Are You Aware of These Vital Web Statistics and Fatal Mistakes Some 98% of All Business Make Online?

by Tom "Bald Dog" Varjan

Here are some valuable statistics on how smart companies are using the Internet to find and keep clients and customers.

Yes, I know you may be sceptical about statistics, and rightly so. As the saying goes statistics are like bikinis. They reveal the trivial and conceal the vital. So, while statistics are not everything, they are a good way to trigger our thinking that "maybe, maybe, maybe, there is a better way to do what we are doing."

So, it is for you to decide.

Also, remember that the web is the best automation tool out there. It deserves some serious focus.

Here Are Some Statistics to Consider

79% of money in any industry and target market is only available on or through the Internet.

93% of prospects say they go online to research their purchases.

63% say they turn to search engines first rather than go straight to the provider's main website.

72% of customers say they welcome offers in transactional messages.

Over 71% of visitors say personalisation would likely increase their response.

As much as 19% increase in sales can be achieved from a proper online newsletter, but over 89% of newsletters out there fail as client acquisition tools.

69% of business prospects turn to search engines as a first step.

Companies with more loyal customers reported a 12% rise in profits last year.

On the other hand, companies with more fickle buyers saw profitability drop by 12%.

What are these marketers doing to improve results each time out? The survey found that...

• 69% are trying to improve their segmentation strategies
• 57% say they're focused on developing better copy
• 57% are trying different cross- and up-sell strategies
• 49% say they're adjusting how often they send messages
• 41% are testing various forms of personalization

How often do businesses optimise their websites for higher traffic and visitor conversion?

• Weekly 12%
• Monthly 23%
• Quarterly 24%
• Semi-annually 12%
• Less often than every six months 29%

Some Fatal Website Development Mistakes

So why then do 98% of online businesses fail?

Because their owners started with and continued to follow the wrong process. Their process of building their sites was...

1. Creating a product/service
2. Hiring a graphics designer or a programmer to create site to sell a product/service
3. Adding payment and fulfilment solutions
4. Abdicating the success of the website to a webmaster (Usually a graphics artist or a programmer) who doesn't understand client acquisition...
5. Dying due to lack of converted traffic

Most online businesses fail because they skip several important steps. They prepare to sell and collect money, before they have provided what their visitors are searching for information. How disappointing! This type of result is completely avoidable.

An effective Theme-Based Content Site will be searched-and-found by prospective clients, a number that will increase steadily as your site gains in reputation and relevance at the search engines. Simply put, you will be building a site that works for you, not against you.

So how do you build a site that works? It all boils down to this do-able process...

1. Developing a valuable product or service
2. Developing your own (re-read: You are the webmaster) website in the niche that you know and love
3. Filling that site with high-value content
4. Using that content to attract your own niche-targeted traffic
5. Building trust and credibility with your visitors
6. Using content to PRE-sell your targeted visitors
7. Converting that PRE-sold, warm, willing-to-buy traffic into sales or contracts
8. Diversifying your revenue plan to include other options, all related to your site's theme-based content.

So, what is your theme? Hint: Stay away from the "We buy and sell houses" yawn.

The process is simple, straightforward and easy once you shift your thinking to...

Information first... income generation, second. PRE-selling first... Selling, second.

It is simple on the surface but there is a bit more to it. So, make sure your website is in the hands of a marketer not a designer or a programmer. And if you become that marketer, that is even better for you. You must have a full understanding of how you find and keep clients and customers.

And remember! Don't sell harder. Market smarter. Both you, your employees, your clients and prospects will find it more enjoyable, profitable and attractive.

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