Making Money Online.

Feb 16
08:13

2009

Michelle Dale

Michelle Dale

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If you are starting a website, and pursuing a business where a great deal of your income could come from lead generation and general traffic, then there are several decisions you could make to develop your website - creating a truly profitable business. What are the tools you'll need to be able to convert that all important traffic into potential income?

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If you are creating a website,Making Money Online. Articles and pursuing a business where quite a bit of your income could be generated by lead generation and general traffic, then there are specific decisions that you could take to develop your website further - creating an extremely profitable business.

What are the tools you'll need to be able to change that all important traffic into actual income?

Whether you are starting out online, or even if you already have a website in place, it's never too soon or too late to put your strategy in place and start turning your website into a beehive of activity. The various key areas you will need to focus on are simple, and with a little time - and the right tools, you'll start to generate the desired outcome.

Here are my 5 most vital steps for creating the perfect foundation for your online business.

1. A Website.

This is the foundation of the business. It is absolutely vital that you get this right. Your website will suggest to your traffic the quality and excellence of your product or service. You never get a second chance to make a first impression. Think of your website in terms of surroundings. You wouldn't necessarily want to sit for a while in car park, however if you were walking through a park with trees and pleasant surroundings, you're more likely to stay a while. Your website is the same, and with the competitive nature of the internet, certainly seeking advice on style, colour and branding is vital for creating the perfect environment for your potential customers or clients. No matter what you are building, from a website advertising your services, to an affiliate portal, an eCommerce shopping cart site or a place to administer memberships or subscriptions, the same rules apply.

2. Clear, Concise well thought out Content.

Once your audience is sitting comfortably, they will need content, something of interest. Your website content is not just about words, as the text can contain several SEO factors which you may not have considered, for example, Flesch readability scores. You may understand your website, but have you thought about whether or not other people do? Does your content contain key words and search phrases? Have you considered your 'behind the scenes' Meta Data carefully? Have you compared your website and your business with your primary competitors? Seeking assistance in acquiring this data can be extremely valuable in terms of knowing what you need to do - content wise, to succeed.

3. SEO and a Fresh Flow of Information.

What happens to a place of business on an empty road? It just stands there empty, although on occasion, by some chance, a few drivers find themselves lost and wander in as temporary visitors. You need to make sure that your website is not that location. You need to have a consistent flow of traffic and several good reasons for the search engines to put your website further up in the rankings. A vital part of your website is a fresh flow of content. Whether this is in the form of a Blog, a Forum, News Announcements and Updates, Regular Special Offers or Articles - there should be new information coming in as often as possible.

4. Lead Capture, Email Marketing and CRM.

It's not what your customers can do for you, but what you can do for your customers. Adding a subscription box to your website will begin a relationship between you and your visitors. Once they have given you their email address - and their name, they are inviting you to tell them more about your business and your services. They would like to hear from you. Use this to your advantage. By managing your contacts with an exceptional CRM and Email Marketing System, you will have the privilege of additional time to concentrate on building the relationship between yourself and your valued visitors.

5. Marketing.

Once you have built your website into a solid foundation for your online business, get creative with your online marketing. Article marketing, networking, blogging, digital media, press releases, and reciprocal links, along with contributing to targeted websites, groups and communities are all ways of promoting your website.

So what is this extraordinary method?

Pulling all these pieces together with little or no knowledge can be very difficult, and even if you're sure you're taking the right course of action, using various DIY options usually results in a great deal of time and money wasted, as the end product is rarely satisfactory.

To make sure you are using the right tools for the job, consider hiring an expert Virtual Assistant to help you with bringing these elements together. Work out an in depth plan with your VA so that you can have a step by step - tailor made plan. Take time to talk with your VA and explain your situation in detail, so that you and your new team can stay focused, moving as efficiently as possible towards the acquisition of your goals.

The most important step is to remember - never give up, as building a business takes time, just stay focused on the primary goal and your efforts will eventually pay off.