Who to create your site for, visitors or search engines...

Whenever Net Magik Pros gets a new customer, one of the first questions that is always asked is "how can we get my site to the top of the search engines?".

For someone who doesn't know, this is a very valid question because they probably only know that if they get into the top of the search engines, the business will come.

Unfortunately, this is not the case.

Generally what we tell our potential clients is this:
Make your site for your potential visitors and getting to the top of the search engines will happen.

There are a few basic things that you can do to make sure you get good search engine placement (good titles for your pages, good keywords, use the keywords in the page you have them listed on, links, the text of the links, to name a few) but then you will eventually have to ask yourself, who do I want more of on my site, visitors or search engine spiders (or robots)?

The simple answer is both!

While a search engine spider will not purchase anything from your site, they will get people who will purchase something from your site. But that's where the search engine spider's job is done, once they get the people to your site, they have completed their mission, the rest is up to what you have put on your site. This will make the difference whether someone stays on your site or leave to go to your competition's website. Good quality links can definitely help you out here. Offering something for free will definitely help out also.

But the main thing that will help you sell your product or service is... are you ready for this...

YOU HAVE TO ASK YOUR VISITOR TO PURCHASE YOUR PRODUCT!

Many people overlook this, and then wonder why they have a boat load of website visitors, and they don't sell anything.

The fact is, if you don't ask, you won't sell, it's that simple! It always helps to put a sense of urgency into your sales pitch also. Don't just ask your website visitors to purchase your product or service, but tell them the advantages of why they should purchase right away.

It sounds pushy, but keep in mind that your website visitors are at your site almost anonymously, so if they think you are too pushy, they can leave and don't have to worry about you showing up at their front door step or follow up calls etc. They can just leave and that's it. But because they are there and most visitors know this, they generally don't mind the "pushy sales pitch" as long as you don't go too overboard with it.

You don't have to be obnoxious with your sales pitch, but don't be afraid to ask the visitor what you want them to do, and give them a reason to do it quickly.