You still buy stuff in real brick and mortar stores, right? <grin>
Have you noticed a trend with the people who work there?
I sure have.
I was in a local shopping center and walked into a Music and Video store there, looking for a gift for a friend. And it's almost like they had just watched the old "Duck and Cover" movies from when I went to elementary school 35 years ago…
Except that it seemed as though *I* was the approaching bomb.
Because as I walked down the aisle, they'd scurry to the side, put their head down, and look busy.
I didn't immediately find what I wanted, but didn't really feel very welcome there, so out the door I went.
A trip to my local upscale mall a few days later gave me a very different experience.
As I walked into the stores, someone there almost always happily greeted me with a "May I Help You?" And if they weren't right there at the door, I knew they were close by, shooting me an occasional glance and a smile, ready to help if they sensed any questions brewing.
Do either of these stories seem familiar to you?
Now, let's forget about offline. Let's go online.
In fact, let's go to YOUR website.
Which story does your website tell?
If your site is like most, your site turns a cold shoulder to anyone who doesn't know exactly what they want, and offers no help to those who show up, except maybe an FAQ page or a support@ email address that will never get answered.
Beyond just getting questions answered, TRUST is a big part of online sales. You've got people coming to your site who have never heard of you. You're telling them "Buy! Buy! Buy!" and ignoring them when they ask "What?" or "Why?"
One of the most powerful things you can do to create more trust online is to show your visitors that you are there to answer their questions — whether they have one right now or not.
When you make it clear that you're there for them now, they're more likely to assume that you'll be there for them later, after they buy (and you'd better be)!
So how do you do that online? How do you say to someone "I’m here. How can I help you?"
You do that with an online application — like Live Person — a system that gives you a big "May I help you" button on your website, and allows someone to immediately click and chat with you.
It's a great way to find out what your customers need to know, answers to add to your website, and to close more sales.
In fact, I've tested live chat systems on my site and have found that it usually increases conversions by about 15%.
I would recommend Live Person to you, except that I think there's a better solution. In the Version 3 of the Landing Page Cash Machine, I talk quite a bit about a live chat service that can save you about $1,008 off of what Live Person would cost you for a year.
I'll also show you the best place to put your own chat link on your site (yes, it matters) and how you can use the same service on ALL your sites, for no additional fee.
The new Landing Page Cash Machine is about to be released in just a few days, and it's got lots of other high-converting, sales-maximizing tips, tricks and advice in there for you, too.
In an email the other day, a reader asked me if she could upgrade to the new Landing Page Cash Machine from her old one. The answer is YES. Although the retail price of the book is going up, if you've already got the book, you can upgrade for a fraction.
And if you don't have the Landing Page Cash Machine yet, you'll have a chance to get the new version at the old price.
Stay tuned for more info.
To Your Success,
–Mark Widawer