Find your Niche
For a better chance of success, start with a market, the trick is to find a group of people who are searching for a solution to a problem, but not finding many results. The internet makes this kind of market research easy: Visit online forums to see what questions people ask and what problems they’re trying to solve. Keyword research will help to find keywords that a lot of people are searching, but for which not many sites are competing. Check out your potential competitors by visiting their sites and taking note of what they’re doing to fill the demand. Then you can use what you’ve learned and create a product for a market that already exists–and do it better than the competition.
Write Excellent Sales Copy
Throughout your copy, you need to focus on how your product or service is uniquely able solve people’s problems or make their lives better. There’s a proven sales copy formula that takes visitors through the selling process from the moment they arrive to the moment they make a purchase. Arouse interest with a compelling headline. Describe the problem your product solves. Establish your credibility as a solver of this problem. Talk about the product and how it benefits the user.
Make a strong guarantee. Create urgency and ask for the sale.
Design and build your website
Once you’ve got your market and product, and you’ve nailed down your selling process, now you’re ready for your small-business web design. Remember to keep it simple. You have fewer than five seconds to grab someone’s attention–otherwise they’re gone, never to be seen again. Some important tips to keep in mind:
Make your navigation clear and simple, and the same on every page. Only use graphics, audio or video if they enhance your message. Include an opt-in offer so you can collect e-mail addresses. Make it easy to buy–no more than two clicks between potential customer and checkout. Remember your website is your online storefront, so make it customer-friendly.
Use search engines to drive sales
Pay-per-click advertising is the easiest way to get traffic to a brand-new site. It has two advantages over waiting for the traffic to come to you organically. First, PPC ads show up on the search pages immediately, and second, PPC ads allow you to test different keywords, as well as headlines, prices and selling approaches. Not only do you get immediate traffic, but you can also use PPC ads to discover your best, highest-converting keywords.
Establish yourself as an expert
People use the internet to find information. Provide that information for free to other sites, and you’ll see more traffic and better search engine rankings. The secret is to always include a link to your site. Create articles, videos or any other content that people will find useful. Include “send to a friend” links on valuable content on your website. Become an active expert in industry forums and social networking sites where your target market hangs out.
Email marketing turns visitors into buyers.
When you build an opt-in list, you’re creating one of the most valuable assets of your online business. Your customers and subscribers have given you permission to send them email. That means you’re giving them something they’ve asked for.
Email marketing is cheaper and more effective than print, TV or radio because it’s highly targeted. Anyone who visits your site and opts in to your list is a very hot lead. And there’s no better tool than email for following up with those leads.
Not sure where to start? Contact our design and marketing team here or if you want to grow your online shop further with Magento extensions talk to us today