|
/pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> |
How to Avoid the Biggest Mistakes Member Sites Make in Their Marketing Copy
If you have a web site to which people pay a periodic member fee, it's likely that you belong to other member web sites and have done so for at least a year or two. Thus it's easy for you to overlook the fact that to the average person, member web sites are either a relatively new phenomenon or a completely new phenomenon. It follows that you can't afford any sloppiness or hanging back in making clear to your web site visitors that they are looking at an opportunity to sign up for a paid membership in your web site.
Several member web sites that I've been asked to review were sowing confusion in this regard by using both "Join" and "Subscribe" in inviting readers to become members. These words are not interchangeable, however, since we associate "join" with becoming a member of an organization, which normally costs money, and on the web, "subscribe" most often accompanies a invitation to sign up for a free newsletter.
Confusion deepens when the member site offers a newsletter that is free for non-members at the same time that membership costs money. In such a case, it's absolutely crucial that you use the word "Subscribe" strictly for the free newsletter and reserve "Join" or "Become a Member" for the paid membership option. If you don't have both free and for-fee signups, consistency and clarity are still very important. Use the same word all the time to refer to the process of becoming a member.
The second common problem I see in member web sites is skimpy or hidden sales copy. Hidden sales copy occurs very often in member web sites that are using a modifiable template program to run their site. Whatever the template appears to advise, it's essential to have a navigation link called something like "Why Join" or "What Members Get" placed as prominently as possible with the other major navigation links on every page of the public portion of the web site. Having the sales page come up when someone tries to access members-only material is not a substitute for such a prominent link. Sometimes I have had to hunt hard for the sales page when doing site reviews, even though I knew it had to be there somewhere.
The heart of your sales page should be mouthwatering bullet points that make your ideal targets salivate to sign up for your site. Usually what I see on this page are weak generalizations that can't hold a candle to the treasures that are actually inside the site. For instance, bullet points like the following don't evoke the "gotta have this!" feeling that leads people to commit themselves as paid members: � Weekly updates on the latest snowshoeing techniques � The most comprehensive, unbiased reviews of equipment you'll find anywhere � Exercises that keep you in shape for snowshoeing � All back issues of the "Snowshoes Forever" newsletter
Compare the more specific, more tantalizing bullet points below: � Articles on climbing, descending, speed-shoeing, following deep woods trails and avoiding injury from Certified Maine Guides and other outdoor experts ? a new such article each week � More than 35 no-punches-pulled reviews of snowshoes and poles from more than 16 different manufacturers, including five "absolutely do not buy this!" recommendations � Exclusive, easy-to-master exercises that keep you in shape for showshoeing whether you are a spry and limber 22 or an aches-and-pains-everywhere 62 � Instant access to more than three dozen back issues of the "Snowshoes Forever" newsletter, containing backwoods journals, trail recommendations, discounts on guided trips, classifieds for equipment, resorts and tours, safety tips, great winter camping destinations, even snowshoe construction and modification diagrams!
Make sure it's unmistakably clear from your marketing copy who should belong to your site and why. What will they be able to do or avoid that benefits them? Why is this member site a better value than equivalently priced organizations, books, consulting, etc.? Be hard-hitting, precise and believable.
The third common weakness is feeble testimonials. Owners of member sites tend to be passive in collecting testimonials, relying on what comes in and posting quotes as is with only first names or initials. Unless your member site concerns highly private information, such as living with herpes, then most people who have written complimentary comments are willing to sign their whole name if you ask them for permission.
What you need in testimonials are quotes that name specific things learned, pounds lost, health regained, more money made, marriages saved, tournaments won, new clients attained, etc. Don't be afraid to ask those who've sent you enthusiastic comments for further detail. Approach members whom you know have renewed three times to ask why. You can shorten and clarify members' quotes as long as you get approval from the member for your revision.
The fourth common error I see at member web sites is confusing signup options. One site had four membership options that differed from one another in such complicated ways that even with my advanced degree, I couldn't be sure I understood the choices correctly. Simplicity is golden. Stick with two or three options, tops, explain them clearly, and always present the most expensive option first.
If you haven't updated the public portion of your web site in a while, or if you're not satisfied with the rate at which visitors to your site sign up to become members, it might be time to commission a site review from an objective professional or do some informal user testing. In the latter case, recruit some people in your target market who have never seen your site and sit them down at the computer to perform tasks like figuring out why they should sign up and how much it costs. When they talk their thoughts out loud while exploring your site, you're bound to hear surprises about flaws in your presentation, wording and design.
With strong, specific testimonials and sales copy and clear signup procedures and options, your site will surely convert a gratifying number of visitors into members. Good luck!
Marcia Yudkin is the author of Web Site Marketing Makeover and 10 other books, as well as a five-time judge for the Webby Awards. Find out about her web site review service at http://www.yudkin.com/sitereview.htm and sign up for her free weekly Marketing Minute newsletter at http://www.yudkin.com/markmin.htm.
Online Businesses Still Ignoring Dial-up Market
In this article you will find the parallel between two Internet connections that makes serious actions trough financial market, leading this to great profits or huge losses.
How to Test Your Web Headlines and Web Site Home Page to Sell More Products and Services
A client asked me, at what point do you change your Web site when not making enough sales? My answer? Within a month because as long as your ad copy is weak, those weak sales numbers will continue.
Creating a Compelling Headline for Your Private Practice Website
Your home page is the most important page of your website. It is the one that will determine what your potential client or customer does after they arrive (i.e stays at or leaves your website).
No More Jargon! Pamper Your Audience!
When your company built its website, did you think about the content (the text) of your site? Did you write it for your customers? The answer to these questions is often 'No.'
Dont Overdo it!
Have you ever been to site with so much ad clutter that you wanted to just leave? Odds are you have, and odds are even better that you did in fact leave! Always refer back to the KISS philosphy. Keep It Simple Stupid!
Why Do Images Disappear from a Webpage?
In learning webpage design, I encountered many problems that took lots of practice to resolve. Although, I was building web pages using Microsoft Frontpage on my home computer, I used to face lots of issues after uploading the webpage to my website.
3 Tips For Writing Content That Will Make You Sales
Content is king. Without content your website is an empty shell, a skeleton with no flesh, an empty vessel. Content can redeem the worst designed website. The right content can make your phone ring off the hook and flood your inbox with people wanting your product or service. Content is the most important ingredient in the recipe for your website's success. If you have engrossing, valuable and relevant content you are onto a winner..
Essential Strategies To Make Your Web Copy Attractive To Your Target Audience
Reading on the web is different than reading in all other formats. People approach it differently and you need to have strategies that capitalize on those differences so you can connect with your prospects. Creating website copy that attracts your perfect clients, holds their attention and gets them to take action and connect with you should be your only goal when writing your website copy.
Create Favorite Icon
Favorite icon appears to the left of your link in either address bar or in favorites menu of your browser. It gives your website more personality, better visibility in favorites menu and is easy to create.
When Good Computers Go Bad
Remember the day that you got your new computer (or the hand-me down from Uncle Larry) and you pulled that shiny case out of the box? Once you finally had all of the cables properly mangled into an unmanageable ball, you powered on, the screen lit up and off you went. The PC was fast, programs loaded in the blink of an eye, and Internet surfing was a breeze. Those were the days.
Looking For A Designer To Re-Design Your Website?
If you were like me and you have just started an online business, you have a website that you have made or someone has made it for you, and this design does not match up to your expectations and the competition. Fear not, there is an inexpensive solution to your problem.
How Do We Know When Its Time To Redesign Our Web Site?
A question we frequently get asked is, "how do we know when it is time to redesign our Web site?" The answer undoubtedly varies.
How To Give Your Business Credibility
Let's face it. Buying products and services from the Internet can be a bit intimidating.
Top Ten Ways to Increase Web Sales - Part 2
You have only 10 seconds to impress your potential buyer.
8 Tips for Designing a Great Website
Square buttons, round buttons, flashy buttons ? will they match my shoes, my handbag or my tie? Are you stuck in a maze of buttons, headings, bullets, sub-headings and colour schemes?
Website Redesign for Existing Websites
Does your website need a re-design? Here are some questions to ask yourself when you are looking for investing in your website redesign.
Ten Basic Steps For Building A Web Site That Works
1. Assemble a web site development plan that is integrated with your overall marketing processes; the content should be consistent with offline materials, the graphics/images don't have to be identical with traditional media, but should be consistent with your overall branding, style guide, usage of colors etc.
Web Site Redirection - How to Implement a 301 Redirect
You just created a new web site but want to pass on the search engine rankings of the old one to the new one. What is the most effective and spider/visitor friendly strategy to implement your web site redirection? You should use a 301 redirect.
Why Hire a Professional to Design Your Web Site?
Creating an appealing, functional, and effective Web site is much harder than it looks. It's not simply a matter of taking a company brochure or catalog, converting the text to HTML, and throwing in a few pictures (although many sites seem to have been created using this technique!).
How to Double Your Online Sales Without Spending Another Dime on Advertising
Learning how to convert visitors to your web site into buyers, is the single most important factor affecting the success of your online business. If you don't have paying customers, your business will fail.