Websites, social media platforms, blogs. What to do with them? The worst thing you can do is throw them on the wall and hope it sticks!
It is amazing how many people are putting their life into a business that they haven't taken the time to build. If your business isn't worth taking the time to define your goals and objectives, market, messages,target customer pain points, then why are you in the business in the first place? How can you expect someone to “like” you or be your “fan” on Facebook when you haven't taken the time to understand who they are, what they want and why they should “like” you in the first place?
Part of the issue is many “so called experts” helping businesses don't know where to start either. So, the easy thing to do is start throwing the spaghetti tweets at the wall and hope they stick.
Below are 12 tips to get you out of the “spaghetti throwing” business and into the “leveraging your website to grow your business” category!
12 Tips to Maximize Your Website
1. Your visitors are PEOPLE, not robots.
-Remember social media is about people, relationships and conversation. Engage your visitors in dialogue. Inspire them with compelling and heart felt content to listen.
2. Imagine your Website as a Family Room. Have a GOAL to Help them feel COMFORTABLE!
-Treat your visitors like “guests” in your home. If you had a visitor sitting in your home would you blast ads at them? Doubtful. Chances are you would try to make them feel comfortable.
3. Speak in Their Language.
-Just because you spend your day using acronymns doesn't mean your visitors do. Speak to them in real words. Talk to them as if they were standing in front of you. Remember they are people and want you to convince them why they should care.
4. Tell them WHO you are.
-Who are you? How much experience do you have? Why are you justified to claim you are qualified to coach or train others? Are you a coach? A service provider? Or a scam artist? Whatever you do, don't leave something like who you are to the imagination of your guests.
5. Tell them WHAT you DO.
-Share what you can do to help them. Provide high level categories or pain points. Be very specific. Map your content to customer needs, pain points and benefits wherever possible.
6.Place a Value on Your Products and/or Services.
-Don't be afraid to include pricing. If you don't place a value on your services nobody else will.
7. INSPIRE and CONNECT with them.
-Don't talk at them. Engage them in a conversation. Remember real people like to talk and listen. Inspire them to listen and you are more likely to get a response. A response such as a blog comment, sharing your content, or subscribing to your newsletter should be a goal.
8. Let them know you CARE and want more than their credit card.
-Respond to their comments. Thank them when they share your content with others. When you take the time to understand, inspire and connect with your audiences you will help them connect with you.
9. Tell them WHAT you want them to DO!
-Prioritize the specifics and placement of content based upon your goals and objectives. Create specific calls to action and don't be afraid to let them know what they are. Don't hide the call to action three clicks in. Keep it on the top half of the front page whenever possible.
10. WALK the WALK.
-Don't talk the talk if you can't walk the walk! If you claim to be a social media coach then do more than add a twitter retweet button to your front page. Make your site shine with your expertise and willingness to help them learn the same. Focus on rising above status quo.
11. Offer a SAFE PLACE.
-Focus on inspiring, connecting, educating and learning. Ensure you and your site feel and are approachable. Be authentic in all you say and do. Don't hide behind an avatar and contact form. Let them know there are more than robots behind the Twitter button and avatar.
12. Keep it FRESH.
-Don't let your content go stale. Keep them coming back for more. Create an editorial calendar. Take an afternoon off and head to the beach or the lake if you run out of ideas for topics. You'll be amazed how beneficial a day away from the office can be for the creative juices!
Your Turn!
What do you do to help visitors feel comfortable when they stop by your website? What do you like to see when visiting other websites and social media platforms?
