6 tips to get more customers through better content on your website

When you’re looking to buy a new car, decide on the next holiday destination, get ideas for your business, what do you do?
You probably do research online. How often do you use Google in a day?

So when you end up on a website that has the information you need, you tend to stay on that website and buy or book that product or service.

Here are 6 tips to ensure your website provides the information your potential customers are looking for:

Tip 1: What information do your customers need to know when they buy or book your product? Make it clear on the homepage of your website what you’re actually selling and what your unique selling points are (i.e. why they should come to you and not your competitor). Provide links to other parts of the site for more information.

Tip 2: Assume your customers know nothing about you, your product, your region etc. Certainly don’t use jargon or place names that mean nothing to them. Include maps, photos and descriptions of what you’re selling. Provide in-depth information about everything that is relevant about your product, region etc. So, think about how you could make their buying decision easier by providing all the additional information they need.
Oh, and don't forget to include info about yourself and your staff (including photos!) It adds credibility to your business!

Tip 3: It’s not about how wonderful you say you are, it’s about what your customers say about you. Word of mouth has always been one of the most important marketing tools and sites such as Tripadvisor, Booking.com and your own testimonials will give more of an unbiased review of what you offer. E.g: http://www.smartourism.co.nz/about-us-testimonials/  

Tip 4: Use great headlines and sub-headings.
Almost 80% of website visitors jump from headline to headline or sub-head. Only 20% read word for word and the rest of us look for what we want in bold or highlighted text.
Good headlines pull a reader into the copy. Use sub-heads every few paragraphs to appeal to readers who scan. Make them short and informative to point to key information a visitor may be after. Ensure your important keywords are included in the headlines and sub headings.

Tip 5: Ensure your website is mobile friendly. More and more people are accessing your website through mobile devices. If your website is not responsive (this means that it adjusts itself to the mobile devices it's viewed on), they are less likely to look at your website as it is not easy to read and navigate it.

Tip 6: Tell readers what you want them to do.
Every web page should have a call-to-action. It might be ‘Subscribe to our newsletter or blog’, ‘Check availability’’, ‘Send me information’ or ‘Buy now! . Without telling visitors what you want them to do, they’ll do nothing at all.

So, have a look at your website and make a list of what additional content you could add to provide all the information your customers need to buy your product or service.

A little plug for 3 workshops/programmes coming up:

20 November 2015: Developing an international tourism distribution plan / how to work with trade
Location: Te Anau
For more info, go to: www.smartraining.co.nz

26 November 2015: Business Building Blocks - 5 Effective Marketing Techniques That Will Help you Grow Your Business
Location: Queenstown (through Queenstown Chamber of Commerce)
http://www.queenstownchamber.org.nz/business-building-blocks-5-effective-marketing-techniques-that-will-help-yo

January 2016 start: Marketing for Success Programme: 12 months programme
And the new Advanced Marketing for Success Programme
For more info, go to: www.smartraining.co.nz