This article was prompted by some customer support work I was involved in for a private members site. One of the paid subscription members wanted someone to look over his website and give an opinion of what we thought of its design.
It was clear from the email that they had been online for a while (over 3 years) but hadn't seen any results from their efforts and were frustrated. Understandably so!
This person had created his own website in which to promote an online Opportunity. The purpose for having your own web site, rather than a static page, (one that you can't personally change, like the ones the most biz opps provide) is it to "Brand YOU".
After all, your site visitor is getting involved with something you recommend and in effect will want you to help them succeed.
Your site should not be to *sell* them ? that's the job of the company you represent. The purpose of your site is to *refer* them.
Anyway, the first impression of this member's site was the lack of having it's own domain name, its own presence. Not a good start and that was even before I visited the site. So before I arrived, my trust as a prospect was wavering.
On arrival I found that the site "rammed" the opportunity down the throat of the visitor, if anything the site scared me into running away as fast as possible.
Also this member quoted their website "hits" as a picture of how many "visitors" there were. Let me explain why this can be misleading.
Hits occur from the amount of files loaded when a visitor arrives to a web page. This means if a web page (which is 1 file) has 10 images (10 files) then they count as 11 hits; the web page plus images. You can see that it can be misleading to quote hits.
It gets worse if the visitor goes to more than 1 page because then any additional images (and the next page) count as more hits. Make sure you always count "unique visitors" when assessing a conversion ratio or stating statistics.
I drafted a long email reply, explaining why I thought this site may not be effective, and is not getting the results they wanted. I did my best to provide advice by explaining how to build a relationship between them and the prospects and then how to refer the prospect on the company.
Around 24 hours passed when I received an answer formatted in all CAPS (which for anybody that is not aware, it's like yelling in an email). It seemed this member had taken offence to the suggestions.
(Side note here: The suggestions were very constructive and aimed to provide support and help progress, nothing more.)
It short I received an "attitude attack". It seems their mind was "not open to change" or new ideas. Now folks, you are allowed to make mistakes, nothing wrong with that, but when you ask for help, and then decide that the help is wrong (even though what you are doing is not working)... well things aren't going to change are they?
So what's you attitude like? Are you open to information? I am not talking about school learning (I was really bad at that) but taking advice, applying it, and measuring results. It's also learning from those who have already made all the mistakes for you. Trust me, anybody who has any success has got it wrong many times!
So what do you do when you are frustrated and things are not going where you want them to go? Look for someone who will help, someone who has been where you are. Now to do this can take a lot of time, so if you want the best advice you are going to have to pay -that's just the way it is.
Anybody who thinks they can have a successful business without spending any money is dreaming. I am not saying you need to spend a fortune, but you need to invest in your business, especially when it comes to getting visitors and the right help.
A private members site is likely to get you the information you need. This way you get access to someone who wants you to succeed, and you become a higher priority, because you are a customer. Also you have shown some commitment by paying where others won't take that step.
I have just become a member of Jim Daniel's make a living online site, now I get a response from a proven successful business online person.
Jim has been online for a long time and built up a large following and an email optin list over 150 thousand. He knows his stuff:
Check it out here:
http://www.make-a-living-online.com/
You won't be disappointed.
Lots of people are still in "job mode" ? turn up and get paid. With any business, its more like, turn up, work, make some mistakes, learn, move forward, learn more, and improve what you are doing. There will be some struggle, which makes success so much better but the pay you get in the end can be overwhelming.
Expecting huge success quickly will frustrate you, instead, expect progress inch by inch.
And what of our business owner who wrote in? It's likely they are to be frustrated for a while longer and likely to become an "Internet knocker" saying that the Internet business doesn't work, well for him, his is right until some changes are made. A for attitude? More like an F.
About The Author
Paul Easton is a self confessed Internet Marketing Nut and Editor of "Power Promotion Plus" -An ezine dedicated to web site promotion tools that work with 3 free gifts for subscribing. Check it out here: http://www.make-a-living-online.com/
http://www.make-a-living-online.com/
eco-friendly cleaning service Buffalo Grove ..We are clearly well past the innocent "golden age" of... Read More
After deciding what kind of internet business you want to... Read More
Psychology is a long word which everyone thinks, "no, that's... Read More
Thousands of people are now making a living online and... Read More
Dan Kennedy once said that if you can't make money... Read More
"I am a writer, not a business-person. I don't want... Read More
First, using a lot of web graphics, flash, banners and... Read More
People like to get immediate responses to requests. Autoresponders are... Read More
Keywords in Search Engine Optimizing and Search Engine Marketing are... Read More
I can't think of any business alive today that couldn't... Read More
So you want to have a website. You have gone... Read More
Research reveals three important facts:1) The Internet is one of... Read More
So what do you do if need to get a... Read More
What you should do and know if you are an... Read More
I had a client say something to me the other... Read More
1) Data CaptureOne easy way to collect e-mail addresses and... Read More
Most people know they need a website in order to... Read More
In the late 1990's three San Francisco based web developers... Read More
I've heard several prominent web marketers mention in their classes... Read More
See how you can create graphic effects on text with... Read More
While creating a Web site may seem like... Read More
After planning the design and content of your website, it's... Read More
An interesting eCommerce success factor that isn't precisely overlooked, but... Read More
When building a relationship, listening is more important than talking.A... Read More
It amazes me how many people try to build serious... Read More
express cleaning service Arlington Heights ..Just like all things in life, the ways to run... Read More
If you were asked to put a value on your... Read More
"What's in it for me?" you ask. "Why should I... Read More
Part of the success of most home-based businesses is their... Read More
If your company own one or more stores, you might... Read More
Even with the steady growth of the World Wide Web,... Read More
Many of site owners still don't realize all advantages of... Read More
After years of working with entrepreneurs who developed their first... Read More
Today it seems everyone is jumping on the entrepreneur bandwagon,... Read More
Building a new website can be a lengthy task. From... Read More
There are lots of HTML editors on the market, however,... Read More
Internet has opened a whole new world for web developers... Read More
If you're looking for better web site ROI, chances are,... Read More
Now that you have got your domain name registered, your... Read More
As increasing numbers of people search for information on the... Read More
What is web accessibility & why is it important?Web accessibility... Read More
What to do if you are an artist after you... Read More
In a previous ezinearticles.com article,"I Need real visitors, Not Search... Read More
I've heard several prominent web marketers mention in their classes... Read More
If you are looking for creating your online presence you... Read More
Appealing to others is really important when you have a... Read More
So you want to take a look at a real... Read More
Starting and maintaining a business is challenging enough without the... Read More
The cost of setting up a web site is dirt... Read More
I talk with so many people who have small businesses... Read More
Web Development |