Do you always find yourself on bad dates? Do you think you interact appropriately with your customers? Yes, both these things do relate, in some way! I want to explain how you can avoid some mishaps around your customers that directly relates to dating. Yes, we are solving more than your website problems! Mistake 1
Asking for too many fields on your first encounter is like asking about your ex-boyfriend in the first 10 minutes of your date! Don’t get form greedy with Opt-ins.
Have you ever gone on a date that felt more like an interview? Was your date peppering you with questions right from the start? It’s intimidating, isn’t it? It makes you feel attacked and it causes you to close up. Consider this with your website opt-ins. Don’t make the mistake of asking your customers and leads too many questions in order for them to sign up or to download something from your website. Try making your opt-in forms ask as minimal information as possible – this actually encourages the viewer to opt-in. If you have a newsletter sign-up form, consider only asking for their Email Address – after all, that’s all you need to send them an email. If they are downloading an eBook, then you might consider asking for some more details such as phone, address and company. Ask only what you think is really necessary; try not to overdo it as you may just scare that date off! Mistake 2
Proposing marriage before the first date.
Do you hate the feeling of someone pressuring something on you or expecting something from you? It’s the feeling you get when you’re on a date and there is no chemistry and all your date wants to do is kiss you! If that were me, I’d run a mile immediately! If you hate this feeling, then why do it to your customers? If you plaster your website with “BUY BUY BUY” everywhere, it’s basically that date leaning in and constantly trying to kiss you while you swerve side-to-side to dodge it! A pushy sales site might win over one or two dates, but good old-fashioned business courtship is what will score the hearts of the masses. Your visitors may not be ready to buy yet, so let them opt-in other ways, such as a newsletter or an eBook. They’ll buy when they’re ready to, so stop pushing for that kiss! Mistake 3
Having no Calls to Action is like never asking them out.
You know that guy that told you he was going to call you for a date, but never did? That’s what you are doing to your website visitors if you have no Calls to Actions! You are promising them a romantic night out, but leaving them hanging, wondering what’s next. Be the one to take initiative and organise the date. Let visitors to your website know all the important details of what to expect. If you aren’t telling visitors to your website where to go or what to do, they will either leave the page or browse aimlessly around your site – neither of these you want! Don’t leave them sitting by the phone wishing you’d call. Ensure your site has clear Calls to Action telling your dates what they should be doing when they visit you! Mistake 4
It’s not all about you.
Are you that person who loves to talk about yourself? Do you brag about all your achievements and how much your friends love you and how amazing your business is…. etc., etc., etc. You know the type. Stop being “that guy” and start focusing on the other person. Visitors to your website want to know you are interested in them, not just yourself! Try to understand their problems, help them identify solutions to those problems, understand what they want out of life and what their achievements are. Now, apply this to your website content! Confused? It’s easy! Stop going on about you and your business on your website, and focus on your target audience. Translate in your content what problems you are solving and how the customer would benefit from it. If your content isn’t converting, it’s not them – it’s you. Mistake 5
Failing to call after your first kiss.
You’re at the door to your house and you just had an amazing date and the most amazing first kiss, then part ways. But, now what? Who’s meant to call who? Do you actually want to see them again? How do you know they’ll want to see you? Handling the follow-up after the first date can be nerve racking, but take a deep breath and you can move smoothly. When someone signs up for your newsletter or downloads and eBook from you, it’s the first kiss of business. What do you do? You could jump the shark and bombard the person with constant pestering messages about buying or re-buying, but this is like your date constantly messaging you and becoming attached way too soon! Before you panic and text your date 100 smiley face messages begging for a next date within the hour, let’s work out a plan. It’s all about nurturing your relationship with this person! Listen to what they’re saying about their needs, and use this information to educate them about the industry. Provide them with free tools or eBooks (they will greatly appreciate this – it’s like a virtual box of chocolates). If you understand their needs and wants, but they didn’t buy just yet, have your sales person call them out of courtesy and see if you can help them anyway. If you really like this person, you’ll go out of your way to make sure they think well of you. Once you understand their needs and wants, you can treat them in a way that will effectively keep them in your sales pipeline and nicely push them along the buying cycle. Remember, if you have customers coming to you, don’t push them away! They clearly want something from you, so understand what they want and provide! You will find that if you implement these little steps, you will have a much better long-term relationship with your leads and customers.
