Do you have a "call to action".



Your site may have well-written copy, great graphics, clear navigation, stronng testimonials, and an compelling opt-in offer.

But all these things aren't going to mean anything if you don't include a clear call to action!

Your visitors want you to tell them what to do. If you don't tell them to purchase your product or subscribe to your free newsletter, they won't.

The Power of Suggestion

A call to action clearly states what action you want your visitors to take. It encourages people to take that action and tells them what will happen if they do.

The following phrases are typical calls to action:

* "Click Here to Subscribe!" * "Join Our Affiliate Program" * "Add to Your Shopping Cart" * "Order now to take advantage of this limited-time offer!"

It's a good idea to include an emotionally appealing benefit in your call to action. This convinces visitors of the value of your product and encourages them to take the action. For example: "Read on to learn how you could save tens of thousands of dollars on your next home purchase."

You want to pique people's interest and make them believe that taking the specified action will offer them a direct benefit.

The most obvious and important call to action is the one that asks visitors to make a purchase.

It's amazing how many sites neglect to ask for the order. This oversight can be deadly for your business; in fact, studies show that you can increase your sales by at least 80% by clearly instructing your visitors how to make a purchase!

Don't Rush Them!

The call to action tis the make-it-or-break-it moment. Closing a sale is like lining up a golf shot -- you don't want to rush it!

You can't just skip to closing the sale right away. Before you get there, you have to

* Emphasize the benefits of your product or service by answering the all-important customer question: "What's in it for me?"

* Establish your credibility by citing credentials, including customer testimonials, etc.

* Overcome objections

* Build value into your offer

* Back up your offer with a strong guarantee

* Offer valuable bonuses with the purchase

Once you've these things, ask for the order. You must ask for the order... otherwise, all the work you've done will be wasted.

Instill a sense of urgency to compell visitors to make a purchase right away. You can create urgency in several ways. For example, you can

* Limit the time your offer is available: "Available for 5 DAYS ONLY!"

* Limit the quantity of products or services you offer: "Available only to the first 100 people who order!"

* Include a discount for a limited time or on a limited quantity of products.

* Include bonus items on a limited quantity of products.

However, you have to follow through on any such claims you make, or your credibility will be ruined.

Final Thoughts

After your headline, your call to action is THE most important element on your web site. It should stand out from the rest of your copy and be easy for your visitors to find.

To test the effectiveness of your call to action, ask some friends to look over your homepage. How long does it take them to find your call to action? As a general rule, it shouldn't take people any longer than 3 seconds.

Don't forget, your call to action is what reflects the true purpose of your web site. If you make people an offer they can't refuse, your sales will really soar!