The already-high percentage of websites suffering from
little or no income is growing each and every day online.
And while there are certainly more reasons for this alarming
failure rate than I can cover in a short quiz, I'm quite
sure I've identified the top reasons why more sites than
ever will shut down over the next few years...
Warning: You may not like what you learn about your own site
from this quiz. The quiz is not designed to make you feel
bad. It is here to help the large number of businesses who
are NOT getting the results they envisioned when they set
sail online. It is completely up to you what you do with the
results.
THE QUIZ...
Read the following eight questions and answer them honestly.
The questions can be answered with a simple YES or No answer.
Answer "NO" just twice and you have a choice... make changes
or face the consequences.
-QUIZ START-
#1. Do you have your own domain name? ___
Sounds like a no-brainer, right? Well you'd be shocked at
the number of small business owners still trying to make a
go of it with a free host. If the first impression you make
is coming across as "www.somefreewebspace.com/user/" instead
of an established "www.yourcompany.com", you're in trouble.
It is a simple fact of business online that if your company
won't spring for a domain name at $35 a year, many potential
customers will think twice before they buy from you.
#2. Does your site offer FREE, VALUABLE information about
your area of expertise? ___
Too many websites are merely sales letters and nothing more.
The best sites offer genuine, quality assistance. It is a
simple fact online, that businesses who willingly share
valuable information are more likely to keep people at their
site and earn repeat visitors. Moreover, if you are trying
to sell something, you can earn your potential customer's
respect and confidence by sharing your hard-earned
knowledge.
#3. Does your site really and truly look professional?__
Or does your site look like a beginner designed it? While
there's nothing wrong with being a beginner to online
business, your website MUST be attractive and professional.
Ask five people who are not related to you for their honest
and brutal opinion of your site. Take their suggestions to
heart. If you want to grow successful online, you have to
look professional!
This also means your sales copy must be precise, accurate
and professional and must MOTIVATE your visitors to take
action. Is your current sales copy effective? If not, get it
looked at by a pro. An attractive site with effective copy
can earn serious money online, especially with all the duds
out there!
#4. Do you display a privacy statement at your site? ___
This has quickly become a hot topic online. Not only is the
press talking about it, many of your would-be customers and
newsletter subscribers are looking for it! This is why a
brief privacy statement is fast becoming an essential
component at every website. In short, it lets your web site
visitors know what you will do with any information they
share with you. (Hopefully you'll keep in confidential!)
It takes just 15 minutes to post your own privacy statement
at your site. I did mine at the wizard supplied by TRUSTe:
http://www.truste.org/wizard
#5. Do you offer your website visitors secure credit card
ordering? ___
This is one of the biggies! Secure credit card ordering is a
MUST at every business site. It's as simple as getting a
merchant account and offering a secure order form.
#6. Are you growing an "opt-in email list" by asking your
site visitors to leave their email address with you? ___
You need to give every visitor to your site a good reason to
leave their address. A free e-newsletter, discount specials
or industry news will usually suffice. Convince them that
they MUST get on your list! As far as collecting the info, a
simple signup form is best. Don't ask a million questions
in your signup form. They may be interested in letting you
stay in touch, but may shy away if they have to reveal too
much information about themselves. A lead is a lead. Don't
scare them away - they may never be back.
#7. Do you contact your opt-in list regularly? ___
Whether you publish a weekly email newsletter, a monthly tip
sheet or even regular specials, a solid "keep in touch"
strategy is the most cost effective way to get visitors back
to your site. It is your guarantee of higher revenue each
and every year as your list grows! You'll continually be
able to offer special deals and introduce new products and
services to your best prospects in the world -- your private
club of prospects and past customers!
#8. Is your website promoted on a regular basis? ___
Once you know you have a product or service that will sell,
the only other key to success is telling people about it.
Online, sales figures are directly related to the number of
visitors your site gets. If you sell something to every
100th visitor on average and get 100 visitors a day, you can
triple your income by getting 300 visitors to your site each
day. Sounds simple right? Well too many folks don't get it.
They don't promote regularly so they don't grow their
traffic or their revenue.
-QUIZ END-
So, how many times did you answer NO? If you were forced to
answer NO just twice, your site may be doomed to a fate
worse than the dinosaurs. That's right, answering NO to just
two of these questions means your company may lose a bundle
of revenue while your competitors build thriving businesses.
Remember, I didn't write this to upset any small business
owners out there. Quite simply, I know from experience why
many sites fail, while others flourish. If yours isn't doing
so well, time is on your side. Print this quiz and get busy
implementing each item one at a time. Before you know it
your site will be ringing up sales like there's no tomorrow!
