Top 10 Ways to Lose a Customer

You spend a lot of time and money drawing people to your Web site. Don't drive them away before you make the sale.

No matter how many visitors you are able to attract to your website, there are still ways to lose them before making a sale. Below are the top 10 ways to lose a paying customer.

1. Navigation - One of the easiest ways to turn off a website visitor is create a complicated website. If a customer struggles to find their a product, they will more than likely get frustrated and leave the website before they buy.

When I first designed my website I had no idea about design. Looking back, I'm not sure I accomplished pretty and I did not create an easy website to navigate. Much like the one I mentioned earlier, my website was frustrating to visitors.

2. Busyness - The wrong type of website can turn off visitors and repel sales. Create a website designed for your target audience. For example, if you're selling aromatherapy products, you'll want a relaxing environment. However, if you're a life coach you want to pump people up. Your website should be full of life and activity.

3. Sizing - Many websites make the mistake of sizing their design to fit their screen. Unfortunately, the standard resolution that most monitors are sized to (800 x 600) does not always match. When this happens, visitors must scroll not only up and down the page, but left and right as well. To eliminate this frustration, set you width to no more than 800 pixels.

4. Point of Contact - When visitors to your website have a question they want to be able to easily find your contact information. Many websites display their email address, phone number, or a link to their contact information either in their menu or at the top/bottom of their website, which makes it easy to find.

5. Hidden Pricing - Customers want to have all of the necessary information before they make a purchase. Make sure your prices are available up front. When customers have to dig for pricing information, there's a good chance that they will get frustrated, give up and leave your website.

6. Customer Service - You can set your business apart from all the rest by offering fast, friendly and helpful service to your customers. Try to respond to emails and phone calls within twenty-fours hours. Smile while you type or talk on the phone because your customers will hear the lilt in your voice and respond.

7. Follow-up - If your customer asks a question about a product or service, follow up within 48 hours to see if they have further questions. Many times this follow-up can lead to a sale. Neglecting follow-up can lose you customers.

8. Spam - If you offer a newsletter or other type of mailing list, be careful with what you send to your subscribers. Avoid mailings that look like spam. Choose a template that works for you and that will be recognizable to your readers.

9. Professional Conduct - In the business world it's important that you're professional, especially when dealing with difficult clients. It's imperative to be kind, courteous and take care of business. Refrain from any type of name calling or blame placing. Stand up for your business in a professional manner and treat your customers with respect at all times. Remember the old adage - the customer is always right.

10. Payment Options/Security - Customers want to know that they can trust you with their financial information. Choose a payment provider that offers a secure way to transit orders and credit card information. If possible, offer more than one payment option to give your customers the ability to choose how they will pay.

Creating a website that is customer-friendly isn't as simple as one might think. There are many aspects to consider and the designer must choose carefully or risk losing sales. Avoid these ten no-no's and make your website into a successful business venture.

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12 Common Web Design Mistakes That Drive Customers Away

Your Web site can draw customers in or send them running. Find out what mistakes to avoid in your company's Web site design.

In the early to mid 1990s, commercial web sites weren't very common and just about every "live" site was considered acceptable. With tens of millions of sites online now, users will not tolerate unprofessional and disorganized sites that don't provide the information or solutions they are looking for and expect.

Web design mistakes can have a tremendous negative impact on business growth. At best, they upset your prospects. Worse, though, is you lose them forever.

Here are 12 common web design mistakes you must avoid to please your visitors and grow your business:

1. Lack of Focus Too many web sites leave visitors wondering what the site is about. Be sure your home page explicitly conveys what you do and the value you offer, and entices them to explore other pages for additional information.

2. Text-heavy Pages Actually, lots of text is OK, just don't use lengthy paragraphs with no visual breaks. Reading online is much different than print. Use the following to break-up blocks of text: shorter, more focused paragraphs; headlines and subheads; bullets and numbers; a few well-placed photos or graphics; and appropriate white space.

3. Legibility Issues Dark fonts on dark backgrounds, light fonts on light backgrounds, and tiny fonts that strain the eye are obviously poor choices. Use common sense.

4. "Noise" and Clutter Even if you have a great site, if your visitors are forced to wade through long blocks of copy, promotional offers, animation, sales pitches, and worthless dribble, you'll quickly confuse them and drive them away.

5. Blatant Advertising While we all hope to use our web site to move prospects along in the sales process, in-your-face advertising isn't the answer. Information, solutions and value will do the job more effectively. And while pop-up ads are widely used and acceptable, full screen pop-ups that are difficult to close infuriate everyone.

6. Navigation Issues A clearly obvious navigational panel makes sense doesn't it? But common sense isn't always common practice. How easily can a newcomer navigate your site?

7. Inappropriate Graphics and Photos Photos and graphics can visually enhance the appearance of your site as well as support and substantiate your copy. But don't use load-intensive graphics or photos of your corporate office which are relevant to no one.

8. Outdated Information Nothing screams "unprofessional" any louder than outdated information.

9. Too Many Clicks Needed We're all impatient and in a hurry. Our online waiting threshold is much less than off-line. If more than a few clicks are required to get to a page, you'll lose a prospect every time.

10. Lack of Contact Information This also seems obvious, but I have searched numerous web sites for contact phone numbers - and I am amazed how many times I was unable to find one. Just because a web site is online doesn't mean a prospect only wants to contact you online.

11. Form Frustration The large majority of online forms are too lengthy. Get rid of questions/fields that simply are not needed. And don't identify one as mandatory if it really isn't.

12. No Privacy Policy In the age of rampant spam, we all want to be certain we are offering our e-mail address to someone who will protect it carefully. If you ask for an e-mail address on one of your forms, let your prospects know that you will not sell or distribute their address to anyone (if that's true of course).

Your prospects are visiting your web site specifically for the content. But the appearance and usability are also critical factors. If a visit to your web site is a positive experience, you have a much better chance of converting prospects to clients.

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5 Simple Networking Follow-Up Strategies

Networking is vital to growing your business. Simply put, unless you go out and meet people nobody will know you exist. If they don't know you exist they can't hire you. You can be the best 'networker' out there but unless you follow up with the people you meet you are wasting your time.I have met so many people who complain to me that they meet people but that the leads go nowhere. Here's why, business cards sitting in piles on your desk are not clients. I have found it easiest to follow up after networking events when I have a plan in place BEFORE I even leave my room.

Here are five simple strategies that I use to put that plan in place and make sure that I carry through.

1. Decide how and when you will follow up with people after the event.
Things that have worked for my clients and me are:
a. Send an article that is a good follow up to most of your conversations that represent what you do and is of value to readers. (Note: This should be an article that helps your new contact, not a sales brochure).

b. Pick up the phone and call.
(Note: Set aside time on your calendar to make those calls and decide what you want to accomplish with these calls...again, this is your opportunity to get to know them, NOT sell). c. Share a resource with them. Put them in touch with someone who can be of service to them or share your favorite book about a topic.

2. Bring a sharpie with you to all networking events.
After you speak with someone write a quick note or two to remind you about what you spoke about and, if appropriate, what your next step will be. Why a sharpie? A lot of people have glossy business cards. A pen doesn't always work.

3. Bring extra business cards (or even blank cards).
Since most people do not follow up after a networking event, it is more important for you to gather names than for you to give your card out and wait for them to call you. If someone you meet doesn't have a business card (many people don't bring enough) you can write his or her information on one of your own card or on a blank one.

4. Tell them how you will be following up.
Will you call them in a few days? Will you send them an article? Will you call to set up a lunch date?
When you tell them what to expect it makes it real for both of you. You will be more likely to follow up because you told them that you will and they are going to be more receptive to the follow up because they know it's coming. Oh, and the best part, they will often share the best way for you to follow up with them so they will be even more receptive.

5. Just because someone doesn't call back or respond to your email does not mean they are not interested.
Reaching out one time after meeting them is not enough. It generally takes seven or eight touches before someone decides that they are ready to engage you. Touch base with them regularly. Continue to give information of value and interest to them.

When you follow up regularly and share information of value after meeting someone you become someone they trust. You will naturally build a solid relationship and before you know it the cards on your desk will become your best clients and partners.

What's your plan for following up after your next networking event?

Businessknowhow

10 Proven Ways to Find Customers for Your Business

As many new business owners quickly discover, the most difficult part of starting a business is finding customers.

Having a great product or service that you are sure many people will need isn't good enough. Customers won't find you or your web site just because you have started selling a product or service. Indeed, most business owners have to go on regular and frequent fishing trips to find customers and keep new business coming in their doors. But how do you do that? Here are several suggestions to get you started.

1. Develop a plan.
Consider who would make the ideal customer. If you sell to businesses, consider what department is most likely to buy your products or services, and what individual (what level of responsibility) would be the one to determine the specific purchase requirements. (Make some calls if you don't know!) Then consider how that individual would normally find products or services like yours. What circles do they travel in? Who are they likely to listen to or where do they look when they want to buy a product or service. Find a way to put your information, or yourself, in their path.

2. Realize there is no one path to success.
Sales often happen because prospective customers hear about your products and services in several different ways and from several different sources. The more often they hear about you, the more likely they are to consider what you have to offer when they are ready to buy.

3. Work your local newspapers.
Daily and weekly newspapers are an incredible source of contact information and leads to potential customers. Watch for names of people who have been promoted, who have won awards, who have opened new businesses, or who in any way may be potential customers. Send those people personalized mailings congratulating them on their success or telling them how interesting the article about them was. Include your company name and slogan along and any appropriate product information with your signature. (Example: Chima Sabastine, Business Support Group, Financial and Taxation Planning Help For Business Owners).

4. Attend meetings and seminars that your prospects might attend.
If you've been doing that and haven't made contacts that could lead to sales, try new networking groups. Look in the newspapers to see what other organizations hold events that might attract your target market and attend some of those meetings.

5. Follow up after meetings.
Contact the people you've met to see if they may be prospects. If they say they don't need your services now, ask when a good time to call them back would be, or if they have business associates who could use what you sell now.

6. Give a little to get a lot.
Give away free samples of your product and ask the recipients to tell their friends if they are pleased. Or, if you are a consultant, give away some free advice. This could be in the form of a newsletter with that contains news or tips and hints, or it could be a free consultation during which you provide just enough information to help the client scope out their project and know that you have the ability to handle it.

7. Work your personal network.
Ask your friends if they know of people who can use your services, or people who may know others who could use your services. If your pricing structure will allow it, offer friends and business associates a finders' fee for referrals that turn into jobs.

8. Study your successful competitors.
Where do they advertise? Where do they network? What tactics do they use? What works for them may work just as well for you.

9. Claim your "place" in Google Places.
While you're at it, be sure to list yourself (and make sure your website address is correct) in any directories you qualify for. Chambers of commerce, and other local business groups often have member directories in which you can list contact information and website url.

10. Ask for feedback when prospects don't buy.
Did they find a product that better served their needs? Did they decide they don't need the product at all? Did they just postpone their buying decision? Did they find it difficult to place an order on your web site? Use what you learn to make needed changes and watch your sales start to grow.

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Easy Ways To Get Money While You Are Unemployed

Job hunting is a time-consuming job, but learning how to make money fast doesn’t pay a cent until you actually land a job. We are going to give you few pointers below, you may find one or two suitable. Combine several or focus on a single area, but make sure you get paid.

1. Sell What You Don’t Need
All those clothes and gadgets you don’t use anymore, old books, furniture,games – you can sell them and make few bucks. Remember the saying “one man’s food is another man’s poison”? That item you might consider worthless or useless can be very useful for some other person. How and where you can sell? You can choose some traditional way like going to the street, to bazaar, etc. But we recommend to sell online – it will save your time and give much better result. Try out MoboFree Board of Classifieds – it’s totally free for buyers and sellers.


2. Rent Open Space
Do you have an open space or a spare bedroom in your home or apartment? If so – try renting them out. Not only will renting out excess space help you make money, it will help you reduce expenses. MoboFree classifieds is a good place to find trusted tenant.

3. Turn Your Skills Into Money
Do you have a talent that you’re not putting to use? Have you ever thought of making money from this talent? For example, if you can write very well, you can make money from freelancing (you can join freelancing sites like Elance, Guru etc). If you can teach you can make money by organizing extramural classes for students or private tutorial classes. This can be the beginning of a very lucrative business. Have no ideas how to find people interested in your lessons? Post free classified about your services in MoboFree Services Classifieds.

4. Research studies/ works / Survey
Year in year out students and scholars carry out research works that need tedious field works and surveys. You can help out these students in their surveys and field works and get paid for it. You can also participate in product surveys for companies and get paid for this. Usually information on these products surveys are posted on classifieds.

5. Pharmaceutical/ Clinical Testing
If you live near a university with a medical school or medical research centre, you can earn for taking part in a clinical research study. Various medical institutes and pharmaceutical companies need people to test their new products and are willing to pay for this. However, you should be careful because this can cause severe harm to you or even death if the product is defective.

6. Launch your own blog or website and monetize it
There are a lot of tools allowing to create own site or blog without any coding skills and for free. For example WapEgo sites builder. Google AdSense allows you to get money for every click and requires little to no supervision: Once it’s there, you don’t need to do much more.

7. Freelance Work
Freelance work often pays pathetically little until you’re well established and collecting paychecks can require the muscles.” For some reason, people don’t place as high a value on creative skills and many have no qualms about asking you to work for free. That said, freelance work can be an excellent way to maintain your skills while developing a network for a real job.

You can make it here on MOBOFREE...