I recently wrote up a list of all the things I have ever
done, or currently do, on the internet. WOW. I will spare
you, it's huge. I can sit down in a comfortable chair, turn
on my computer, and pretty soon I'm flitting from site to
site, on a mission until something flashy catches my eye, or
an article looks interesting, or a game download looks like
fun, or a forum has some usable information...
Pretty soon hours have gone by, and have I accomplished my
original task?...maybe...but it's been fun and enlightening
and danggg I forgot to bookmark that site...where was
that...and off I go again, thanks to Go To and Google.
So that is what you are up against when someone visits your
site. First of all, how did she find you? Via a reciprocal
link? Search engine? Your byline at the end of an article
you wrote? These are the things you have to work on to get
her there in the first place.
It's been reworked over and over how to write "sticky"
website text, that makes your visitors "stick around". I'm
going to just mention a few of the things you shouldn't do,
based on my own surfing habits.
Include links that take the visitor OFF your site at your
own risk. In other words, you'd better have a really good
reason to do so. Such as with SFI, sending them to your
Veriuni Store, that's branded with your affiliate ID and
leads them to either purchase from you or sign up as your
sponsored affiliate.
But if a link takes me off to Amazon.com for example, I'm
history. Soon I'm looking at someone's list of recommended
books, then I remember that I've been meaning to look for a
good deal on a Dell laptop, then it's a gift for my mom, and
I've totally forgotten the page that sent me here.
The only possible exception that I can think of is a link on
my site to a product that complements my own, maybe makes my
own more functional or complete. If I'm canvassing for new
affiliate prospects, I might want to offer a web design tool
or an autoresponder. If I'm selling chairs, I might want
to offer cushions or pillows. Just be very focused on what
you want your client to do (the click to buy your product or
sign up for your opportunity) and make sure every other link
supports that.
The GOOD place for affiliate links such as in the Amazon.com
example, are in a pop-under window. The visitor has already
done all she's going to do, left your site, voila the window
with one last try at selling something is uncovered. Send
her off to a relevant site after a relevant product, you
still might make a sale.
What else not to do? Don't pressure your visitors. Don't
hard sell them. That's one of the reasons why surfers don't
click on Google Ads or website banners as much as good
linking text. The text appears directly in context with
what they have chose to read because it is interesting. The
ads and banners are associated with selling, which has
associations with coercion.
If anything, today's surfer expects courtesy, variety,
information, more value for less money, and the freedom to
make her own choices in her own time.
It's your job to make her like, trust and value her
relationship with you and to give her what she expects and
MORE. Then she'll WANT to buy.
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About the Author:
Glenn Beach is a poet, writer and home business entrepreneur
in Nova Scotia, Canada. Free newsletter, more articles, and
business start-up info at:
http://www.work-at-home-business-opportunity-canada.com
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