I wrote this back a few months ago and was published in my company's newsletter. Thought I would share and get comments on it.
In the realm of the online world, Search Engine Optimization, links, promotions, and pay-per-click advertising are well-known means to drive visitors to your Web site. But, it's not about how much traffic you get, it's about how much you keep! What does one do to keep visitors? You get sticky!
What is sticky? Sticky is a term given to Web sites that entice visitors to return to their Web sites over extended periods of time. Important reasons to be sticky include that stickiness helps keep traffic, introduce new visitors, improve site visibility and can potentially create sales. Here are ten easy ways to help your Web site get sticky and remain a visitor favorite.
Teach It, Preach It and Keep It Fresh
Help your visitors learn something related to your product focus. Educating the consumer about your products helps to explain why you make or sell items the way you do. One of the best ways to stay informative and fresh is to blog. Blogging involves putting relevant, helpful information up on your site, and then allowing your visitors to interact with each other and your brand. The information you get from your users can be invaluable, and getting them to participate in your brand while feeling like they are being heard will pay dividends. These can be fun to do, because the format is freeing. But you have to update regularly or risk losing visitors.
However you do it, by posting helpful articles, blogging, or just changing your products and descriptions, keep it fresh! Your buyer won't keep coming back if it's the same material month after month.
Simple Is As Simple Does
Design your site with simple navigation. Keep the labels easy to read, the navigation in order on each page, and consistent throughout the site. If the user can't find it, they won't use it.
Make It Fun
Include design elements or Web site themes that stand out to potential buyers. Write content that is conversational and, if possible, entertaining.
Opinions Count
How do you know what your customers want if you can't hear them? Offer a way for customers to give you feedback on your products, site usability and design. Display user ratings on your products and services, good and bad, to establish trust.
Instant Pudding
Today the online customer wants to know everything about your products instantly. By using RSS feeds & video, you can easily inform your customer about multiple products and update your customer's information in a short period of time.
Show Your Badge
Create customer comfort with purchases on your site. What better way to do that than getting a secure Web site and displaying all of those nice little secure banners for your visitors to see?
Be Social
Allow products or pages to be bookmarked or saved. Use social bookmarking clients that allow users to remember your site and share it with others.
Extra Extra
Offer a newsletter with special online deals or offers. This also helps remind them that your site is still there and to visit again. Place this feature on a prominent area of the page.
If You Love them, then…
Let them roam. Provide user interaction with your site. Let users create profiles, add personal images, join a forum, join groups, or create their own personal space.
The King Lives
Content is king on the Web front, so create entertaining content that connects you to your visitors to draw them back again and again.
