Successful Websites Don?t Set Out To Sell

What are websites? Are they sales tools for vendors and service providers, or are they electronic guidance for potential customers? Put simply, are you selling or are you helping?

Your answer to this question may determine the success of your website. So think carefully?

How we define what a website is all depends on which side of the fence we're on. I suspect that most ? if not all ? vendors and service providers would say their website is a sales tool. But this is a fundamentally flawed perspective. Adopt this position, and sooner or later you'll pay for it.

To really understand what a website is for, we need to think about who the Internet serves. It's tempting to think cynically and argue that it serves commercial interests, but that's getting the cart before the horse. The Internet serves buyers and information seekers. That's what most people use it for.

What your visitors are really looking for is a website that helps them. A website that helps them buy when they want to buy. Helps them understand when they want to understand. And ? most importantly - a website that helps them decide when they want to decide.

So if you really want to build trust, credibility, authority, and site loyalty, helping visitors is the way to go. Of course, that's not to say you have to do it for free. We're all in business to make money after all. In fact, the main aim of many of your visitors will be to buy something. But it's important that you focus on them, not on you. For example, your visitors don't want to know what you have to sell. They want to know what they can choose to buy. If your primary focus is sales, your visitors will pick up on it.

To generate revenue from our websites ? either directly or indirectly ? we need to build them to help our readers. Don't start by asking "How can I sell?" Instead, start by asking "How can I help?" (Even "How can I help them buy?" is a step in the right direction.)

We need to build our websites from the ground up to be a form of online help. Think of your website as a cousin of the online help provided with Microsoft Office. (If you think of Microsoft's help as the slow-witted cousin, you're on the right track?)

I worked as a technical writer in the software industry for 9 years, writing and managing online help for software programs. And the key to successful online help is to always try to answer one simple question: What does the reader want to know? We knew they wanted help, but did they want reference information or how-to information? Did they want to know how to get started or how to get out of trouble?

Sure, when you're writing for a website, the subject material is different, but the question is still the same. What does your reader want to know?

Obviously, the answer to this question will be different for everyone, but there are some common questions you can ask yourself which might help you decide?

- Who is your audience?

- What time of the day are they most likely to be searching?

- Are they searching from home or their workplace?

- Are they the business owner or do they have a boss looking over their shoulder?

- Are they relaxed or in a hurry?

- Are they spending their money or someone else's?

- Are they looking for something which will make their job easier?

- Or are they looking for something which will make their job possible?

- Are they trying to solve a problem or avoid a problem?

- Are they looking for a budget solution or a 'best of breed' solution?

- Are they looking for something with all the bells and whistles or something which focuses on one thing only?

- Are they looking to buy immediately (just as soon as they know they've found what they want)?

- Are they comfortable with internet purchases?

- Are they the final decision maker or do they need to convince someone else as well?

- How much do they know already about your subject material?

- How much do they want to know?

Whether you do some real research or just make some educated guesses, it's important that you know your visitor very well. Then, and only then, can you help them. And only when you help them will you start to realize the true sales potential of your website.

Happy writing!

Related Articles:

- How to get your customers to trust your website - http://www.divinewrite.com/trust.htm

- Web Copy ? How Much is Enough? - http://www.divinewrite.com/webcopyenough.htm

- Engage Your Customer ? Write About Benefits - http://www.divinewrite.com/benefits.htm

- Writing Benefit-Driven Web Copy - http://www.divinewrite.com/webbenefitwriting.htm

About The Author

* Glenn Murray is an seo copywriter and seo copywriter. He is a director of seo copywriter and also of copywriting studio Divine Write. He can be contacted on Sydney +612 4334 6222 or at seo copywriter. Visit http://www.divinewrite.com or http://www.publishhub.com for further details, more FREE articles, or to purchase his e-book, 'SEO Secrets'.

Wood Dale Chicago prom limo .. Lockport Chicago limo O’Hare
In The News:

Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents
Internet browsers are useful, but they can be dangerous. Clicking on malicious links can direct you to dangerous websites that steal information or infect your device.
Apple's latest iOS update introduces advanced artificial intelligence capabilities, which may be capturing and analyzing sensitive information.
Breach site confirmed 56,904,909 Hot Topic users' data leaked online. Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson says the company's silence makes matters even worse.
Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson discusses how an innovative Easy-Way kit turns standard strollers electric, simplifying navigation for parents.
Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson talks about T-Mobile being hacked in broad cyberattack on global phone and internet companies.
Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson shows you how to add, customize and manage widgets for quick access to apps and info from your iPhone home screen.
Wrong Google searches can not only compromise your device and personal data. They can also bring law enforcement to your doorstep. Hackers are targeting Google searches.
China's Shanghai Kepler Robotics has developed a new humanoid robot that can carry up to 35 pounds per hand for commercial applications across various industries
Checking your hearing has gotten easier with the new hearing test feature in AirPods Pro 2. You can take reliable hearing tests using your iPhone or iPad.
Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.
Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson explains how a VPN — virtual private network — works and how running it can slow down the operation of your device.
The WalkON Suit F1, an exoskeleton developed to help people with disabilities, can actually walk over to a person in a wheelchair, solving a major problem.
ClickFix, a new scam targeting computer users, is on the rise in the U.S. The scam prompts its targets to click on a link to fix a problem.
Skydweller is the world's largest unmanned solar-powered aircraft that can stay airborne for weeks, and even months, without refueling.
The U.S. government said it is investigating after People's Republic of China hackers targeted commercial telecommunications service providers in the U.S.
Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.
Scammers are using increasingly sophisticated ways to lure unsuspecting victims, and some are impersonating an email help desk or support team.
You can unsend or edit your iMessages with the latest iOS updates. Kurt the CyberGuy explains how you can save yourself some potential embarrassment.
Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson says there’s been a rise in cybercriminal services using hacked police and government emails to send subpoenas and data requests to U.S. companies.
Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson discusses how Axiom Space and luxury designer Prada are collaborating on NASA's Artemis III spacesuit design.
Voice assistants may cause confusion across devices. Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson offers some solutions to fix it.
Shameless scammers trick veterans into giving personal info or cash. Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson explores five common scams.
Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson helps you honor our heroes with these powerful podcasts, audiobooks and documentaries this Veterans Day.

Custom Icons For Your Specific Brand

Developing a software application is not easy at all; apart... Read More

Whats Wrong With My Website?

I ask myself that question about once a month.My website... Read More

Graphic Design Can Make or Break Your Web Site

We all want high impact graphics for our Web sites... Read More

5 Instant Tips for More Online Sales

Even after you've managed to bring traffic to your site... Read More

Setting Up a Website

Where does a person start when setting up a website?... Read More

Make it Clear What Your Website is About

Just about every list of the "Top 10 Web Design... Read More

Creating a Basic Web Design Template

A "template" is simply a design format which you can... Read More

Ten Fatal Mistakes That Make Web Sites Stink

Since you'll spend lots of time and money to create... Read More

Do You Really Need A Website?

Nope. You certainly don't need a website.But you don't need... Read More

Why Should You Care About Your Web Site Colors?

**How Colors are Used in web design:**Demarcates screen elements into... Read More

Other Ways to Look at Things

Many people today are tired of the Microsoft software that... Read More

6 Reasons Why Using Flash is a BIG Mistake

Most web designers and web design companies will try to... Read More

Speed Up Or Lose Out! How To Improve Your Websites Download Speed

So your web site's online and you've got high rankings... Read More

How to Get Your Visitors to Create Content for Your Website

An ongoing challenge for webmasters today is to provide fresh... Read More

Creating Quality Websites

Websites, there are literally billions of them out there in... Read More

Free Website Design Tips

In this article I will give a few tips of... Read More

Good Web Design ? What Is It?

There is unlimited possibilities when it comes to designing a... Read More

6 Tips To Improve Your Business Website

There are six important characteristics that can play a major... Read More

What I Look For In a Website

As my occupation is that of a proofreader, one of... Read More

The Golden Rule Of Website Building

Copyright 2005 Robert EvansSetting yourself up to earn a steady... Read More

Understanding How HTML Color Codes Work

Ever wonder how HTML color codes are put together? For... Read More

Top Ten Ways to Use Audio on Your Site

Audio can provide an added dimension to your site. It... Read More

Are You Driving Away Potential Customers?

When a prospect lands on your website will he or... Read More

To Flash, or Not to Flash

When considering whether or not to incorporate Flash into your... Read More

User Experience and Search Engines: If Your Home Page Could Only Talk

Dear web site visitor.I can't tell you how glad I... Read More

Antigo wedding limo ..