When you advertise in the yellow pages, you need to stand out from the crowd. You have to display your wares, shout your unique attributes and differentiate yourself from the hundreds of other companies doing exactly the same thing. 

Websites are not like that. Once someone is at your website, they are already in your shop. Would you continue to shout at your customers AFTER they have walked through your shop door? 

No, because you already have their undivided attention. The catch is that you probably only have about ten seconds before they click to a new website. So how do you make the most of that vital ten seconds?

Well, what would you do if a person walked into your bricks and mortar shop? You would probably ask what they are looking for, and help them to find it as quickly as possible. Or perhaps they are looking for the answer to a question? The web is the same. All you need to do is find out what your customers are looking for, and help them get there as easily as possible. No annoying pop-up advertising, no endless intro animations that tell them how great you are, and no mindless waffle to pollute the internet. And definitely, NO SHOUTING. Websites have traditionally been seen as mass media, but they are not – they are more like a one-to-one conversation. 

If you have given your customers what they are looking for in the first 10 seconds, they might be tempted to dig deeper into your website. This is why it is a good idea to include all the commonly asked questions – this not only helps save your staff time, but it creates a vital middle point between the initial contact and making a sale. 

And it goes without saying, if your customers have questions or would like to place an order – it is best to answer promptly. After all, none of us likes being left waiting at the counter! 

For more help developing your own internet strategy, you can request a Datasearch expert review or customised online marketing plan.