The Art of Selling Online

The Art of Selling Online
by Joan Sotkin

Do you have the sales skills you need to effectively sell your product(s) or service(s) on the Net? As with any business venture, if you don't know how to close a sale, you're not going to generate much income.

The selling process starts with your Website, which is, in effect, a sales presentation. Who wrote the copy for your Website? If you did, do you know how to write effective direct response copy? (Copy that elicits a specific response, such as placing an order, from your prospect.) Or, if your Website designer prepared the copy, does he/she have good sales presentation skills?

The fact is, a large number of Websites owned by small businesses and professional practitioners have weak sales presentations. They are missing two basic elements, which we will talk about here:
1) benefits-oriented copy and 2) a strong call to action.

>>>Benefits, Benefits, Benefits<<< http://www.landsend.com/. The home page is filled with calls to action and benefits. The product descriptions are artful -- very dynamic and enticing.

>>>What's Your Call to Action?<<< mailto:information@yourdomain.com. (link) "

If you are selling a product and you have a shopping cart, be sure something says, "Add to Cart"
If you don't use a cart, I suggest a link that says, "For ordering options, click here" or "Find out how to order our widgit now!" (This would be a link.)

The page with ordering options should clearly state how people can order your product. Language should be clear and direct. Don't say, "Please fill out our order form." Instead, say "Use our secure order form."
Make this a link to your form.

At the end of every page on your site, have a call-to-action -- and make it something more than "Contact Us." If I don't have anything else, I'll use a click-Go link box that says "Choose a Location." On the selection list will be often be an action such as "Ask a Question" or "Order Now."

>>>Exercise:<<< http://www.yourdomain.com
Subscribe to our newsletter
Get free information
Find out how you can benefit from
Most e-mail programs let you have at least one standard signature.

Best of luck