03 december 2009
Tips for webmarketing and common mistakes
Do you think you know everything about webmarketing? Then do read further. Lenny de Rooy, Usability Consultant and SEO Manager at Tribal Internet Marketing in the Netherlands wrote an interesting article with a number of common mistakes in the area of webmarketing – also made by pro’s.
1. Text is focussed on own organisation instead of the visitor.
It is hard not to think from your own point of view. Many texts are written from the perspective of the organisation, instead of the visitor without the organisation even being aware of this.
2. Mentioning product characteristics instead of advantages
Off course you made sure your products are very well described which makes it easier for the customer to judge whether or not the product is suitable. But enumerating the product specifications does not convince the customer about the advantages of the product.
3. Obligatory registration before purchase
You probably know that showing a registration page directly after the shopping cart can scare visitors away. Therefore you might have integrated the fields for choosing a username and password in the page with address details. However, also in this way you force the visitor to yet another password he has to remember.
Take into account that not all customers will return regularly and offer them the possbility to purchase without opening an account. You can then still offer a customer the option to save its details for later visits at the ‘thank-you’ page or just before the confirmation.
4. Non-www version website accessible
Did you know that search engines assume that every unique url is connected to a unique page? When your website can be reached by both http://www.yourwebsite.be as http://yourwebsite.be, search engines will think these are two different pages. This can have a disadvantageous effect on your positions in the search results because the ‘power’ internal and external links give to your website are divided among these 2 pages.
5. No link to homepage in menu
Nowadays many websites link to their homepage through their logo. So you might think it is a waste of space to place a ‘home’ link in the navigation menu.
Unfortunately many visitors have no idea that they can get to your homepage by clicking your logo! So, never forget the home-link in your menu.
6. Telephone number hard to find or unavailable
Even if you only sell online, it doesn’t mean your customers might not need personal contact. When they experience problems during the order process they want help straight away and they do not want to wait till somebody answers their email. So, put your phone number on all relevant pages.
Source: Frankwatching
1. Text is focussed on own organisation instead of the visitor.
It is hard not to think from your own point of view. Many texts are written from the perspective of the organisation, instead of the visitor without the organisation even being aware of this.
2. Mentioning product characteristics instead of advantages
Off course you made sure your products are very well described which makes it easier for the customer to judge whether or not the product is suitable. But enumerating the product specifications does not convince the customer about the advantages of the product.
3. Obligatory registration before purchase
You probably know that showing a registration page directly after the shopping cart can scare visitors away. Therefore you might have integrated the fields for choosing a username and password in the page with address details. However, also in this way you force the visitor to yet another password he has to remember.
Take into account that not all customers will return regularly and offer them the possbility to purchase without opening an account. You can then still offer a customer the option to save its details for later visits at the ‘thank-you’ page or just before the confirmation.
4. Non-www version website accessible
Did you know that search engines assume that every unique url is connected to a unique page? When your website can be reached by both http://www.yourwebsite.be as http://yourwebsite.be, search engines will think these are two different pages. This can have a disadvantageous effect on your positions in the search results because the ‘power’ internal and external links give to your website are divided among these 2 pages.
5. No link to homepage in menu
Nowadays many websites link to their homepage through their logo. So you might think it is a waste of space to place a ‘home’ link in the navigation menu.
Unfortunately many visitors have no idea that they can get to your homepage by clicking your logo! So, never forget the home-link in your menu.
6. Telephone number hard to find or unavailable
Even if you only sell online, it doesn’t mean your customers might not need personal contact. When they experience problems during the order process they want help straight away and they do not want to wait till somebody answers their email. So, put your phone number on all relevant pages.
Source: Frankwatching