I recently wrote up a list of all the things I have ever done, or currently do, on the internet. WOW. I will spare you, it's huge. I can sit down in a comfortable chair, turn on my computer, and pretty soon I'm flitting from site to site, on a mission until something flashy catches my eye, or an article looks interesting, or a game download looks like fun, or a forum has some usable information...
Pretty soon hours have gone by, and have I accomplished my original task?...maybe...but it's been fun and enlightening and danggg I forgot to bookmark that site...where was that...and off I go again, thanks to Go To and Google.
So that is what you are up against when someone visits your site. First of all, how did she find you? Via a reciprocal link? Search engine? Your byline at the end of an article you wrote? These are the things you have to work on to get her there in the first place.
It's been reworked over and over how to write "sticky" website text, that makes your visitors "stick around". I'm going to just mention a few of the things you shouldn't do, based on my own surfing habits.
Include links that take the visitor OFF your site at your own risk. In other words, you'd better have a really good reason to do so. Such as with SFI, sending them to your Veriuni Store, that's branded with your affiliate ID and leads them to either purchase from you or sign up as your sponsored affiliate.
But if a link takes me off to Amazon.com for example, I'm history. Soon I'm looking at someone's list of recommended books, then I remember that I've been meaning to look for a good deal on a Dell laptop, then it's a gift for my mom, and I've totally forgotten the page that sent me here.
The only possible exception that I can think of is a link on my site to a product that complements my own, maybe makes my own more functional or complete. If I'm canvassing for new affiliate prospects, I might want to offer a web design tool or an autoresponder. If I'm selling chairs, I might want to offer cushions or pillows. Just be very focused on what you want your client to do (the click to buy your product or sign up for your opportunity) and make sure every other link supports that.
The GOOD place for affiliate links such as in the Amazon.com example, are in a pop-under window. The visitor has already done all she's going to do, left your site, voila the window with one last try at selling something is uncovered. Send her off to a relevant site after a relevant product, you still might make a sale.
What else not to do? Don't pressure your visitors. Don't hard sell them. That's one of the reasons why surfers don't click on Google Ads or website banners as much as good linking text. The text appears directly in context with what they have chose to read because it is interesting. The ads and banners are associated with selling, which has associations with coercion.
If anything, today's surfer expects courtesy, variety, information, more value for less money, and the freedom to make her own choices in her own time.
It's your job to make her like, trust and value her relationship with you and to give her what she expects and MORE. Then she'll WANT to buy.
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