How Happy Are Your Customers?

Have you taken a good look at your website lately? Not just by uploading new content or adding products.  I’m talking about really looking at your layout, navigation, and content as though you had never seen them before.

Increasing your conversion rate requires a pleasing website visitor experience that will easily lend itself to finding information and taking action.

What Do Your Visitors Need?

Let’s take an example. Imagine that you own a zoo. You’ve got some fantastic animal exhibits that you really believe your community will enjoy and appreciate. But there are no signs showing them where the various animals are. There is no shade and no benches. You don’t offer concession stands or even a drinking fountain. When visitors need help, workers are nowhere to be found.

No one wants to visit a zoo like that, no matter how great the exhibits are. If there are no considerations for helping visitors have an enjoyable experience, the attractions won’t be enough to draw in the crowds.

The same is true for your website. In order to increase conversion rates, you not only have to provide a superior product, but also a superior website visitor experience. Otherwise, you’ll lose the majority of your audience before you get a chance to convince them.

Improve your Visitor’s Experience

With that in mind, here are a few ideas that will help you improve your website visitor experience.

●      Search box—If you don’t have one, add one. It’s frustrating to know exactly what you’re looking for but to have no idea where to look for it. Add a search feature and make sure it returns accurate results.

●      Navigation—Put navigation bars on the top of the page or at the sides, adjacent to the content where they will be easily visible. Put a linked logo in the upper left hand corner so visitors can easily get back to your homepage from anywhere on the site.

●      Payment Information—Answer these four questions as early on your site as possible: How do I make a purchase? Where do I go to pay? What payment methods are accepted? What is the total cost, including shipping?

●      Layout—Make sure each element of your layout is pleasing to the eye. Go easy on the use of flashy animations, which can also slow your load time. Choose colors that complement each other and that lead the eye toward your call to action. If you’re not using cascading style sheets (CSS), make the switch as soon as possible in order to improve the ease of navigation throughout your site.

●      Contact—Make it easy for visitors to contact you and when they do, reply as soon as possible. Why ruin an otherwise great visitor experience by failing to answer questions or reply to comments in a timely manner.

Visitors who enjoy using your website are more likely to become regular customers and recommend your products or services to their friends.

Time to Name Names…

What websites, do you know of, that provide an exceptional customer experience? What makes the experience special for you?