Why
Your Online Business Isn't Growing
Copyright
2003 by Willie Crawford
Whenever a client comes to me and complains that their online business
isn't
growing fast enough, I ask them two questions. First, what are they
doing to
grow their business. Secondly, what are they doing
differently now than
what they were doing
six months ago. Both are important questions, but I think the
second
question is most important.
We all know that things change fast on the internet and that what
worked a year
ago may not work now. So we are constantly looking for new,
proven methods
to implement on our websites, and in our other marketing avenues. We
buy the
latest, much-touted book, the latest course, and join the latest
members-only
websites. There is nothing wrong with seeking the latest
information.
The biggest reason I see for slow or no growth in clients' businesses
is that
they fail to implement what they learn. They go to seminars, buy
videos, join
teleseminars, and gather lots of great information. Then they
put the
course on a shelf and never finish studying it. If they do
finish the
course, they get pumped up, but they never implement it. Knowing how to
improve
your business *won't* improve your business. Putting that
knowledge into
action will.
I'm as guilty as the next person of not implementing many of
the great,
proven ideas and "secrets" passed on to me. In private
conversations, top marketers have shared with me the results of their
testing of
many tools and techniques. For example, I've been convinced
that adding
audio to a website (testimonials or just introductions)
substantially
increases conversions. However, I am just getting
around to adding
sound to my websites this week :-) I spent months just
comparing tools
before settling on Jay Jennings' Sonic
Memo at: http://www.sonicmemo.com/
Many people take copious notes at events and while reading
books.
They intuitively know that what they are reading makes sense.
Yet they
never implement what they are convinced will improve their
businesses.
Instead they continue looking for other "silver bullets" and
"quick fixes."
Let me let you in on a secret. One of the easiest ways to
guarantee the
continuous growth of your business is to continuously implement
*little* proven
changes. What are examples of these changes that you can make?
- Add
audio testimonials to your website
- Re-word
your guarantee making it very strong and not wishy-washy
- Put
a guarantee near your subscribe box that you'll never share or sell
their information
- Get
rid of things on your webpage that distract the prospect from the one
main action you want them to take
- Seek
link exchange partners to increase your search engine rankings
- Locate
a new joint venture partner that is compatible and suitable, and
leverage both of your resources
- Practice
your copywriting skills, modeling great copywriters
- Visit
the websites of the top marketers and study what they are doing and ask
why. Don't imitate them before confirming they are not just
testing
- Seek
out a mentor or become a mentor to an up-and-coming marketer
- Seek
out pools of your prospects online and then become noticed by them....
maybe via articles demonstrating your expertise
- Re-evaluate
the color scheme or background of your webpages. Study the psychology
of colors to understand the mood your site induces
These
are just a few proven ways that you can
improve your business starting today. All of the courses,
books, and
seminars that you have attended probably provided you with great ideas.
Now
these ideas must be put into action. Just start by
implementing one at a
time if this is easiest. Some of the changes will generate almost
immediate
results. Others may take a few months (such as searchengine work). What
is most
important is that you start today if you want your business
to be more
successful tomorrow.
==================================
Willie Crawford has been teaching others how to build an on-line
business since
late 1996. Frequently featured in radio, magazine and
newspaper articles
and interviews, Willie teaches the average guy what the top marketers
are doing
but seldom talking about. For example, Willie demonstrates
the power of
automated residual income through his system at: http://ProfitAutomation.Com
Test drive this system now.
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