One of the biggest improvements you can make to your website is to personalize it. After all, you want your visitors to feel like you're talking directly to them right!?
There are a few ways to do this but two stand out. They revolve around the content and the design.
What's one thing most successful websites have in common? You see your name on every page (often in the top right). While this is a good move, an even better move would be to see your name throughout the content!
Let's examine this further with these paragraphs. Imagine they're being read by a woman called Marcia.
Paragraph 1
Our next big sale is happening at the end of the month Marcia and you won't want to miss it! There's 40% off all items but be quick because they'll fly out the door.
Paragraph 2
Our next big sale is happening at the end of the month and you won't want to miss it! There's 40% off all items but be quick because they'll fly out the door.
Just one extra word and the entire tone of the content takes on a whole new flavor.
While Marcia may have been interested in the sale anyway, seeing her name in amongst the copy makes her feel like the message has been written especially for her. And that's what you want. Visitors on your website feeling like you're talking to them, not at them.
You can see how I've implemented this at my own site by visiting http://stevs.net. The content reads well whether you choose to personalize it or not, but as I want to talk to you, not at you you should notice the difference if you enter your name at the outset.
That's one strategy. The second way to personalize your site is to simply offer a few different color schemes. A day/night option. A seasonal option. There are all sorts of possibilities here.
When the visitor selects a scheme the entire site is transformed. For them it becomes a better user experience. And that moves them one step closer to becoming a returning visitor and a customer.
Both of these strategies aren't too hard to implement, depending on your site of course and it's something worth exploring. Feel free to get in touch if you'd like me to provide some more insights and information.
After all, nothing beats the Marcia's of the world rushing back to see what goodies you have in store for her. Because Marcia then tells Heather, Heather tells Simone, Simone tells her friends and when they all visit your site, they feel like they're the only one there.
Now that's service!