Focus Your Web Site... Or Get Out Of
Business
Copyright © 2001 Milana Leshinsky
milana@helpingfoot.com
Last November, I was jumping up and down absolutely excited
about my new idea. I was going to create a web site filled with
articles, links and resources on just about any topic you could
imagine. This way no matter who finds my site and for whatever
reason they click on it, I will always make money, right?
So, I spent time collecting and writing articles on health,
beauty, business, finance, insurance, parenting, and computers,
joined a gazillion of affiliate programs for each topic and
finally launched my HelpingFoot.com.
Three months later I made exactly zero income! I wrote to
several e-zine publishers asking for advice. They told me my
web site has too much to offer - visitors just don't know where
to start, and what direction to go.
"Yeah, right", I thought. "What do they know?
After all, with so many articles and resources my visitors will
surely find something to do!"
I was terribly wrong, and I am glad I realized it before
wasting more of my time. I had to do something to make this
site profitable. But what?
I re-designed my HelpingFoot.com completely. But first I
asked myself what I want my visitors to do: order my products?
sign-up for my newsletter? read articles? visit my web forum?
You see, when you know exactly what you want your visitors
to accomplish on their first visit, you are more likely to come
up with a good design.
Since I already had two other web sites devoted to direct
selling, I decided to use this one entirely for opt-in mailing
list by capturing my visitors' e-mails.
1) I removed all the links to irrelevant articles and
focused the entire site around web design for beginners.
2) Those old articles are still there (hey, they
generated a lot of general traffic from the Search Engines!),
but are not linked to from the homepage.
3) I created a small pop-up window that asks for my
visitors e-mails
4) Placed a sign-up form right on my home page, and
linked to another page called "free newsletter" in
case my visitors come from a page other than my home page.
5) I have also created an attractive cartoonish logo
for my newsletter.
6) Every past issue of my newsletter includes a sign
up form at the bottom so people can subscribe right after
reading it.
Can you guess what happened?
The number of people signing up for my newsletter tripled! I
went from 20 subscriptions a week to 60 - in just a few days.
This means that every month my list will grow by approximately
240 people! And every self-respecting successful marketer has a
growing list to announce new products and offers, test
marketing strategies, and develop a close relationship with
their subscribers.
Now, if I wanted to make my web design forum as the main
focus of HelpingFoot.com, for example, I would emphasize it
right on the home page: with graphics, links and incentives.
So, ask yourself now: what is my "Most Wanted
Response"? Then make sure your entire web site is centered
around this goal. With the right amount of quality traffic, I
guarantee you will accomplish that goal in no time!
Milana Leshinsky
is a full time web developer and the author of two books:
"Create Your First Business Web Site in 10 days" http://www.firstbusinesswebsite.com
"65 Instant Web Design Answers" http://www.instantwebanswers.com
