Copyright 2005 Cherry Communications/Be Heard Solutions

You had listened to all of the experts who told you that you needed your domain name to be as easy to remember as possible. You had also set the pages up so that your site is easy to navigate, and you had it professionally designed so that it is attractive – so why isn"t your site producing sales?

As much as your website"s domain name, logistics, and design are important there is one other factor that you have neglected – your site"s content.

Here are the top 5 most common mistakes in web content:

1) Not addressing your target market"s wants and needs.
If your customers were visiting your store to hire your services or purchase your products what is it that they would most often ask for? What needs do they have that they require filling? Your website copy needs to address these issues.

2) Not talking to your target market in terms they understand.
Put yourself into your customers" shoes and tell them what they need to know in a language they understand. Skip the jargon, and use terms and ideas anyone can understand.

3) Not supporting your statements.
Today"s consumer needs proof that you are who you say you are, especially when dealing with a company on-line. There is no better way to do that then through the voices of people who have already used your services or products. Include as many testimonials throughout your site as you can.

4) Not offering anything that makes you stand out from your competition.
Everyone"s looking for a deal and what better way to start that business relationship with a new client than to offer them something that they just can"t resist. It could be a free newsletter or an ebook to prove your expertise, or a free product or a slot of time to persuade your visitor to just give your company a chance.

5) You don"t ask for the sale.
Once you"ve convinced your prospects that you are the best in the business, you need to ask them to buy. If they came into your store and showed an intense interest in using your service or buying your products would you let them leave without asking them how they wanted to pay you? You need to present your site"s visitors with an obvious means to pay for the merchandise that you"ve worked so hard to convince them to buy.