4 August 2009 – Create Design Studio, specialists in Graphic, Print and Web Design, share secrets for improving online sales through websites.

According to IMRG Cap Gemini’s recent report, the recession has started to hit online sales growth and the exponential increases previously experienced by the e-tail market have begun to slow. Whilst this is not severe, marketers’ and business owners should be aware that there are ways they can improve the effectiveness of their websites.

“A website is a marketing tool that is available all day, every day to any potential customer”
David Woodroofe, Managing Director of Create Design Studio.

Create Design Studio offer Ten Top Tips to improve online performance:

1. Good Search Engine Optimisation
   It is important that web users can easily find your website via search engines such as Google.There is a 20/80% split between the number of users that click on paid for listings, such as Google’s sponsored links and those that click on the natural or free listings.
2. Usability
   If visitors cannot find what they want quickly, they will go elsewhere.Simple menus with easy to understand page titles aid navigation for visitors. They will expect a ‘Home’ and a ‘Contact us’ page to help them find their way around.If you have many pages set up you can use a site map page and show all the pages grouped under relevant headings. Include text links at the bottom of your pages to help search engines and visitors to find major pages.Get an outsider to test your site.  Can they find a specific service, or product in the site?  Can they find out how to buy it and how do they think the navigation could be improved?How do your competitor’s websites compare?  If they have a navigation system you find particularly easy to use then copy it on your own site.
3. Good Calls to Action
   Once you have told your visitor all about your great product/service, tell them what to do next. Conditional statements can help visitors to move to the next stage of purchasing. If they need more information tell them where it can be found: by signing up to your newsletter or by telephoning your office to speak to an advisor. They may want to see more examples of your product: inform them they can email you to receive a brochure.They could want to buy or place an order, so tell them how to use your shopping cart system so they can make purchases online, or inform them how to download a form they can print out and fax back to you.
4. Information / Content
   There is no substitute for relevant information on your website. Relevant to: your product, your service, your industry sector, your customer and their demographic and their needs.
5. Visible Contact Details
   Place your phone number, fax number, email and any other way to make contact (i.e. Facebook, Twitter, Ecademy) in a prominent place on your website to cater for how visitors feel most comfortable making contact.Place this information on the header of the website to ensure it will be seen first when a page downloads. Place the information on every page because as search engines find your website people may be sent to the page that suits their search the best, not necessarily the home page or the contact page. Making it easy to find contact information increases the chances of visitors using it.
6. Testimonials
   Showing how you have helped other customers provides authenticity for your services. Collect testimonials from every customer and ask them for their feedback on how your business performed. Display positive comments on every page of your site and refresh them as you get new comments, updated comments show visitors the business is ‘alive’ and show search engines that the content on the site is up-to-date, helping your ranking.
7. Special Offers & Freebies
   Use these to encourage your website visitors to part with their contacts details or subscribe to your newsletter.These can include free “How to Guides”, ‘Top Tips’, “White Papers”, widgets and gizmos that will be valued enough by your site users to make them part with their contact details so you can start to sell and market to them.
8. Google Analytics
   Is a free tool from Google that will record information about how visitors use your website. It records amongst other things:
   1. Visitor numbers, broken down into new and returning visitors
   2. Country of origin
   3. The search terms used by your visitors to find your site
   4. The URL of other websites that refer visitors to your site
   5. It will list your pages by popularity
   6. List the top landing and exit pagesThis information will help you refine your site’s keywords. You can find out which pages are the most successful on your site by seeing the ones visited most often.  Finding out where your visitors come from can help you target your marketing activities online with more precision.
9. Use of Images
   Create the right impression for your business online
   Poor quality images can be worse than no images in that they create a poor first impression for visitors viewing the site. Good photographs do not necessarily have to be expensive. There are many image libraries online where quality images cost a few pounds. Used carefully they can create a professional image for your website, illustrate the kind of people you work with or the job you do and bring your text to life.A professional photographer can cost more but will provide you with bespoke images of you, your products or services and your staff that can be used to show your site visitors an authentic image of your business. Knowing who they will be talking to or what your premises look like from the website could be a great investment if your site visitors often have to travel to your premises to access your services or buy your products.
10. Make it easy to buy from you, tell your visitors how
    Give clear instructions on how to order, who to call, where the form is located and how to send it: online, email or fax. Tell them how they can pay you, get a PayPal account to make it safe and easy, offer the option of payment by phone for those less accustomed to online shopping.If you sell services make it easy for visitors to book an appointment by having email, text message, Facebook and Twitter accounts for them to use.Give feedback quickly on purchases and appointments, people appreciate knowing their orders have been received. Always let customers know you have their payment or their request for an appointment. Set up an automated system to make it easier.

For people thinking about starting a new online business, Creative Design Studio is putting together a special package of logo, business card, letterhead and website. They can also put people in touch with other business experts who can smooth the path of starting up.

For more information visit: createdesignstudio.co.uk or keep up to date with them on Twitter: Charlotte_Lamb

-ENDS-

Create Design Studio – UK Press Office Abby Singleton
Mobile: 07739-461-061   Office:   01252-715-168   Email: abigail@singletonpr.com