Building Consumer Confidence Builds Sales

Many small online business owners have yet to understand the sheer power that comes from building consumer confidence. They struggle with sales month after month, but still, when someone tells them their site design needs help, they get offended. "I spent a lot of time building my own site!" is the reply.

Here's my reply... "So what?"

It doesn't matter who designed your Web site. If it isn't cutting it, then it's time to move on.

On the Web, we have about seven seconds to accomplish ALL of the following:

1) Relay the message "Rest Easy" instead of "Get Out of Here NOW!"
2) Build consumer confidence through words and images.
3) Gain the attention of the visitor.
4) Make a lasting impression.

That's a lot to ask from a site. But professional Web designers have the skills and talent to deliver.

How do you know if your site design is the cause of your suffering? How do you know if your visitors are rolling their eyes instead of smiling? Ask!

ACTION STEP 1
Ask questions

Is the quality of your Web site design as good or better than your competition? Visit your competitors' sites and see for yourself. If they are portraying a more confident image than you, chances are good that you need a redesign.

What do your visitors think? Conduct a survey and find out. You can use a simple and free tool found at http://www.surveymonkey.com to set up a survey. Post a link to the survey on your home page so your visitors can offer their opinions.

ACTION STEP 2
Be honest with yourself

Whether you designed your own site or your cousin's 16-year-old nephew did it, you have to dump your pride and focus on your site design from a business prospective.

Don't shrug off what others tell you about your site design. Taking offense will only hinder your business growth and cause you to maintain an image that discourages consumer confidence in you and your business.

When you get honest feedback about your site design, be honest with yourself and look at the information logically instead of emotionally.

ACTION STEP 3
Take action!

If you find that you do need a site redesign, don't pout. Take action! Start reviewing Web site designers' sites. Contact a few designers and ask for quotes on your project.

If you have the skills to follow someone else's work, you can save money by having the designer create one page. You can then set up the remainder of the site yourself.

Ignoring the fact that your site design is causing a decrease in sales is simply not smart business. Taking measures now to change your online image is the first step to impressing your visitors and boosting your cash flow in the years to come.

Copyright 2005 Diane Hughes

Diane C. Hughes * ProBizTips.com

FREE Report: Amazingly Simple (Yet Super Powerful) Ways To Skyrocket Your Sales And Build Your Business Into A Tower of Profits! ==>> http://madmarketer.com/diane

In The News:

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/Extra-Cash-Holidays-Anytime-With/story.aspx%3Fguid%3D%257B1A073D42-6DC3-45F6-BD71-7DC25C63DC4B%257Dcid=1276911817ei=Aa81SfeEOaqi9gSN64Efusg=AFQjCNGtJI-iRnSDyG8-anYb2V9KlJ7QEgExtra Cash for the Holidays or Anytime With the Launch of Diamonds b.../b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fMarketWatchnbsp;-/font nobr5 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1Bayshore Solutions integrates technology and bInternet marketing/b services to ensure measurable results for clients. For more information about Web site b.../b/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.tmcnet.com/usubmit/-businesses-thrive-amidst-recession-thanks-live-help-/2008/12/02/3827313.htmcid=1276911817ei=Aa81SfeEOaqi9gSN64Efusg=AFQjCNF4jHk_DfESamYBDd8kY8feR16WrQBusinesses Thrive Amidst a Recession Thanks to Live Help/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrTMCnet/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.ibtimes.com/prnews/20081202/bayshore-solutions.htmcid=1276911817ei=Aa81SfeEOaqi9gSN64Efusg=AFQjCNELZwJpGXjC3N6PHgzyxBdaIMH7PQExtra Cash for the Holidays or Anytime With the Launch of Diamonds b.../b/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrInternational Business Times/nobr/font/fontbrfont class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news?sourceid=navclientie=ISO-8859-1rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-22,GGLG:enncl=1276911817hl=ennobrall 11 news articles/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.themoneytimes.com/articles/20081202/cyber_monday_astonishes_shoppers_with_luring_deals-id-1043265.htmlcid=1273809014ei=Aa81SfeEOaqi9gSN64Efusg=AFQjCNE_oMZlFXlhISWIuwugcBXaniRTigimg src=http://news.google.com/news?imgefp=eR0YfWOpdNMJimgurl=www.themoneytimes.com/filess/cyber-monday.jpg width=80 height=41 alt= border=1brfont size=-2The Money Times/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/Consumers-Benefit-a-Frenzy-Around/story.aspx%3Fguid%3D%257B3EA6E82C-6D99-450C-B19E-D86692E11361%257Dcid=1273809014ei=Aa81SfeEOaqi9gSN64Efusg=AFQjCNHAHTU4nhaNUJHaEcPS20xgx6oTkQConsumers Benefit from a Frenzy of Around-the-Clock Online Shopping/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fMarketWatchnbsp;-/font nobr21 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1Additionally, Bath and Body Works added social networking to their bmarketing/b efforts by offering their first online friends and family promotion. b.../b/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3D-0iz1s7QEc4cid=1273809014ei=Aa81SfeEOaqi9gSN64Efusg=AFQjCNFMoR05LKH7X-vyxQbO9aMNKLMQ6wVideo: Online Retailers See Monday As Black Friday/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrAssociatedPress/nobr/fontobject width=448 height=356param name=movie value=http://www.youtube.com/v/-0iz1s7QEc4/paramparam name=wmode value=transparent/paramembed src=http://www.youtube.com/v/-0iz1s7QEc4type=application/x-shockwave-flashwmode=transparentwidth=448height=356/embed/objectbr/fontfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122817819658170827.html%3Fmod%3Dgooglenews_wsjcid=1273809014ei=Aa81SfeEOaqi9gSN64Efusg=AFQjCNHAo7KaC8dCzXpVWlV-B4rDx1f6yQOnline Retailers Dangle Free Shipping, Discounts/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrWall Street Journal/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.ajc.com/services/content/printedition/2008/12/02/cybermonday.htmlcid=1273809014ei=Aa81SfeEOaqi9gSN64Efusg=AFQjCNFv3sTgVB7wY_qyfxvbGAp4AS-ffwbINTERNET/b SHOPPING: ‘Cyber Monday’ drives seasonal employment/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrAtlanta Journal Constitution/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1 class=pa href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,1862938,00.html%3Fimw%3DYcid=1273809014ei=Aa81SfeEOaqi9gSN64Efusg=AFQjCNG1JjVauryZGERKKGCOQcNh2Asb4AnobrTIME/nobr/anbsp;- a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_11115641cid=1273809014ei=Aa81SfeEOaqi9gSN64Efusg=AFQjCNHESx9F3r5Ehy5QVTQmxjKZi999nQnobrSan Jose Mercury News/nobr/a/fontbr/font class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news?sourceid=navclientie=ISO-8859-1rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-22,GGLG:enncl=1273809014hl=ennobrall 1,467 news articles/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.prweb.com/releases/SEO/Blogini/prweb1672954.htmcid=1276806463ei=Aa81SfeEOaqi9gSN64Efusg=AFQjCNEoa5U7Wlv5rDLflOhNgKGNGdHMQASocial Networking Site Helps Effectively and Easily Build Blogs b.../b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fPR Web (press release),nbsp;WAnbsp;-/font nobr13 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1bInternet marketing/b through blogs has spread gradually over the years. The relaunch of professional blog hosting and social networking site for binternet/b b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.clickthrough-marketing.com/PPC-internet-marketing-growth-due-to-reliability,-says-eMarketer/18907861/cid=1276662413ei=Aa81SfeEOaqi9gSN64Efusg=AFQjCNFBwlpmuf4i8ev5wuDxKVPSz9cUvQimg src=http://news.google.com/news?imgefp=d0Wh4iVfSh0Jimgurl=www.clickthrough-marketing.com/clicknews/ai/Laptop_920_18907861_0_0_6000056_300.jpg width=80 height=80 alt= border=1brfont size=-2Internet Marketing News/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.clickthrough-marketing.com/PPC-internet-marketing-growth-due-to-reliability,-says-eMarketer/18907861/cid=1276662413ei=Aa81SfeEOaqi9gSN64Efusg=AFQjCNFBwlpmuf4i8ev5wuDxKVPSz9cUvQPPC binternet marketing/b growth due to reliability, says eMarketer/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fInternet Marketing News,nbsp;UKnbsp;-/font nobr3 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1b.../b advertising in the first half the year, up 28 per cent compared with the same period in 2007, according to figures from the bInternet/b Advertising Bureau./fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://blogs.reuters.com/mediafile/2008/12/01/online-ad-spending-outlook-lowered-by-13-billion/cid=1276662413ei=Aa81SfeEOaqi9gSN64Efusg=AFQjCNGH43ogyIY3d6tFdkVaonaZu1-PYAOnline ad spending outlook lowered by $1.3 billion/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrReuters/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.btobonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article%3FAID%3D/20081202/FREE/812029995/1078cid=1276662413ei=Aa81SfeEOaqi9gSN64Efusg=AFQjCNFQyxJsqNKcV4G87yLWg_5ywxLI2gEMarketer lowers online ad spending productions/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrBtoB Magazine/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.digitalresponsemedia.com/news-3-search-engine-marketing-news/lower-online-ad-forecast-sees-ppc-still-showing-high-gr-465.aspxcid=1276662413ei=Aa81SfeEOaqi9gSN64Efusg=AFQjCNGW84OWOXZXNEbYAI-oW4wD3lgbDQLower online ad forecast sees PPC still showing high growth/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrDigital Response Media/nobr/font/fontbrfont class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news?sourceid=navclientie=ISO-8859-1rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-22,GGLG:enncl=1276662413hl=ennobrall 7 news articles/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.prweb.com/releases/2008/12/prweb1685654.htmcid=1276807735ei=Aa81SfeEOaqi9gSN64Efusg=AFQjCNH7MVuWBWhUtzkijNCZdpCAhTUcIgDental bMarketing/b Firm Goes Green/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fPR Web (press release),nbsp;WAnbsp;-/font nobr13 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1The Dental bInternet marketing/b firm also plans to support clean energy by donating some of its profit to this cause. If you would like to learn more about b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.addpr.com/articles/seminars_and_training/18317.htmlcid=0ei=Aa81SfeEOaqi9gSN64Efusg=AFQjCNHQOZ_q6vQnE4mMaMxFQE1uX4Z48AOnline Training bMarketing/b Services Announced by FindOnlineTraining.com/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fAddPR.com (press release),nbsp;TXnbsp;-/font nobr5 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1b.../b related websites and domain names owned and operated by Allied bInternet/b Solutions Inc. a Houston Texas based bInternet marketing/b and consulting firm./font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.businessfeet.com/internet-marketing-news/items/overlaying-the-future-of-internet-marketing-1228226460.htmlcid=1276904316ei=Aa81SfeEOaqi9gSN64Efusg=AFQjCNGdNr1U9bs8elRoswEU2iBP68bBTAOverlaying the future of binternet marketing/b?/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fBusiness Feet,nbsp;UKnbsp;-/font nobr5 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1Overlaying video with adverts might just be the future of binternet marketing/b - as well as finally generating some revenue for YouTube. b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/Online-Marketing-Veteran-Doug-Broujos/story.aspx%3Fguid%3D%257BE2D47090-C970-4CB8-998E-374D5608E8A3%257Dcid=1274361811ei=Aa81SfeEOaqi9gSN64Efusg=AFQjCNGYHpPge__vIsjyF2AZfuyTLYJXFgOnline bMarketing/b Veteran Doug Broujos Joins Blue Sky Factory as COO/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fMarketWatchnbsp;-/font nobrNov 25, 2008/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1Previously, Broujos served as senior vice president of client services at TIG Global, a hospitality-focused bInternet marketing/b company, where he led client b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/clickbooq-RedCart-Team-Up-Give/story.aspx%3Fguid%3D%257B32F92F93-A0D3-4951-AD8A-B0715BE01882%257Dcid=1276873882ei=Aa81SfeEOaqi9gSN64Efusg=AFQjCNFo-oDdaM41H6VF2a2ZiB17RVjHkgclickbooq and RedCart Team Up to Give Professional Photographers b.../b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fMarketWatchnbsp;-/font nobr7 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1b.../b their business with flexible and easy to use ecommerce solutions. Media Contact Jennifer Wu bMarketing/b Manager clickbooq, inc. (310) 264-0099 Email Contact./font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.creativematch.co.uk/viewNews/%3F96600cid=0ei=Aa81SfeEOaqi9gSN64Efusg=AFQjCNFidNo-_M5R04r7klGz_OhtjUh_Ogimg src=http://news.google.com/news?imgefp=SMhqkWBE_iYJimgurl=www.creativematch.co.uk/newsfiles/bg-welcome-box-inner-2.jpg width=80 height=37 alt= border=1brfont size=-2Creativematch/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.creativematch.co.uk/viewNews/%3F96600cid=0ei=Aa81SfeEOaqi9gSN64Efusg=AFQjCNFidNo-_M5R04r7klGz_OhtjUh_OgA third way of bInternet Marketing/b has been launched/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fCreativematch,nbsp;UKnbsp;-/font nobr11 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1After intensive and very successful beta-testing, a “third way” of bInternet Marketing/b has just been launched at E-Commerce Expo by Strategy bInternet/b b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
internet marketing - Google News

Beginner?s Guide To Free For All Sites (FFAs)

For those of you who don't know what an FFA... Read More

Niche Marketing - How to Find Your Perfect Niche Market

If you don't find a niche market for the product... Read More

Offline Marketing for Online Home Based Businesses

When it comes to marketing your web site, most home... Read More

The 9 WORST Internet Marketing Mistakes

Have you ever wondered how can you possibly figure out... Read More

You Gotta Think -- Strategic Internet Marketing!

Have you ever been lost in the woods - wondering... Read More

Highly Recommended Pre-Fab Marketing Business

Unfortunately most 'ready-made' business sites don't seem to be very... Read More

Think Your Way to the Gold Online!

If you have ever wanted to know HOW the Internet... Read More

Online Business Mistakes

Everybody makes mistakes, but nobody likes to talk about them.... Read More

A Powerful Selling Tool on the Net - 3 Factors To Apply

The Internet is a powerful selling tool. Never before has... Read More

Internet Marketing Requires Lots of Patience!

When you first make a decision to start an Internet... Read More

Marketing Maxims for Todays Challenging Times

These are turbulent times for all businesses - necessitating streamlined... Read More

See Abundance In Your Prospects

I was privileged to have a good friend and great... Read More

Joint Ventures - How They Can Benefit Your Business

Joint ventures are partnerships in which two or more businesses... Read More

Traditional Mediums versus Search Engine Positioning

Banner Advertising:Paying $15 for a 1000 impressions on a high... Read More

Website Sales: 10 Riveting Tactics To Nail Down Instant Sales

If you learn these website sales riveting tactics, you'll be... Read More

10 Ways To Make Your Sales Soaring

1. Maximize the effectiveness of your banner ads. Don't just... Read More

Tracking & Troubleshooting for Increased Sales

So many times, online business owners are confused about where... Read More

20 Amazing Ways To Jump Start Your Sales

1. Find a strategic business partner. Look for ones that... Read More

Big Advertising Mistake - Dont Do This and It Will Save Your Advertising Budget!

Advertising plays an important role in your business (every business,... Read More

Boost Your Sales Copy With One Simple Tweak

Do you want an amazingly simple trick to move far... Read More

Guru... Schmooru... So What! The Internet Gurus Unmasked

The word "guru", in the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, is defined as:1.... Read More

How To Increase Your Profits By 40% Or More With No Extra Work!

Before I expand on the above heading, I do have... Read More

The Numbers Dont Lie!

It's true. They don't.That's why you should look at the... Read More

How Knowing Your Customer via Direct Marketing Helps Your Online Business to Prosper

What is direct marketing? Put simply, direct marketing is a... Read More

How To Get Qualified Visitors to Your Site

Having an eBusiness isn't just about getting gobs of people... Read More