The first impression you make can often be the most impactful. This is true whether you're at a high-end Hollywood party or navigating a less-than-desirable neighborhood. The way you present yourself, and the image you project, can significantly influence how others perceive and interact with you. This principle also applies to your website. The initial visual impact it makes on a visitor can determine whether they stay and explore or leave without a second thought.
Imagine you're at a lavish Hollywood party, with hundreds of guests mingling on a sprawling five-acre estate. You're introduced to a man named Jeffery, who is impeccably dressed in an Armani suit and Gucci shoes. His firm handshake, gracious smile, and attentive demeanor make a strong impression. He offers you his business card and proposes a peculiar deal: he'll give you a hundred-dollar bill for just ten dollars. Intrigued, you accept, and he promises to call you the next day.
Now, picture a different scenario. You're in a part of town you'd rather not be in, and it's getting darker by the minute. An unkempt old man, reeking and dressed in tattered clothes, blocks your path. He offers you the same deal as Jeffery: a hundred-dollar bill for ten dollars. But this time, you sidestep him and continue on your way.
The old man might have been offering a genuine bill, just as Jeffery was. But the image each man projected influenced your response. Most people would be more willing to take a risk with someone who appears successful and trustworthy, like Jeffery, than with someone who appears destitute and potentially untrustworthy, like the old man. This isn't a matter of right or wrong; it's simply human nature.
When you're trying to close a big sale, you want to ensure you're well-groomed and appropriately dressed. You want to project an image of success and wealth, even if your wallet is empty. This is because the person you're trying to persuade is more likely to buy into your deal if they perceive you as successful and trustworthy.
The same principle applies to your website. Its overall visual impact sets the initial bias in a visitor's mind. If your website doesn't immediately capture their interest, they're likely to leave without exploring further. This means they won't get to see the fantastic offer you have for them.
In other words, for your website, image really is everything. The first impression it makes on a visitor can determine whether they stay long enough to see what you have to offer. So, make sure your website is dressed to impress, just like Jeffery at the Hollywood party.
Never, Ever Release Any Of Your Rights To Anyone
One of the grandest scams on the Web, which goes largelyunnoticed, is for a web-based bookseller or publisher to requiresome rights to your work in exchange for the service to beprovided. Many demand the electronic rights, for example.
How Well Do You Know Your Perfect Customer?
Your Perfect Customer is real only in your mind. He or sheis the one individual most representative of your target. Theone to whom you always speak one-on-one in your newsletter andon your site.
Does Search Engine Traffic Matter?
The short answer is, "Sure." And it likely always will.But the amount of free traffic search engines now deliver tomany small online businesses doesn't amount to much. And whatthere is of it continues to decline in importance. Pay-for-submission models are rapidly eliminating free options.
