Bring those visitors back for more,
applauding you and saying BRAVO! They will create a buzz about your great site,
and send you many more visitors through word of mouth. These visitors are your
personal marketing force.
If you are a non-techie like me, you
may not have heard of what a "sticky" Web site is (it is the stuff
that lures visitors back again and again). But we do know we want that!
Forget getting to the top of the
search engines. Let your Webmaster do that. Instead, try out some of these low-
maintenance ways to bring 'em back to your Web site for more.
1.
Upload new, original, and useful content often. Do not think of your Web
site as a virtual brochure. Avoid blatant ads such as banners, which turn
visitors off. Give them information they can't find anywhere else and give it
free. People want and need how to's, especially.
Always think benefits when you post
some new article. Helping your visitors get what they want will bring you their
trust and respect as an expert, and eventually, bring you profit from your book,
other products, or service.
2.Update
your Web site content regularly
and often, perhaps daily or weekly. If
someone visits your site and finds nothing new, they will disappear into
cyberspace and spend their time on other sites.
If you don't want to write articles,
copy and paste other people's articles or tips from their ezines or Web sites
with their permission, of course. Keep the pieces under 1200 words. Common
lengths are anywhere from 75-1000 words. You can include a tip list, past
feature articles from your ezine, an excerpt from your book, poetry, a
heart-felt story, or a character sketch from your fiction book.
3.
Publish your own ezine. Make it short and sweet. Start with a monthly,
then see if you can do it bi-weekly. If you don't stay in regular touch with
your possible buyers, they will forget you and your book's message.
People want to know you better, so
they can trust you and think of you as an expert in your field. Your free
information, tips and resources will keep them as subscribers. If they like your
eMag, they will recommend it to others. The opt-in eNewsletter tops all other
ways to drive traffic to your site, and it can be mass mailed free, too. Check
out Topica.com.
4.
Include a recommending service on your site. Your repeat visitors create
new traffic. Check out www.Recommend-It.com. It's free, fast, and versatile.
Each time someone recommends your site, they are entered in a contest to win a
Palm V reading device and a chance to win $10,000.
5.
Host a forum on your site where people can interact fully and you can
share your knowledge and offer suggestions. It's a great way to help others and
get these people visiting your site often because they want to know you as a
real person. Without a chance to interact with you people lose interest.
Allow your visitors to post a
message or reply to other messages. They will check back every few days for new
messages or replies. To find these services, do a search on "free webmaster
resources." Two specific ones: Delphi.com
and Everyone.net. And,
check out this discussion group ABlake.net
Forum
6.
Remind your visitors to bookmark your site. Tell them you update material
every day or week. If you omit this, you pass up a great opportunity to lure
repeat, loyal visitors. You want more visitors, and you want them to spend a lot
of time on your site. The more time they spend on your site, the more likely
they will check out your products or services pages.
7.
Serialize some of your content. If visitors get it all in one visit,
what's to keep them coming back? Put one part of an article, special report, or
excerpt from your book on your site each week or so. Let people know this
through your eMagazine.
8.
Post a monthly special only for your Web visitors. Call it "Discount
of the month," or "Freebie of the month." Without incentives your
audience will go elsewhere. Go to your files now, and see what you can use. This
fabulous technique has worked well for the author.
9.
Enjoy the journey. Each day, you can learn something that will make your
Web site more real, more YOU. Let your passion show! Add some personal
information such as the personal column. 'The Coach's Corner" is a new
column in the ezine, "The Book Coach Says." It mentions personal
writing and marketing set backs, boo boos, along with a tip or so. Put personal
messages on your site too.
10.
Allow everything you do on the Net to be easy and fun. If you don't love
to create ad copy, or if you don't like the technical side, delegate it to
someone who loves it. Do what you do best and hire the rest. It's far smarter to
eliminate all struggle from your adventure, so you will shine at what you do.
The biggest complaint from clients
is that they get hits, but not enough sales. When you follow the above tips,
you'll be much more likely to succeed at increased sales.
About
The Author
Judy Cullins ia an author, publisher, and book & web coach. You can write Judy at: Judy@bookcoaching.com
