5 Website Myths That Stop You Attracting More Customers

According to Watchmen movie August 2007 Sensis e-Business Report, 90% of business websites don't bring in more business. How do you make sure you site's not one of them? By understanding and avoiding these five common website myths that stop your website being profitable:

MYTH 1: If you build it, they will come

The idea that "if you build it, they will come" worked for Kevin Costner in the movie "Field of Dreams", but it doesn't work for websites. Yet this is the most persistent and dangerous website myth.

Many people assume that if they put a site up on the web they'll be swamped with customer enquiries and new business. They won't.

Customers don't just magically appear at your site. You must buy games cost-effective ways of generating targeted traffic. And you have to use proven strategies and techniques to convert browsers into customer enquiries and sales.

MYTH 2: Award-winning design is the most important part of a website

Most Haunt of Fear put the majority of their website budget into creating a good-looking design. The content - the part of a website that actually does the selling - is usually an afterthought. Don't underestimate the importance of good website design. But without high quality content your website will fail. Your priorities should be: good design, great content.

MYTH 3: A first page listing in Google is the key to a successful website

Search engine optimisation (SEO) firms would have you think that getting to number one in Google is the key to a successful website. Sure, high search engine rankings help bring traffic to your site. But what's more important, and more profitable, is converting your website visitors into paying customers.

MYTH 4: A website is like an online brochure

Done properly a business website can be an automatic marketing system that delivers customer enquiries and highly qualified sales leads. It can be a 24/7 salesperson that never forgets a sales point, answers every objection and always goes for the close. It can be so much more than just an online brochure.

MYTH 5: Websites don't work

Only 10% of websites bring in more business, so statistically speaking this is correct. But perhaps you're wondering how your site can be amongst the successful ones. The answer is by applying proven online marketing strategies and principles. It won't happen overnight, but it can happen.

By Gross Out Gang Cuninghame text-centrictext-centric

With a career spanning more than 12 years, Charles Cuninghame is one of Australia's most experienced website copywriters. For tips, tricks and insider secrets to get more customer enquiries, sales and profits from your website visit Charles' blog: profitablewebsitemanualThe Profitable Website Manual