Entries Tagged 'Managing Home Biz' ↓

Did you know?
Every website has a lot more shoppers than buyers!  Yea, LOL, I’m sure that doesn’t surprise you.  Oh, but we’ve got to fix that problem!!! (smile)

If you’re an online business owner, then you can probably verify your visitor statistics are considerably higher than your number of purchases.  Below are some of the top reasons visitors don’t always become customers and suggestions for improving your online sales conversion:

Top 5 Reasons Why Customers Fail to Make an Online Purchase:

1•  Confusion and Frustration.  Shopper’s don’t spend time trying to navigate a site that is confusing, difficult to use, or requires too many clicks to complete a transaction. 

FIX:  Optimize Ease of Use - Business owners can encourage shoppers to finalize sales by simplifying the process.  First, require few clicks as possible to the final checkout where your customer actually pays for the products or services.  Buttons, especially “add to cart” and “proceed to checkout”, are best displayed prominently, preferably above the fold.  Changing quantities, colors, and adding and removing items or changing shipping method should be easy to accomplish.  Check-out instructions should be clear and simple.  Customers appreciate the efficiency and respect for their time that a smooth purchase experience provides.

2•  Misbehaving Webpages and Shopping Carts.  Websites that don’t work the way they should will not only lose sales, but discourage future visits from potential customers. 

FIX:  Increase Funtionality - It may be worth the investment to hire a knowledgeable web master to design and maintain the storefront and shopping cart.  A smooth-running website not only increases sales, but also frees the business owner to focus on other activities that can ultimately lead to more traffic and more conversions.

3•  Lack of Product information.  Ever put an item back on the shelf because you weren’t clear about the price, size or other necessary details?  Triple that dilemma with online shopping.  Your customers can easily be frightened away with the lack of necessary details.

FIX:  Add Specific Details on Products -  Is an item in stock?  How soon will it ship?  What is the cost?  What shipping and payment methods are available?  Consumers are more likely to complete a sale when they are provided with sufficient information to answer all their questions about a product or service. 

*Extra Tip: Providing an FAQ page is one way to provide quick answers as well as a means to cut down on extra email communications involving answering customers’ questions.  A convenient link to detailed information about specific products also helps.  Many websites also include a contact form or live-help telephone number for customers with additional questions.

4•   Lack of Confidence and Trust.  It’s scary handing over your money and personal details to a new (unknown) online store. 

FIX:  Provide Credibility and Security - The online business owner’s website is her one means of instilling confidence in the buyer.  Some ways to do this include:
    -  providing a physical address, telephone number, and email address
    -  displaying the VeriSign or other certification authority logo
    -  clearly communicating the website’s privacy policy
    -  providing a customers’ testimonial page
    -  publishing an “About Us” page that explains the company or business owner’s background, objectives and accomplishment.

5•  Lack of Payment Options.   Have you ever wanted to purchase something online and realized that you did not have that form of payment option?  Or, perhaps, you simply have a preference of how you like to pay online and the online store did not offer that method?  Disappointment can surely lead to a loss of sale.

FIX:  Offer Multiple payment options - Businesses that accept multiple forms of payment show significantly higher sales.  Accepting credit cards, whether by setting up a merchant account or by using a third-party service such as PayPal, is crucial.  The benefit of using PayPal is that it also allows customers to pay by direct transfer from their checking accounts, providing yet another option.

*BEST TIP: Business owners who put themselves in their customer’s shoes will develop insight and be positioned to make positive changes that can lead to higher conversions, increased revenues, and greater profits.

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7  Tips How Service Providers  Can Benefit from Joint Ventures and Grow their Business

Many business owners assume that joint ventures only work for those selling products.  The truth is that many online service providers can also benefit and profit from joint venture partnerships.
 
Here’s 7 tips that can help service providers create joint ventures:

1.  Ad swaps.  Most online service providers - whether they are virtual assistants, copywriters, designers, professional or personal coaches, bookkeepers, transcriptionist etc…have a website.  Chances are they have an ezine too.  One potential partnership might include the swapping of advertising space with a relevant business.  This can be particularly helpful if you’re on a budget and looking for new clients. 

For example, a business coach could swap ad space on a website or in an ezine with a virtual assistant.  Many people using a business coach are often looking for ways to optimize their time, and a virtual assistant may be exactly what they’re looking for.  Likewise, people using a virtual assistant might be able to benefit from the services of a business coach, particularly if they’re looking for ways to grow their business.
 
2.  Email and promotions.  If you have an opt in list, or at least a list of customers, you can promote the services of a relevant business in your communications, or even as part of your next business promotions.  Likewise, your partner can do the same for you.  One idea to consider is not merely swapping, but placing an ad in your regular email communications with the agreement that you receive a small percentage of the profits.  You were going to send out the email anyway - now you can make a little bit of money with it.

3.  Guest bloggers.  Blogging on your own site connects you with your customers.  Blogging on another site connects you with their customers – who may become your customers.  Blogging is an excellent way to establish not only a rapport with prospects; you can also demonstrate your skills and knowledge, thereby increasing your credibility as a service provider.  You can swap guest blogs or you can share any profits that come your way by virtue of the blog, or you can make some other arrangement that works well for the both of you. 

4.  Ezine content exchange.  Like blogs, swapping ezine content is something that will help build your exposure and credibility.  Additionally, ezines are easily shared with others and archived for lasting stickiness. 

5.  Product creation.  Many service providers also offer information products like ebooks to give away with a newsletter subscription, or even books or audios to sell.  Partnering with another business owner to create a product can be a tremendous opportunity.  Create a promotional product to give away for free (OR sell the ebook), distribute it to both of your lists, and include advertisements and offers in the book for both of your businesses. 

6.  Swap services.  What tasks have you considered outsourcing?  Administrative tasks?  Copywriting?  Bookkeeping?  Graphic design?  As a service provider you can offer your services in exchange for a partner’s services.  For example, a copywriter may be excellent at writing copy but horrible at designing a website.  Trade a comparable amount of copywriting projects for a complete website overhaul and you’ve both benefited tremendously from the deal. 

7.  Cross-sell.  This is a fun one that many service businesses forget about.  Consider cross-selling.  For example, as a virtual assistant you could promote and offer copywriting services to your clients as a partnership.  Your copywriting partner could advertise that they also provide transcription, web updating and other tasks the virtual assistant handles.  This way you’re bringing in business for each other. 

As you can see, opportunities for service providers to benefit from online joint venture partnerships is tremendous.  Can you add any ideas for joint ventures to this list?

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38 Easy ways NOT to Be a Slave to Your Online Business

Relieve stress, spend more time with your family…gain more freedom… 
 
A few examples you’ll find:
 
-> Practical ways to focus on the business-building aspects of your business and gain more time.
 
-> How to get more done in less time.
 
-> How permission to slack off can make you more money.
 
-> Discover 2 old-fashioned tools that will help your online profits.
 
-> How to find out your true value and increase it.    
 
-> How to make more money with the labor-intensive services you provide.
 
-> How to get rid of those feelings of guilt without sacrificing your willingness to help others. 

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(Hint:  Find this report in the Business Training Center under the “business startup topics” category)
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*This Guide is Sold by Permission from Alice Seba
 
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