Bob's Home Business Blog

One of the most vital areas of your home based business website is your long form sales page. Although many Internet marketers are turning to video as a way to close their sales the sales page still remains one of the most effective techniques for sealing the deal. Although many entrepreneurs online believe that the long sales letter is a turn-off for many potential customers it remains the most successful Internet marketing technique for converting your visitors into paying customers.

However, for your sales page to accomplish a higher than average conversion rate it must contain, at the very least, these five key sections:

1. Testimonials from your satisfied customers are a must. People need proof from your clients who have used your product that it accomplishes what it says it does before they even consider purchasing your merchandise. You can provide this evidence by adding either written or video testaments from happy clients with their names included to add to the credibility of their remarks.

Some Internet marketers believe video tributes from your patrons are more effective at swaying your potential customers because you can actually see the person deliver his or her opinion about your product. On the other hand a text version of their testimonial with a picture and name included has proven to be just as successful. So whatever method you chose the important point is that you include these testaments on your sales page.

2. Along with the verbal or text evidence provided by your satisfied customers you should also include actual visual proof that your product works as claimed in your sales pitch. For example, if your home business theme is Internet marketing and your product is a software package which drives targeted traffic to your customer’s websites then you could demonstrate it’s viability by using a before and after technique.

You could have one of your client’s display their monthly traffic statistics before using your product and then show the results after having used your software for a month and also by showing the results over a more extended period of time. By employing verbal and or text references along with actually demonstrating your product in action you are reinforcing within your visitors the actual validity of your statements and thereby establishing a trusting relationship with your guests.

3. Be sure to include a bonus section on your page. People love to get stuff for nothing and by providing valuable gifts in exchange for their business your newly created clients believe they are getting a bargain or an offer they can’t refuse. The key here is to make these freebies important and relative to your current offer and to the needs of your potential customers. Bonus offers are very effective because people feel the need to do something nice for you in return for your generosity such as buying your product.

4. Money back guarantees are critical because people don’t feel the sense of loss of their money when they know they can always ask for a refund within a certain period of time. By including this pledge on your sales page you’re taking away any risk from your guests by purchasing your merchandise and squarely placing it on your own shoulders as the home business owner. This helps make the buying decision a little easier for your visitors especially if they believe they can’t afford the cash outlay at the moment. It also gives them a sense of confidence that they’ve made the right decision by buying.

5. Try to instill a sense of urgency within your potential customers. You can accomplish this in several ways such as including a limited time offer phrase in your sales text. Word your statement in such a way as to relate to them that if they don’t take advantage of your offer now they may lose out and never receive the same deal again.

You can also add a counter on your web page counting the number of items left in stock before you’re sold out. Or you can have a clock showing the time left before your offer is taken down, never to be made available again. Another tactic is to explain the price will be increasing substantially the following day so they must act now to receive the discounted pricing.

By adding all 5 five of these strategies within different sections of your sales page you’ll greatly increase the odds of boosting your sales and profits for your online home based business.           

Bob Withers

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Once you have your home business website set up and have decided on your product or products to advertise, whether they are your own or those of an affiliate program, your next step will be to construct a sales letter to place on your website to promote your merchandise. Writing effective sales letters is not as scary as some people make it out to be. In order to be successful with Internet or affiliate marketing a well written and persuasive sales letter is a must.

The first step to writing good sales copy is to keep in mind people are always looking for solutions to their problems. Your potential customers are looking for information and a “how to” approach on your part to writing your copy will attract visitors to your home business site who want answers now. And your sales letter must reflect this attitude.

The second thing to remember is people usually respond faster to an offer or to the information they need if you convey a sense of urgency in your letter. You must convince them their situation will be much better if they purchase now rather than later. The longer a person waits to make a buying decision the more likely you are to lose a sale and a paying customer.

There are several approaches you can take to persuade your potential client to buy now. You can put a time limit on the offer and tell them that this particular offer is only available for a short period of time and if they miss out it won’t be made available again. You can also offer a discount if they purchase immediately and if they wait they will have to pay the full price. You can also offer a free gift which is only available for this particular visit and if they leave your home business page without buying they will loose out on the incentive. Placing a clock on your sales page which is counting down the time toward the end of this offer which will never be made available again can also be very effective.

The next message you must get across through your letter is that your an expert on this particular topic. If your visitors perceive you as an authority figure then this will help build trust between you and your potential client. If people see you in this light and feel they can trust you then the more likely they are to do business with you. You can achieve this by including recommendations from current customers, and the higher the profile of your clients the more persuasive will be their opinions.

You must also demonstrate in your message what your product can offer that sets you apart from the competition. Show your visitors why they shouldn’t have to look anywhere else. Tell them why no one can compare with what you’re offering. Again you can attain this by employing one of several different approaches. Explain that your price is the lowest in the industry or offer several incentives or free gifts to help make up their minds. You can also prove that your product’s quality is unmatched by the competition.

Last but certainly not least, your sales letter must grab and hold your visitors attention. This can be achieved by telling a story. Most successful Internet marketers have a history or an interesting story from their past which they wrap the sales copy around. Everyone enjoys a good story. An attention grabbing headline is also a must. Try to include a benefit for your potential customers. Explain what’s in it for them. Make your message look good. An attractive letter will get and keep their attention. Also avoid using flowery language or jargon. This approach tends to turn people off.

These six steps to writing successful sales letters should help drive traffic and sales to your home business website.  

Bob Withers