of website visitors to customers. As pay per click expenses continue to increase, each visitor needs to do more to support my business. At the same time, my business needs to provide more value.

A great method for improving conversions is with the help of a free report. Offer your website visitors some valuable information in exchange for their name and email address. Keep your sign up forms brief. This helps to improve conversions and sales. If you want to improve your conversions, try giving something away in exchange for some basis information, then communicate to your contacts regularly.

Set up an auto responder. After users sign up for free information, automate the communications you send to them. This can be done for as little as twenty dollars per month. Your messages should be designed to move your website browsers through the purchase decision process.

Create a reason to come back. Another great technique is to change up your free offers on a weekly basis. This is easily done if you offer a course covering a new topic each week. Let users know that by coming back to the site, they can access new information, transcripts from a recent conference call, or access to expert information.

Lastly, think about starting a newsletter. Newsletters are great for opening up a dialogue with your users and helping them solve problems or issues they may be facing. Create topical articles that are relevant and leverage your list to increase sales. Newsletters are inexpensive to produce and improve relationships with customers.

Improving website conversions is more important than ever. It may take some time for the economy to turn around. As a result, you need to try new methods of converting browsers to purchasers. The best way to do so is by offering free content in the form of an informational download or online newsletter. Try different things and measure the results. Once you have found something that works, stick with it.

As you experiment and find new ways to convert your visitors, communicate with them regularly and continue to create value. Over time, these individuals will convert into full paying customers. - 15275

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