Customers are the life-blood of any business, and if you use your website as your primary source of revenue, then having one that converts at a high rate is pertinent.
Ranking on top of the search engines is another matter entirely. We are here to discuss how to keep customers on your site from bouncing off and buying from one of your competitors. So sit back and check out some of the latest tips from our experts.
Your Website Better Be Fast
It doesn’t do you any good to have a website that is slow. If you have the best site layout on the planet, your users will bounce off of it without giving it an afterthought. Google says that websites should load under 3 seconds. Remember that your mobile speed and desktop speed will most likely be different.
Check this for Speed
Start by checking out the speed at Pingdom Tools. This is a great place to start to see how fast your site loads. Remember that there is a difference between how long it takes your entire site to load and when a user can actually start to scroll and read the text. It’s ok if your site takes some time to load as long as the user can actually start to read, browse, and click.
If you are using Wordpress, and are having slow load times, then we have a few tips for you. Assuming you have already checked your theme and plugins that could be causing issues, it’s time to consider that your host might be the problem.
Does your host use Cpanel? Cpanel uses tons of resources and might be the culprit. A host like Namecheap has a WordPress hosting called EasyWP. It doesn’t run on Cpanel might potentially speed up your site greatly
Phone Number and Text Messaging
Ok, so your site is loading quickly. The next step is to make sure your customers can contact you easily and quickly. The phone number to your business should appear in the top right hand portion of your site if your company takes phone calls. This is usually the first place that people viewing the web will look.
You can also consider placing the number in the footer of your webpage as well. Now, something relatively new that many companies are testing is the ability for consumers to text businesses. This will depend on what type of business you are operating. But there are many new consumers who prefer this method of contact. And when they do text the business, you automatically receive their phone number which can be used to follow up with them.
Businesses that Operate without a Number or Storefront Property
Some businesses provide services without the need for an address or a phone number. If this describes you, then you are probably taking orders through some sort of online form.
Having a form that converts is extremely important to e-commerce stores and other related businesses. There isn’t a clear correct answer about what the form should look like; or where it should appear. Most webmasters just start by testing.
Our experts recommend that the form is short and concise. Large fields make it easy for consumers to fill out what they need. Many businesses include in the form on the right hand side of the page. Again testing will certainly assist you with a better answer.
Avoid these Common Mistakes
- too many fields for your customers to fill out
- pictures and videos that draw your potential customers attention away from your main goal
- be sure and check the form on a mobile device. It better be optimized to fit on the screen. We always recommend checking with an iPhone first.
Here is an example of a real estate site that has the form optimized for both desktop, tablet, and mobile. Notice how the position of the form on the page and the all important “submit button”. There is a ton of research online about the best color for a “Submit” button. Some experts believe that websites shouldn’t use submit, but should choose words like send.
Heat mapping software can take the guesswork out of this process. Crazyegg can assist you with this.
Expert Tip: The fewer the number of fields your form has, generally the better. More fields create form friction. This occurs when the user doesn’t want to fill out the form because of its length and bounces off your site entirely.
Some webmasters install forms on the far right side of the page. As the user scrolls down, the form will also slide downward making it very easy and convenient for that form to be accessed. Some users love it, while others find it annoying.
Customer Reviews Add a Personal Touch
If someone is going to purchase a product or service of yours it always helps to show other customers who have had a great experience. This builds trust immediately. Placing testimonials on your home page can certainly add that final level of assurance needed. If you have an e-commerce store you might want to consider having reviews for each product you sell where applicable.
Although it’s possible to fake reviews, we recommend that you reach out to some of your previous customers and ask them if they will leave a testimonial for others who might be interested in your products or services.
What to Take Away
So your site loads quickly has the pertinent contact information in the header and footer and has a form that converts well. What you have done is make it very easy for a customer to make a purchase, or at least contact the business when needed. Plus customer reviews add a level of certainty and trust that businesses need.
Got any more ideas? Please leave them in the comment box below.
