I have listed 3 ways below to help push you outside of the no-touch zone with your audience:

1. What I do the very most is write in a conversational style. I write how I talk and act. I do not try to sound perfect, or corporate or stuffy. I want my authenticity to shine through and for my reader to feel I’m right there with them – because I am! I get feedback often that website visitors feel comfortable on my site and they get engaged with my writing. I would WAY rather have that feedback than a perfect design or 0.001% better conversion rate. If your visitors can connect with you, the sales will naturally follow. I want to make my writing 100% about YOU. I want it to breathe life into your business and spur your creativity so you go out and produce something new to spread your message. When your are conversational, your message will be remembered.
2. Since I brought it up in the first tip, I make sure that everything I create is about YOU, not me. I have no interest in being one of those service providers that just pushes my agenda or pushes product in your face all the time. If I write blog posts, or send an email to my followers, or create a Facebook post, it truly comes from my heart as something that I think will help you. (Isn’t this the way it SHOULD be??) People can smell a salesman a mile away and that is a huge turnoff to most. One of the biggest trends I’ve noticed that will carry into 2012 is that people crave to work with genuine, real, authentic, trustworthy people. That’s it. We are tired of scams or salespeople saying their product does one thing when it does another. I know I would keep following a leader that genuinely wanted ME to have success in life. If you ever wonder what your audience wants, it’s generally the same qualities you want in a leader or service provider or friend.
3. Another key way to connect with your audience is through the use of video. This is also why so many people are afraid of video – they feel so exposed once the recording starts. But isn’t that the best part of video? We are totally in the spotlight. Learn to love it everyone – get excited to show your true self to others. You are here because deep down in your gut you discovered that you have a message to share with the world. It’s time to get that message out and video is a great way to help accomplish that. Stay tuned for a great post I have scheduled for January by Guest Blogger Beth Rosen, “6 Ways to Make Your Video Go Viral.”

I suggest that before you finalize that eBook, before you push that new product, before you publish that new blog post – you ask yourself, “Did I really show up and try to connect with my audience?” If the answer is no, then go back and rework it. The online world is like a giant library where everything you do gets indexed. Make sure only your best is out there for the world to learn from.

If you felt this post was a good reminder, please help me share it through Facebook, Google+ and Twitter. I would also be curious to hear your comments and see what else YOU do to connect with your audience.

Thank you all – have a safe and Happy New Year!

There is a TON of valuable information in this post. All of the links open in a new window and the content will laser in on that topic. I invite you to spend some time here and really take advantage of this FREE platform I’ve developed just for you.

For those of you who are just getting started online, this post would be excellent for you to print out and keep by your computer as you
build your online platform (your website, social networks, leads – it is all-encompassing of your touch-points online). For those of you who think they are on a great track online, this may be a good post to see what has slipped between the cracks or what area you could build up for better results.

So let’s get started. Consider your online platform and online presence. Really think about the blood, sweat and tears you’ve put into building a website (whether you invested $10,000+ or started a free WordPress site), into starting a social networking account and trying to figure it out, into listening to webinars and teleseminars and reading blog posts on “how” to do it all. Next, I invite you read each question *slowly* and really analyze where you’re at with each of these items:

• Do you have a professionally designed logo that can make for good branding?
• Are you staying ‘up to date’ on what’s happening in your industry so you become the go-to authority for news?
• Do you post to your blog regularly (not once a month, but one a week or more?)
• Is your business brand consistent between all touch points online – from your LinkedIn profile to your Facebook cover to your email newsletter look and feel?
• Have you looked at your content in the past three months to see what, if anything was outdated material?
• Do you do what you say you are going to do online (release new products on time, follow through with your ideas, etc.)?
• When is the last time you did keyword research or competitor research?
• Have you reached out to anyone lately to discuss the concept of collaboration, so you can grow your business more quickly in new markets?
• Do you have a growth plan or goals to help grow your business (such as how many email subscribers you’ll get, how many Facebook friends, how many blog posts, how many emails will you send out to your list each month, etc.)?
• Have you stepped back to evaluate if your web team really IS good, or just the inexpensive solution who isn’t really getting you where you need to be?
• Does your website design help you or hurt you, and when is the last time you’ve evaluated areas for improvement?
• Do you have a solid free introductory product you can give away as incentive for people to sign up to your mailing list?
• And is that free introductory product branded and professionally designed and formatted?
• Do you have obvious social networking icons and feeds on your website so web visitors can connect with you?
• Does your tagline make sense and help you stand out from the noise? Is it easy to remember and does it make an impact?
• Do you have a list of keywords you are targeting with every piece of content you write, so you can start dominating search engines?
• Are you regularly adding products to your website that are for sale so people can get ‘the next best thing’ from you?
• How often are you adding a ‘call to action’ in everything you do (at the end of blog posts, in your email newsletters, in every contact point)?
• Are you organized with your business and do you treat it like a real business with scheduling and planning meetings?
• Do you thank your web visitors, email subscribers, social networking friends and clients for sticking with you?
• How often do you implement new ways to drive traffic to your website and blog?

Your impact on the web IS what you make of it. Those are just a few questions you can ask yourself from time to time to make sure you are BUILDING. Starting an online business is not the easiest task in the world. You are competing with billions of web pages out there. But, there is more than enough room in the sea for us all to profit.

The trick is knowing what to do next to continue building your online platform. Stay focused. Don’t lose the momentum. If you need help with your direction or with implementing tasks, feel free to contact me and let’s have a loose conversation about it. The key is to get help from people who know what they are talking about – and that becomes obvious when someone writes about those topics and gives away the farm just to help others. I’m not tooting my own horn here so much as just teaching how to identify the right kind of person to help you with your business.

If you thought this post was of value, please SHARE this post with others on your social networks. My goal is simple: Helping Others. As many as I can get my hands on.

Thank you for spreading the light!

Pamela Zimmer quit her career for Motherhood. Being an Architect, and an entrepreneur at heart, Pamela struggled with her decision to have her own Architecture firm. She knew she always wanted to be a stay-at-home Mom, but also knew she wanted to have a successful career. After 13+ years of working in Architecture, 7 of which she ran her own successful business, Pamela finally chose to listen to her heart and realized that being a stay-at-home Mom was her true passion and life purpose. She is now a #1 best-selling author in the book ‘Get Your Woman On!’ and strives to support and inspire other women who are ready to make their life transformation. Pamela is working on her own book, as well as starting a business as a peer-to-peer counselor for Postpartum Depression. Her blog, Stories of a Mom, is where Pamela shares her experiences, from one Mother to another.

I know there are programs and software out there that claim to get you up to 1000 Twitter followers a day. I have to admit, I have been tempted to check them out, but thankfully I never got sucked in. Honestly, how legitimate can those programs be? Yes, maybe they do actually work to get your numbers up, but do you ever really know your followers? I don’t know about you, but it’s hard enough to meet 10, 20, 50 new people a day, let alone up to 1000!

If you’re like me, you are interested in building relationships with people, not just getting them to click “follow” and “like.” After all, what’s the point of having followers if you aren’t interacting with them?

I will also admit that I can’t always develop relationships with every new person I meet every day, but it is ultimately my intention. Long-lasting relationships don’t happen overnight, no matter what kind they are – personal, romantic or business.

I first joined Twitter a couple of years ago, but I was never really “active” at tweeting or following.  I would log on every now and then and browse around, reading what the few people I was actually following were saying, and occasionally tweeting something myself. Basically, my account was there, and I had a profile, but I wasn’t doing anything with it.

As the saying goes, that was then and this is now. My life has changed drastically, in a good way, and my passions are much clearer now. Within the past several months, I have really defined my goals and what I want to be doing.

I realized that surrounding me with like-minded people was the first step in propelling myself towards my new business success. This goes true for social media as well.

It’s not just about the numbers, it’s about who is behind those numbers.

As I mentioned above, what’s the point of having thousands of followers if you aren’t interacting with them, or worse, if you don’t even know anything about them? Perhaps once my followers reach 1000 or more I will have a different perspective, but in the meantime I feel good knowing that the majority of the people I follow, and those that are following me, are like-minded.

So how did I do it? How did I get 100+ Twitter followers in 3 days?

The first thing I did was to set my intention to just be active on Twitter.

My goal wasn’t to gain ‘X’ number of followers – that wasn’t even on my mind. The fact that I got 100+ new followers was a huge surprise and bonus for me. For me, being active meant checking out other people’s links, profiles, tweets, and following those that were like-minded. I tweeted original things that came to mind of inspiration, values; things about family and kids, writing and passion – all things that I am surrounding myself with in my own life. I re-tweeted when I saw something inspirational or valuable that I felt my (few) followers would take interest in.

Next, I carefully selected people to follow who were (magic word) like-minded.

I checked out their profile and read previous tweets to make sure that I had something in common with them and would enjoy following them. Some of these people popped up on the Timeline, but sometimes I did searches to find them. My searches included things that I am passionate about and things that align with my business goals and values (for example: #family, #parenting, #happy, etc.). From those searches, I was able to browse through profiles and follow links to other similar profiles, and it kept going and going.

When I received notice of new followers, I made sure to check out their profiles and follow back when appropriate.

I don’t believe that you should, or have to, follow everyone who follows you. It’s nothing personal, but to keep to my values, I am careful of who I follow.

If someone sent me a direct message, I replied. For those that I really felt connected with, I sent them a direct message, replied to one of their tweets, or even checked out their websites. I began engaging and interacting with people. It didn’t take much, but I began to actually network with these people, and most times, they reciprocated.

I started to branch out beyond Twitter.

I started searching and browsing other like-minded blogs and websites, and checking out people’s Facebook pages as well. I came across a few really great websites that were exactly in alignment with my values, purpose and passion of being a stay-at-home Mom. I joined their communities and once again, because those members were all like-minded, we followed each other. More than just “following” each other however, they have become great resource and inspiration based communities that I enjoy being involved with.

Finally, I became proficient in re-tweeting from websites and blogs, not just from twitter.com.

Most websites have a “tweet this” button or link which makes it really easy. For those few times when I have to manually tweet something, I just copy and paste the website link into the “what’s happening?” box and add a personal comment. I keep it short (as we have to stay concise), and that in itself is great training. I try to comment on other people’s blogs as much as possible, not just to put my “stamp” out there, but actually being authentic in what I write.

This last point is probably the most important tip I can give anyone, no matter what your goal, purpose or business. Be authentic. This means being you. Don’t write things that you think other people want to read. Write things that reflect who you are. Don’t tweet things that don’t touch your heart. Don’t follow people just because they are there. Share things that make you say “yes, exactly!” Connect with people who you genuinely would want to have a lasting relationship with.

Opening yourself up might seem vulnerable, but in the end it will attract you to the people you want and need to create success in your life.

To summarize: be and stay active; follow and engage with people who are like-minded; and be authentic. If you approach social networking in this way, the numbers will come, and you can feel good about how you got there, just like me.

Follow me at PamelaZimmer-Twitter and www.StoriesofaMom.com

“I just started reading your ebook – Online Evolutions – and I wanted to let you know that it is truly inspirational! You talk about many of the same principles that I applied to my sales regime and daily routine early in my career. I must say that I needed a “refresher course”. Keep writing and offering up principles to live by!”  — Joyce K

“Thanks Amber! I got the hard copy of the (Online Evolutions) book in the mail yesterday. Thanks for your note. You are so great! I am excited! Thanks again! You rock!!!! “  — Sarah

I’ve been asked throughout this year, “When’s the next volume coming??” Thank you all for your patience as I could get this formatted and prepped for you. Today I can announce, “IT’S HERE!”

I had a ton of fun putting together Online Evolutions, Volume 2. I got so inspired I even started Volume 3 already!

So What is Online Evolutions 2 Anyway?

If You – Or Someone You Know – Wants to…

• How to create an eBook or product that sells or can go viral
• 21 tips to improve online efforts for better results
• Learn about eCommerce and selling products online, effectively
• Get over anxiety of not knowing what to do next or how to do it
• Learn key design and social media strategies every website owner should know

…Then Online Evolutions 2 has become one of the most important purchases you can make today.

Online Evolutions 2 is a 67-page collection of my top training articles and includes an impressive lineup of do-it-myself strategies that can give you the progress you’re wanting to boost your online status!

What if I need more convincing?

Online Evolutions, Volume 2 is really only for those of you who already know my work, the value I provide and don’t need convincing. However, you can download Online Evolutions 1 for FREE in the right sidebar to get a taste of the value. Then I am confident you will come back to look at Volume 2 as it holds 67 PAGES of more, more, more value.

Oh ya, almost forgot, I have a SPECIAL surprise for you…

I don’t know what got into me as I was finalizing this eBook, haha, but I got a wild itch to throw in a special surprise to those of you who have purchased the downloadable eBook OR the hard copy version. The catch is, you have to READ the book in order to get the surprise! Somewhere in one of the 67 pages I have a section blocked off a small section that has a link. This link will lead you to a special surprise that will absolutely make an impact on the way you look at your website and the way it performs for you. That’s all I can say!

So, what are the options to get  your hands on Online Evolutions 2?

Option 1.  You can get the Instant-Download eBook version for only $29.97

Option 2. You can get a printed, signed, hard copy version for $39.97 and get the eBook free while you wait a couple days for me to ship the book to you.

Once you get your copy, please let me know your thoughts. All I want to do is provide value to you and make your life easier. I know we are in an Information Age where you are bombarded with hundreds of “To-dos” and “Must-dos”. My goal is to tell you what is actually important and how to execute easily and without spending gobs of money. We must all pool together and help support each other toward success. From me to you – enjoy what I have prepared for you! 

I came across this article today on Facebook Branding and felt it was great material to share…

“So – you’ve set up a Facebook public profile for yourself, your brand or your company, and you’re starting to post content. Now what?

If you’re like me – a tinkerer and tweaker – you might be interested in ways to fine-tune your profile for maximum affect. So here are five tips to optimize your activities on Facebook, including the right way to create profile and thumbnail graphics, how to show different content to Fans and non-Fans, creating DIY vanity urls, and how managing what and when you post can lead to greater success.

1. Creating the perfect profile picture

Facebook specs recommend that profile pictures should be 200px wide, while height can vary as needed. What is less documented is how the thumbnail that Facebook uses across the system is generated from this picture.

You’ll find the system crops images when generating a thumbnail, losing information around the edge. After some initial testing, we’ve determined that there’s a “title safe” area within all images. So when you create your profile image…

Click to read the full post..
5 Tips for Optimizing Your Brand’s Facebook Presence
Post by Steve Coulson

*** Click here to see examples and information about getting a
Custom-Designed Facebook Profile Image for $30

I talk to clients left and right, all who are panicked with this knowing they are losing potential clients. It’s as if they are dying for hydration in their business, the water spigot is gushing water (the potential of doing well online) and they are stammering to get a drop of leads here and a drop there. Sound familiar?

I have GREAT NEWS for you today. You don’t have to get overwhelmed then make a quick decision and hire the first company that says “I can get you to the top of Google!” You can hire a hundred of those companies and they can dump a ton of leads in your lap – but if your legs (your foundation) are not strong enough to hold the weight, you’ll collapse and all of your efforts will be wasted.

You must make your website strong, sturdy and ready for success BEFORE you invest in high-powered marketing!

This is exactly why Marty and I sat down, took our combined 17 years of Internet Marketing and Website experience, and created a website evaluation checklist – training web owners like you to learn the aspects of your website that could be costing you leads!

Today I wanted to share a few more of these goodies as a free take-away. I’ve compiled an 11 PAGE demo of our eGuide as a gift to get you on your way. If you like what you see, I’d like to invite you to please send me an email and share your thoughts. I truly love to help support people in getting success in their business, so I’d be curious which tips you implemented and how it helped your business!

Enjoy and make it a productive day!

Topics include everything from Business Planning to Website, Layout and Formatting, to eCommerce and SEO tactics – all of which combine to grant you more online results. All you need to do is LEARN what Google looks at and why, what is a turn off to your visitor, and what holes are costing you money in your website and business planning.

We must never expect to throw up a site and call it a day. The Truth is… If you want great RESULTS, you must learn and execute what WORKS.

Today I wanted to share a few of these goodies to give you an idea of what you could be missing on your website right now. For some, you will carry on your day and research ways to buy leads. For others, you’ll catch on to the idea that you can create your own great results without spending a dime!

• My website looks the same on all versions of Firefox as well as Internet Explorer:

  Believe it or not, one design can look completely different in depending on which Internet browser you are using to view the website (Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari, Google Chrome, Opera, etc.). Each browser will read your website’s HTML code a little differently. Your web developer should have checked your website in all browsers *and* all versions of each browser, but that doesn’t mean they did. You can download multiple Internet browsers onto your personal computer and visit your website in each. Here are ways to check:

  • Internet Explorer (versions 6, 7 and 8): http://ipinfo.info/netrenderer/ — This is an online program that produces a screenshot of any given page on your website. You select which version you want to check. You can also download Internet Explorer 8 here http://www.microsoft.com/windows/Internet-explorer/default.aspx

  • Firefox (versions 2.0, 3.0 and 3.5): http://www.mozilla.com/Firefox/ — You can download Firefox here. Firefox automatically updates your browser when new versions come out.
  • Safari (version 4): http://www.browsrcamp.com/ — You can check your website in Safari at that URL, or download Safari here http://www.apple.com/safari/
  • Google Chrome: You can download Google Chrome here http://www.google.com/chrome
  • Opera (version 10): You can download Opera here http://www.opera.com/
• My website proves I am there to help people, not just to sell them

  Visitors are naturally skeptical when they come to your website. Constantly work to achieve that immediate trust and comfort with your audience. 60% of the online population over 14 refuse to buy online due to trust issues. Trust can be hard to build and easy to lose, but with the following tips you can overcome this hurdle. Adding a blog to your website is a great way to overcome this objection since that is free valuable content your visitors can learn and grow from. The use of stories can paint a picture for your audience. When you are writing copy, focus on the benefits, not the cost. Showcasing testimonials can help prove you are about more than making money. Offering part of the product or service upfront for free is a great sign of trust. Have a guarantee on your product or service that leaves the visitor thinking “if this guarantee is that strong, it must be worth it.”

• Every page of my website gets people to take action by at least one of the following:
  • Calling me for more information

  • Signing up to receive something free
  • Subscribing to a newsletter
  • Making an online purchase
  • Visiting another page of my website
  • Posting a comment to my blog
  • Sharing their experience or story, if applicable
• I have tested my site with an online Heat Map (ie. www.Feng-Gui.com)

  Wouldn’t it be great to know what your visitors look at on your website? and what they don’t? With Heat Maps you can track what areas of your website visitors find more interesting. The image on the right is a heat map of a Google search results page. The red spot indicates the most activity on the page. From this map, you can easily tell where your visitors attention goes to and make website changes accordingly.

• I test that my forms are all working properly once a month

  Sometimes a glitch will occur in your hosting account and change the permission settings on your contact forms. You always want to make sure your visitors can reach you if they try. So just check your forms once a month by filling out a form and seeing what happens.

Again, we have compiled 100 of these kind of tips. We didn’t spend loads of time creating this document just for you to get overwhelmed and not take action. In fact, just the opposite. The “The Extended Do-It-Yourself Website Evaluation Checklist” is designed for all of you small business owners who need to update your website and start getting better results, but are overwhelmed by what to do next.

I just want you to be inspired to get great results! The web doesn’t have to be a scary place. It can be AMAZING once you have a strong foundation to support your success. So don’t wait, and get started today!

The photo you choose to represent you in your website design is so important. When a visitor comes to your website for the first time, you have all of 3-5 seconds to make a first impression. That impression will either result in them staying on your site to learn more about you, or they will hit the back button, thereby increasing your bounce rate.

So what does your headshot say about you? If your photo is outdated, please change it! I think it’s important to show a photo of you within the last 1-3 years, versus 5+ years ago. You can even go to Target if funds are tight – or most digital cameras are very high quality these days. Note too your website designer can tweak your photo to add a background or border or fade that can really make your photo pop.

I personally suggest you mark your calendars once every 3-6 months and spend an hour to seriously evaluate your website. What is outdated, what needs work, what’s missing? I’d also suggest you survey a dozen people and ask them “what turns you on or off about my website?”. A website is not something you spend $2000 on once and say “it’s good enough”. At least not if you want real results from it.

Below you will see some examples of custom-designed website headers and a quick explanation of what the website is for – then you can see why that photo was chosen for the header.

Note: Click on the header to see a larger version.

Hilde Vercaigne – An inspirational website/blog about how you can create the life you want even if you’re coming from a very difficult and dark past. She draws people in with her depth and people can identify with that lostness. Then she lifts them up in her writing – a powerful blend.

Stephen Hyde – A health care consultant who offers high-end consulting services. Very professional and modern. Crisp and trustworthy/inviting.

Debbi Donner – A professional and personal life coach who is also an author and speaker. Her photo is very classy, inviting, personable, trustworthy and she really exudes the life people want for her industry.

Paul Hendricks – A best-selling author and speaker with an edge that draws people straight to him. In Paul’s header he was able to show his confident, professional speaker side, but also shows off his edge and creativity.

Sandra Coulson – The grandmother of Orofacial Myology. Sandra is a very loving, intelligent, author/speaker and giver. She has worked with over 25,000 patients across the globe to diagnose and treat tongue and lip posturing.

These are just a few examples of headshot images that really support the website design. Adding an image to your header can really draw a visitor in, it can build trust and it can help sell your services (IF you have the right photo). If you need help with website design or would like a second opinion no evaluating your current website design, contact me and let’s discuss.

Chances are you had a busy year. And in the midst of reading countless blog posts, Facebook updates, and Twitter feeds, it’s just possible that you may have missed a few things. If that’s the case, here are 10 of the essential Top One Report articles that we published this year that you may have missed out on, which would be a shame. So here’s your second chance:

Tips for Writing Your Ebook

Of all the ways to make money online, writing a well-thought-out, well-researched, and relevant ebook can be one of the best ways to start earning some income on the side. Here are some things for you to consider as you endeavor to create and write your own ebook…

Unlock Your Site’s Potential with Split Testing

So you’ve got your website up and running, complete with some key products and ads and maybe even a sales page. So now what, you just sit back and wait for the sales to roll in, right? Well, in your rush to get online, you may have overlooked the importance of a key task that just might be the single most vital thing you do as a marketer: split testing…

Why You Should Network Like It’s 1999

As online marketers, we put a lot of stock in social networking, and rightfully so. There really is no better way to get the word out about your business, its mission, and your brand and to build valuable relationships that will create opportunities and help your business grow. Or is there?

Top 7 Online Business Resources

If you have an online business and are looking to increase traffic to your website and therefore sales, there are some things you should be doing on a regular basis. Call them your daily or weekly online calisthenics. You should be posting articles on other sites, building your list and reaching out to them with pertinent deals and updates, staying active on forums in your niche, taking advantage of the press release resources out there, using Twitter, and making sure your email signature reflects what you are trying to accomplish. Here are our favorite resources for doing all of the above…

Get the Most Out of Your Analytics

In the early days of the Internet, commercialism had not made its entrance and no one was thinking about tracking traffic, much less analyzing it. Nearly a decade later, we had progressed to tracking visitors in the form of “hits,” which did not tell you effectively even how many individual people actually visited your site. Now after nearly another decade, we find ourselves in a virtual analytical paradise comprised of numbers and data…

Six WordPress Plugins You Must Have

WordPress is by far the most popular content management system on the Web right now. Every day new plugins are being developed, improved, or added. Plugins are a way for you to add additional functionality to your blog according to your needs. I will be discussing some of the most beneficial plugins that you should install on your WordPress site…

Mobile Web Optimization

One thing is becoming increasingly clear: mobile web browsing is quickly catching up to and surpassing desktop browsing. With more people having access to mobile-enabled cell phones than computers, the number of mobile devices browsing the web is increasing at an enormous rate…

Examine Your Site’s Focus

It’s hard to adequately stress the importance of focus and purpose on your website. Since you are reading the Top One Report, we’re going to assume that you have a website, or lots of websites, or are at the very least planning to have a website. We look at a lot of sites here at InfoMedia in our work with entrepreneurs like you…

9 Questions for Healthy Traffic

Traffic, traffic, traffic. It’s the holy grail of our business and most marketers will try everything they can to attract new visitors to their site…

A Blueprint for Web Design

A 2006 study found that viewers made subconscious decisions about the quality and credibility of web pages in just 1/20th of a second. In this blink of an eye, viewers did not have enough time to read text or even recognize photos, but instead were reacting only to the site’s layout. Even when the participants had more time to look at the site, the research found that they only attempted to reinforce this initial conclusion…

Re-posted from Joel Comm’s Top One Report Website
10 Articles You May Have Missed in 2010

From Google:
“Bounce Rate: Bounce rate is the percentage of single-page visits (i.e. visits in which the person left your site from the entrance page). Bounce rate is a measure of visit quality and a high bounce rate generally indicates that site entrance (landing) pages aren’t relevant to your visitors. You can minimize Bounce Rates by tailoring landing pages to each keyword and ad that you run. Landing pages should provide the information and services that were promised in the ad copy.”

Bounce rates don’t just apply is you are running an AdWords campaign though. On a side note, it is very wise to sign up for Google’s free Analytics for your website. You add a small piece of code to the footer of your website and now you have access to how many visitors are on your site every day, what part of the world they are getting to your site from, how long they stayed on your website, what keywords they typed into Google to find your site and more. One of these statistics is your bounce rate.

A good starting out goal to have is for your bounce rate to be lower than 50%. For instance, if your bounce rate for a page is 50%: Each person who entered your website, whichever page they viewed (not always the home page), they left your website from the same page. It is good to navigate your users to other pages within your site, guide them to new content, get them to sign up for your list or buy your product/service.

So what are the things that will impact a person staying on your site or leaving? Well, lots of things. I’ll cover quite a bit here for you…

1. One thing you can do is create links on each page (or blog post) to other pages or posts within your site. A good rule of thumb is to have about 3 links on each page. One might be to the “About” page of my site, another link might be to the “Quote” page of my site, and the last might be to a blog post I wrote last week. That way, you are giving 3 completely different links to information your user might be seeking. (Note: You should test if you get better results by having your links support the content they are reading, or if you get better results by linking to content with a different topic.)
2. Your design has a lot to do with your bounce rate and improving your website optimization. Is your look and feel out dated or modern? If you look at sites like Twitter and Apple and even YouTube… what elements do they have in common? How is that different from your website? You can find out more about updating your design by clicking here.
3. When is the last time you updated your website content? Do you have information that isn’t valid, or broken links, or old phone numbers? Make an effort to go to your site every quarter and update the information on your website. Maybe hire someone to optimize your content so you are getting more sales. Most of your bounce rate has to do with your content. Does your headline or title really match what the content is about or are you stretching just to get more traffic.
4. Have a professional check your website navigation process. You want to make it as easy as possible for a visitor to find what they are looking for on your website. Sometimes clients want to get “creative” on their site and change the fundamental location or look for something that messes a visitor up – or gets them to pause in their track…which you don’t want. Is your ‘logout’ button on the top left? Is your logo on the top right? Is your ‘contact’ page easy to find? etc.

Think about all of the irritations you experience when you are searching for something on Google. What makes you leave a site right away? I can tell you for me it is when I am searching for a topic, then a site comes up that has nothing to do with my topic. It is really annoying to me – and I am sure you too. Keep this in mind.

Homework: Go through each page in your website and take notes on the things that are out of place, the content that is old, the inconsistencies that appear on every page, etc. Next make a wish list of items you’d like to add (maybe a sign-up form to build a list, a new design, a list of new pages you want to make content for, etc.). Last separate the items that you can do yourself and the ones you need to hire out for. I have clients who come to me just needing a few minor tweaks done to their site. I can create a special deal for them, such as having them just get a block of my time, and execute the list right away.

It is time to take action on modernizing and optimizing your website or blog. Your competition is getting on the ball, are you?

Send me an email on how I can help – maybe you just need advice or a second pair of eyes looking at your website. I can do a website evaluation and recommendation report for you in no time at all. Or I can help make those changes that are outside of your knowledge. Contact me today!