Archive for the ‘Business Mindset’ Category

80–90% of website owners spend almost all of their time trying to get traffic. You’d be surprised to see how much of this traffic actually sticks. After doing lots of research (my own websites and others), I saw, at least 70–80% bounce rate of the traffic that comes to your website.

The bounce rate gives you an idea how much time they spend on the webpage and how deep they checked your website. The bounce rate here is way too high and they never clicked away the moment they landed on the wesites. Bad thoughts that.

What makes people stick to your website?

Before I answer this, let me ask you a question. What is more important – A unique visitor or Repeat visitor.

In normal set of conditions, website owners would like nothing more than unique set of visitors.

But in this scenario, I’d prefer ‘repeat visitors’.

Why Repeat visitors make you go ga-ga?

Repeat visitors means, they have already been on your site. Now, they came back for more. The more communication channels you create between you and your reader, the better your chances to sell them. The best thing about them is that you don’t have to spend any money/time as much for any unique visitors.

They liked your website, or your message or your content or god knows what, but they liked it. They are back for more. Wouldn’t you like to take this chance to cement a long term relationship with them?

In this long term relationship you’ll be able to sell them more and more. Can you think of elements that can help you create this long term relationships?

How these elements can get you repeat visitors?

Everything comes back to your content and how you present them. Your content will take shape in many forms from just text to Audio/video or email content. You have to build your content in a way which brings back your readers many many times.

To do this, you have to focus on “most wanted response”.

The term most wanted response was coined by Ken Evoy, a marketing genius in his own right. Every page in your website should have “Most Wanter Response (MWR)”. 

In MWR, all you have to focus on “What your reader should do when he comes to your webpage”. Notice I said, webpage, not website. Why? Because they can only surf website page by page.

At every page you have to decide what response you want them to make?

Do you want them to subscribe to your list?

Do you want them to follow a certain link?

Do you want them to buy something?

Or Do you want them to take another action?

So exactly what this will do?

First thing it focuses their attention to something you want them to do (or going to do anyway).

Second thing it kicks off any goofs, who are there just for a joy ride.

Third thing, it starts to filter different type of visitors.

Do you think all of this work will be pain in the neck? Of course it’ll. It’s your business, if you don’t do it, then who will?

Remember when readers are there, get them to act.

If you need any marketing help/advice, then click here.

Today I am going to show you very simple technique that’ll help you generate more leads.

One of the fastest way to attract more audience is by using simple advertorial format of advertising in space ads (newspaper, classifieds etc). In marketing lingo, we call these leads generators a 2 step method.

The goal of the lead generator is to generate as many leads as possible. The 2 step are -
1. Write ad that gets people to contact you (or call your office).
2. Get them to book an appointment.

1. Write better ads to Attract more audience.

Now this might be one of biggest hick-ups you might face. If you don’t know how to write, then you need some help fast. But here are few tips that’ll help you write better.

1. Use basic design without showing off any graphic skills. An ad needs to attract attention of the visitor.
2. Write a better headline. When in confusion, write directly to your customer “Attention : Interior designers –” will surely attract interior designers.
3. Do not try to sell your services/product in the ad. Your goal is to get your prospective clients to call you and book an appointment.
4. Better Ad-Prospect Match – Make sure you are targeting an intended audience. If you are an interior designer, it’s foolish to promote your ad in sports section/magazine.

Remember this is lead generator. You only have to get them to call you. That’s your goal for writing an ad. Do not stray from your goal.

2. Book an appointment.

When you start recieving calls, its not time to start selling your service or product. You are far better if you sell an appointment. Now that might sound a little odd, but the truth is, there’s no connection between you and prospect. The chances of them buying on phone is very low.

The moment you talk to them face to face in an appointment, you can increase the chances of turning query into sales. Never lead the phone call with sale in mind. Think appointment.

So the 2 step method is as follows

Get leads -> Book an appointment -> sell your products or service face to face.

While surfing around I found this video about Soda Business by John Neese. When you watch this video, you’ll see how passionate he is about his business. He loves, enjoy and play with this business. With over 500 different types of sodas he can claim to be the only one with so many varieties.

Have you ever heard of cucumber soda? John has it, even if you haven’t heard of it. 

I have been working online since 2004 and I had my shares of up and downs when it came to internet marketing. One of the biggest headache or pain in the ass while starting online is putting together a website.

I don’t mean in technical terms. You can hire anyone to get a website in a week or less. No I meant in terms of Marketing, Producing, it’s like giving a birth to website.

1. What’s Your Goal?  – When I am starting out, I ask myself a very simple question. What’s my goal? Now of course, your goal can be, saving the world, making money, just plain old vanilla putting your business offline.

But in this phase, you have to find out how you are going to achieve your end goal.

For example, this website http://www.varunpratap.com/ went through many phases (from a personal website to fitness blog to again a personal website to professional website to phew… tooo many). I ended up scraping all of these earlier versions just because I wasn’t satisfied.

I am a creative person and I need an outlet where I can speak, shout, rant or just be darn creative.

Currently my slogan “Desire. Commit. Succeed” is something I want others to experience. And to me, there’s nothing better using a blog to share your experience. With my experience in many diverse fields, I know I’ll end up talking about tons of different things on this blog.

So you have to decide what’s your ultimate goal? And how you are going to achieve it?

2. How are you going to create a connection? – Websites do not exists in solitude. In fact nothing exists in solitude. So when you are going to make a website, you have to find a way to create a connection with people who are going to visit your website.

There’s no other way. You cannot avoid this. No matter who you are. No matter what business you are in. No matter what your race is or where you live.

Your website cannot live without visitors and there has to be a way to connect with them.

2 Easiest way to connect with them are

1. Blog Like this one.
2. Newsletter
3. Forum (I am adding this one but it takes lots of efforts to maintain a forum).

You also have to understand about the media (Audio and Video). Because they ultimately create a connection. You have to check whether you can use it or not.

3. Potential to monetize or not – Third thing I think about potential to monetize a website. It’s very simple, If you are already making an effort to build and maintain a website, then why not monetize it?

There are many ways to monetize. The easiest to implement are :-

1. Sell advertisement space.
2. You can create a list and sell advertisement.
3. Create a product/s and sell it.
4. Promote affiliate products.
5. Sell your services.

Now this is how I start even before I order a website design to be done. I worry about my prospects. I prepare about how I am going to connect. I prepare about how to market. I prepare about how to sell.

Like I said, any one can put a website online. These days even toddlers and their pets have one. But all of this underestimates the real though that goes behind putting a website together.

It’s not that complicated. In fact it’s easiest the moment you decide “What’s my Ultimate goal with this website?”.

This is first of my 3 part formula “Decide. Commit. Succeed”. The moment you decide and decide to commit, things changes. Everything will work in your favor depending on your will. And Succeeding is just next step.

Notice, there’s no where I talked about SEO (search engine optimization) or any other new internet technologies. Because we don’t have to worry about them.

First build a website in mind, then on paper and only then come online.

Best Regards,

Varun Pratap
Desire. Commit. Succeed.