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10 Ways To Keep Your Website Visitors "On Site"
by Ron Knowlton


Don't you hate it when visitors come to your website for only a 
second or two and then quickly click off to another site?

Here are ten ways to capture the interest of your visitors and 
keep them focused on your "site":


1. Use interesting headlines.

That's what the newspapers do. And it works! The headline 
catches your interest. You then have a desire to read more.

Provide headlines on your opening page that are eye catching
 and that capture the interest of your website visitor. Then you 
can link to another page on your site for more details.


2. What's New

Provide a page with new information at least once every week or 
two. Provide a link on your home page to this section so that your 
visitor can quickly go to this page and learn more. This could include 
interesting articles, tips, advice, or even recent product reviews. A 
top ten (or even top five) list is also a popular feature.


3. Offer a freebie

One way that many site owners use to attract visitors and keep them 
there is to offer a freebie of some sort, whether it's a report, an 
interesting article, or even a free e-book.


4. Offer free tips

Offer free tips and advice sprinkled around your home page. If a 
tip catches a visitor's interest, provide a link on your site where they 
can go to learn more.


5. Build trust

Knowing who you are dealing with helps build trust. That's why 
some website owners include a picture of themselves on their home 
page. Some also include an "about" link that tells more about the 
company, the webmaster's background, or more information about 
the product and it's development.

This type of content helps your visitor get to know you better and 
builds trust and confidence.


6. Offer a Top 10 list

David Letterman has one. So does the New York Times--as does 
Billboard Magazine. It's a top 10 list.

For some reason people love them. Whether it's rating stupid animal 
tricks, books, or the latest CDs, readers enjoy reading about what's 
popular.

You can offer your own opinion, or the opinion of a group of people. 
Whether it's rating other products, websites, or software, there seems 
to be something magical about a top 10 list. People will read them!



7. Don't have an ezine? Get one!

Email marketing. If you don't have a newsletter or ezine yet, it's time 
to get started.

As you build your list and send out your ezine, people get to know 
you and trust you. Soon they bookmark your site and return often 
(particularly when your ezine entices them to come back). And from 
a sales and marketing standpoint, you have a built in "warm market" 
that you can send new marketing information to--helping build sales.

8. Feedback From Others

Ask friends to visit your site and tell what catches their interest.

This feedback can also come in the form of a forum--a popular feature 
where visitors can offer their comments and suggestions. (This can also 
be done in your ezine.)

Better yet, complimentary comments from others posted strategically 
on your website can help build trust in you and in your site (testimonials).


9. Track Your Visitors

Use a tracking service such as: 

http://www.websitetrafficreport.com
http://www.extreme-dm.com
http://www.websitetracker.com


Then view the statistics each day and see where visitors are going on 
your site. This will give you an idea of what's catching their interest and 
what's not.


10. Conduct a survey

Ask visitors what they like and don't like. People love to share their 
opinions. They will tell you! Many are willing to fill out a brief survey.

Then take the survey results and provide more of what they do like and 
less of what they don't like.

 

Ron Knowlton is a former photojournalist. He tries to help
people take better pictures. Go to the How-To of Photography at:
http://www.photographyschoolbooks.com/  Also go to 
http://www.helpyousucceed.com to read more of Ron's articles.


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