How To Convert New Visitors From Guest Posting (Part 2)
The first time a new visitor comes to your website can be the difference between a quick visit or a future customer. You have a short window to make a good impression so you have to make it count.
I’ve learned from my past mistakes, and going forward I want people visiting this website to get nothing but value. If they do have that great experience, they will sign up for my email list, and start the process of getting to know me.
In the last three years this website has had over one million visitors. The most people who I’ve ever had on my email list, at any one time, is 15,000 people. I have NOT done a good job at converting new visitors in the past. Only in the last year have I learned how to convert.
The goal is not income. Yes, this is a business that I support my family with, but I don’t view new visitors as potential new customers, that’s the wrong approach. I view new visitors as people who are here to get help creating freedom in their life. I want to help them anyway I can.
My first goal is to help them. I do inform everyone what I offer, as far as premium offerings, but I’m not trying to push. If what I offer is what someone’s interested in, they will reach out, no need to be the pushy Internet marketer guy.
There are all kinds of programs, and courses that tell you to do this and that to get the sale. It may even work, but it’s not the best way to build your business. If what you’re selling has value, people will see that and buy it. That is, of course, after you build an audience.
I think we fail to realize that you can have a profitable online business with only 100 people on your email list. You don’t need 10,000 people, just 100. If you have 100 engaged fans, all you need is one of them to buy what you’re selling.
If you get that first one you can get the second and so on. The possibilities are amazing! The goal is then to get those first 100 people. If you’re giving those 100 people value, they will buy what you’re selling. Let’s continue in our series.
Make your website really personal
I had an entire post about this, which you can see here. The goal is to get people to start to get to know you. The way you do that is by being personal. You don’t want someone to visit your website and feel like you’re on a pedestal.
Your website should be in the first person (unless you’re famous or well-known) because most people will know that you wrote it. When it’s written in the first person they can better relate to you.
Every page on your website should have a snippet of your story as it relates to that page. If it’s your services page, tell the story that lead you to offer the services you now offer. Put a human face behind the website. Do that for all the pages of your website.
Have pictures of you and/or your family, which will put a very personal spin on things. If possible, and if you feel comfortable, add video. If you’re a speaker there should definitely be videos of you speaking. The picture is from a website I stumbled across. It does a funny job proving what I’m talking about.
Have strong calls to action
If you have a simple website that functions well, you’re all set to start converting. In order for you to do that, you have to tell people what you want them to do. Are your calls to action very clear?
You have to be honest and up front about telling people to sign up for your email list. You can get them to sign up by showing the value they get. A strong call to action can be hard because it’s like selling.
Many people, myself included, feel weird about selling. We even feel weird about asking people to do stuff on our website. If you’re going to convert visitors you have to get over that.
Remind yourself that you’re adding value to people’s life. In exchange for their name, and email address, you’re going to give them actionable content they can use to help them with whatever your topic is.
This brings us to the end of our mini series. I hope you get the importance of converting new visitors. I look at 2012 on this website and I cringe. A lot of new visitors that could have been converted.
No use crying over spilled milk. Right? If you’re in a similar situation don’t let past mistakes ruin future progress. All you can focus on is right now and going forward. Take this week to examine your website and see if there’s any room for improvement.
How are you converting new website visitors? Any changes need to be made?
