Steele and Style

The era of the virtual world has come. Little by little, we are starting to experience our lives being inevitably taken over by a technology offering speedy transactions, widest source of information, efficiency and convenience; the internet. As may people, especially professionals and corporate folks, realize the power and great influence of the World Wide Web, it is not surprising that in a few years time, the internet will become the largest center of all business transactions and communications all over the world. In fact, this possibility is quickly transforming into a reality as many businesses appear using web-based applications, also known as websites. Using web-based applications for business purposes is a smart move as the internet can be a very effective business tool in presenting your business to a wider range of consumers, customers and clients. Although this may be a helpful fact, the success of your home-based business online still depends on your website’s conversion rate and website statistics.

Online Conversion, which may mean turning online visitors into customers, can be achieved through the consideration and application of both basic and innovative business ideas, principles and strategies online. A part of online conversion optimization is the landing page optimization, which is an internet marketing process that intends to provide webpage content and structure that makes the page more interesting and engaging to the target audience.

Increasing your online conversion rate is vital in achieving success in running a home-based online business. Simply put, the higher your Online Conversion rate, the more profit you generate. It is wise to have your website follow a certain sales flow which is PRQPC or Prospect, Rapport, Qualify, Present, and Close. Your prospect is your online visitor, may it be by chance or as a result of your marketing strategies. Your website can build rapport by having a friendly and easy to understand tone. Websites are created because of different reasons and for different purposes. In your case, it should be clear to your visitor that you are trying to sell a product, service or information.

It is also important that your webpage imply that your company or business understands that your prospect has a certain need and you are there to help him find the answer to that need, and that answer is one of your products. This way, you can help him make a buying decision.

It is then time to qualify. To make sure that you are helping your customer find which of the products best suit his needs and preferences, your website should have features or elements that can help you tailor-fit your offers. Most business websites have quick search tools, drop down sorting menus, menu tabs, or search filters, which to a prospect may appear a tool to help them find what they may be looking for in just a few seconds, yet for you it is a qualifying tool as you can easily know the prospect’s preferences by the way he search for a product. In a sorting drop down menu, if your prospect chooses “sort by price”, it is clear that your costumer is more concerned on finding a product that fits his budget than the design, brand or model, and popularity. The result of the prospect’s search is the page containing the products that fit the customer’s interests. This is your website’s presentation opportunity, as it presents the customer a list of products that fit his shopping taste. It is important to make an impressive presentation. It doesn’t mean you have to over decorate the page. Many website tests show that the larger the product photos, the higher the Online Conversion rate. If your business receives positive feedback from your satisfied customers, it is wise to post them on your webpage as this can help increase your conversion rate as well. Finally, the way you close the sale is essential. Pushy phrases like “Order right here, right now!” close more sales than the less pushy “Enter your information below for this order”.

As much as possible, it is best to minimize the number of clicks your prospect must perform in shopping. Remember that many people prefer online shopping because of the convenience and speedy transactions it offers them. Thus, you don’t want to discourage your customer from buying the products by making them grow tired of clicking.

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