Why Isn’t My Website Converting?

There are billions of websites out there, and only a very small fraction of those are successful, with a high traffic and conversion rates. The rest flounder until they eventually fall into obscurity. Sadly, just putting a lot of time into creating a site isn’t enough for your site to be successful. If you want to improve your sales and/or conversions, you need to do so much more.

Start by having a plan for your website. Know your goals and the steps you’ll need to achieve those goals. Research landing pages, learn how to create better website copy, start making small improvements and changes.

Fix any problem areas your site might have. Is your copy (content) easy to scan? Do you have most of your key information above the fold? Are you using strong headlines? Are there any distractions that need to be removed? If your site isn’t a strong as it could be, you might want to start there.

Use your available resources. If you don’t have a steady crowd visiting your site every day, it’s not enough just to write and post blog posts. They aren’t going to help you if they are just sitting on an unvisited page. If you want to build an audience (and improve your conversion numbers), you need to actively seek and recruit new potential customers. Share your blog posts with your social media followers. Create a newsletter. Use internet marketing methods to bring more traffic to your website.

Build trust. This starts by having a modern, updated website. Does your copyright say 2012, or does it still say 2009? A site that looks like it’s stuck in the past might still sell great products, but people are less likely to trust it if it looks like your business doesn’t do well enough to afford a decent website. It’s all about first impressions. The colors, design, graphics and overall feel of your website go a long way in helping customers trust you.

Use search engine optimization. SEO makes it easier for customers to reach your website. Without that, you could very easily end up with a website that might be perfect, but no one knows that because no one can find it. A little bit of extra effort when creating your content can make a significant difference in how your website comes together

Few things are worse than putting time and effort into a website, and then having it not do what you need it to do. If your business relies on online sales or referrals, you need to make sure that your website is providing that for you. If it isn’t, it’s time to start making some much-needed changes on your site.

What affects whether or not you buy from any particular online business? Are there warning signs or red flags that send you looking for a better merchant?