7 Simple Steps to a More Effective Website

Does your website regularly attract your ideal clients and motivate them to connect with you?  You can transform your website into an ideal client attracting magnet with these seven easy steps.

1. Identify Your Ideal Client

If your website is general and speaking to “everyone” then no one will be able to identify or see themselves in your copy (the text on your website).  When you know who you want to help then you can focus on that ideal client while you’re writing and designing your site. No matter how great a website is or how much time or money is put into it, if it’s aimed at the wrong people (or worse yet, aimed at no one at all, but just at “people”) it will not be nearly as successful as it could be with better targeting.

Knowing who your ideal client is will change the way you present your products or services, how you write your website copy, and even what colors you use or voice you create on your website. You want a site that makes your ideal client say, “Hey, that’s me! This site/product/service is here to help me.”

2. Determine the Main Purpose of Your Website

Why do you have a website?  What’s the goal?  What do you want it to accomplish for you?  You need to know your website’s goal so that you can find ways to make that action easier for customers to take.

It should require as few clicks as possible, be as easy to find/do as possible, etc.  Don’t make your customers think hard or search around for how to buy or how to contact you.  The easier you make it, the more visitors will take that action.

3. Target Your Content to Provide Valuable, Problem-Solving Resources & Build Credibility

What are visitors looking for when they come to your website? They’re looking to see what’s in it for them!

Do you value your relationship with your customers and potential customers? Do you really want to connect with them and help them? If so, make more available on your website than just your catalog of items for sale or services for hire! Make it easy to find case studies, helpful articles, step by step guides, assessments or other resources that build your credibility and show them how you can help to solve their problems.

4. Tweak Your Layout and Structure

Layout and design should be planned only after you’ve covered steps 1-3 and know the purpose and target for your site.

Don’t scare off customers with your website!  Review your site for compatibility, functionality, design and ease of navigation to be sure your website isn’t driving away possible sales.

5. Capture the Contact Information

Most studies show it takes anywhere from 5 to 12 exposures to a product or service before customers are ready to purchase.  You need a way to capture the contact information of your website visitors so that you can stay in contact, keep your services/products in their minds, and draw them back to purchase.  Setup your newsletter or auto-responder and add the form to your website.

6. Drive Targeted Traffic

Once you’ve completed steps 1-5, you’re ready to start driving traffic to your website!   There are many different ways to drive traffic to your website.  Create a plan that includes the strategies you want to use.

7. Follow Up and Convert to Customers

The final step in the process is to convert those who’ve signed up for your newsletter after visiting your website into clients.  To do this, you need to use your newsletter to continue building your credibility and showing how you can help them.  Send it out on a regular schedule!

And now, let me invite you to take the free quiz “Does Your Website Need a Makeover?” online at http://website-spa.com/resources/does-your-website-need-a-makeover and get help and suggestions to improve your website.

If you’d like professional help transforming your website into an ideal-client attracting magnet, I invite you to visit The Website Spa where we transform websites from blah to branded and beautiful.