The most important elements of your website

Hi Peter, Thinking of creating your own website? You don't need to be an expert to build an effective sales website, but you DO need to understand some of the most important elements of a successful site. The first fold (the part that's visible without scrolling) is literally the most valuable real estate on your website. This is the screen that your visitors absorb during the first few seconds of their visit and use to make their "should I stay or should I go" decision. The first fold of your website needs to be strategically designed so that it clearly communicates the biggest, most compelling benefit you have to offer your visitors. Here are the key elements you must include in the first fold of your homepage... 1. The headline The very first thing that should draw the eyes of your visitors when they arrive at your website is a headline that clearly states the biggest benefit your site has to offer. Graphics, logos, illustrations, menus, links, and other elements should never overpower or distract from this critical element. Your headline should be located at the very top center of the page in a larger font size that naturally attracts attention. It should communicate information about what you offer and how you're going to: Make visitors' lives easier Save them money Save them time Help them in their personal lives Provide additional income Entertain them Make them more attractive Help them feel better Etc. Plus, it should be visually appealing. For your headline to be most effective, your visitors must be able to absorb the benefits it shares in a glance. So you not only need to write a great headline, you need to strategically format it! Use bolding, italics, and highlighting to tastefully emphasize key points. And watch where your lines break. 2. The opt-in offer Given that so many of your first-time visitors will leave your site without buying anything, it is crucial that you ask for their names and email addresses as soon as possible. If you bury your opt-in offer on a second page, you'll lose potential subscribers who don't make it that far into your site. Check out Module 5 to discover how to create a compelling opt-in offer. 3. The navigation Visitors should be able to see your main navigation as soon as the page loads. If they have to scroll or search for it, you'll lose the majority of your visitors. 4. Call to action Don't leave it to your navigation to direct the visitor; after all, they'll only click on a link if it is what they're looking for. You must give your visitors a strong call to action and tell them what you want them to do. Let's say you sell a stress-relief product. Your copy might say something like: "After doing extensive research and testing, I found a set of really fabulous relaxation tapes that solved my recurring migraine problems, improved my sleep, and increased my energy levels -- in just a few days! Click here now to learn how they can soothe your troubles away and lead to a healthier, happier life." For a site selling multiple products, a link that says "products" is far less compelling than a link like this: "Click here now to find the best tool for the job." For a service business, a link that says "About Us" is informative, but doesn't give the reader a good reason why they should care. A call to action like "Click here now to discover why over 20,000 business owners trust us" will be much more effective! Focus on these four critical elements while building your website, and you'll have a site that will turn the highest percentage of your visitors into buyers. To your success, The Internet Marketing Center Team -- The Internet Marketing Center 380-2925 Virtual Way Vancouver BC V5M 4X5 Canada

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