When you design your first website, you are very excited about your new online business and eager to get it up and running. But don’t let that enthusiasm make you ignore these common sales-killing mistakes.
1. Poor Design Choices
I know, your new website is like your baby and you are proud of it. That’s good. But keep in mind the goal of your site and what you want visitors to focus on. It’s about his clients, not his artistic design.
Giant header graphics or rich backgrounds may be pretty, but they take time to download and take attention away from your products or services. Do you want your visitors to “oooh” and “aaaah” over the beautiful design or do you want them to find out how you can help solve their problems if they buy your products or services?
Your header image (also called a banner, logo, that graphic at the top of your page) or fancy background may be the best thing you’ve ever designed, but if it’s the only thing visitors notice when they visit your site, then refocus on what incorrect.
If the images are large, they may also take longer than a few seconds to download. Buyers are impatient and won’t wait for the intense graphics to load. Be sure to optimize your graphics so they download quickly.
Cut back on graphic design and instead put your energy and personality into your product photography and copywriting.
2. Credibility Crushers
Your website needs to build credibility among visitors so that they feel safe when buying.
Is your website missing any of these important elements?
* multiple methods of contact information
* clear policies (sales, returns, privacy, etc.)
* frequent questions
* review the content without spelling or grammatical errors
* client or customer testimonials
Add contact information to each page. Give customers multiple ways to contact you, such as a web form, email address, physical mailing address, and social media profile links.
Include clear, easy-to-find policy statements and an FAQ page. Visitors will feel more comfortable shopping when they know what payments you accept, how you ship and when they can expect their order to arrive, and under what circumstances you allow refunds or exchanges.
Please review your content carefully to eliminate spelling and grammatical errors.
Offer testimonials from past clients scattered throughout your website. Always include a name with a testimonial: full name if possible, or at least the name and location. You can also include a photo of the product or customer next to the testimonial.
3. Bigger is better syndrome
Being a small business owner is nothing to be ashamed of! Don’t fall into thinking that the big companies are always the best and end up apologizing on your website for your limited quantities, handmade quality, or twice-weekly shipping schedule. You don’t need to apologize as long as your policies and delivery information are clear on your website so customers know what to expect. You can offer fantastic products and fabulous service to your customers. Do your best and be confident in that.