Web Design..... with Personality!
There are primary reasons that people will buy any product.
Anyone that has ever been involved in sales of any kind (or
has ever bought anything) knows that people respond to a couple
of basic things. Probably the best thought I've ever heard on
this subject is "people buy on emotion and justify it with
logic".
There are not many products which invoke zero emotional response
in people. So why is it that in the online world webmasters
rely so little on this very key element of humanity? If you
want to boost your sales/subscribers/leads etc, all you need
to learn to do is make your page have personality.
Let me tell you a story.....
In my youth I had the very distinct pleasure of being involved
in one of the most educational experiences in my life. I took a
job that involved direct promotional sales. In other words......
I went door to door. I know what most of you are thinking......
"No WAY would I ever do anything like that!". I thought the
same thing but, because I really had nothing better to do, I
gave it a try. If you're wondering what the point of this
little story is...... I'll tell you.
I learned more about human psychology during this experience
than I ever could have learned with even 100 Zig Ziggler
seminars! Think about it..... you're approaching someone who
doesn't know you.....at their home...... presenting a product
they've never heard of, and walking away with a sale! The whole
concept is absolutely amazing if you really think about it.
Why would anyone buy something they've never heard of from
someone they don't know? Because the salesperson had
personality! That's why.
Doesn't this sound a bit like what you're trying to accomplish
with your online business? The chances are probably pretty good
that a visitor has never heard of you, doesn't know your product
or service and , if they're anything like my family, is a bit
skeptical of just about everything. Your goal is the same as
mine in the door to door days..... to make a sale!
So how do we do it? How do we turn the internet from a cold,
impersonal environment to one which makes your site as unique
as you?
Here are a few tips....
1. Use different colors to stir different emotions. For instance
blues and greens are soothing..... red and orange make people
excited and focus attention. Experiment with colors to make
people feel differently depending on the page's purpose.
2. Bolding, highlighting and CAPITAL LETTERS are ways of drawing
attention to certain parts of your page. They are the
webmaster's equivalent of raising your voice or pointing
at something important.
3. Exclamation points should be used sparingly. Too much
excitement looks like you are trying too hard to sell
something!!!!! Remember "everyone like to buy but no one
likes to be sold"
4. The more information you give on your page the more likely
people are to trust you. People like to make up their own
minds...... you can help them by providing enough information
about your product or service to make them feel like you're
not hiding anything from them.
5. Don't be afraid to use "slang" and "personal phrases" to an
extent. This will make you look like a real person..... you
don't want to be "hiding behind your web page"
6. Use your name. (a picture of yourself helps as well) Would
you trust someone who never told you their name? Believe me,
it's no coincidence that all customer service people either
wear nametags or tell you their name. Customers want to
know who they're dealing with...... tell them.
Now onto some examples....... See if you can tell what the
following pages are trying to accomplish with the "personality"
they chose.....
http://www.yahoo.com Mostly blue..... comforting, informational.
YAHOO! logo in red, capitals, and exclamation point! .... so you
remember the name
http://www.toyota.com Look at the red! yeah, ok..... there's
some information up top too...... but look at that great car
in the center!
http://www.microsoft.com Lots of information telling me "We're
ok.... you can trust us"
http://www.marketingtips.com Corey Rudl's page (one of the best
internet marketers out there..... he knows his stuff) Notice
the home page is calming, soothing, blues and information.....
Click on the "Insiders Secrets" link...... Wow! Red, yellow,
bold, highlighting, CAPS ...... get excited! And there's Corey,
making you feel secure by knowing who you're dealing with.
(There's a reason he's one of the best folks)
Ok, you get the idea..... The point is that it DOES make a
difference. These examples are some of the best in the business
and I can guarantee if they're using these techniques it's not
just by random chance. Try some of this for yourself. What is
your page telling people before they even read the words?
Chances are pretty good that it's not doing everything it
could!
Here's a test..... go to http://www.workathome-101.net and try
to describe me. E-mail me at keithbryan@cox.net and tell me
everything you can figure out about the author (me) from my
page.
Have Fun!
Keith Bryan has over 9 years experience in both Internet and other forms of advertising and marketing. For more
information, tips, tricks, hot products and articles check out http://www.workathome-101.net or e-mail us at
mailto:ezine@workathome-101.net
Google must surrender its users' personal information to Viacom (VNU Net via Yahoo! UK & Ireland News)
Google has been ordered to disclose personal information, including viewing habits and internet addresses to Viacom, in the latest phase of the ongoing legal battle between the two companies. Google must surrender its users' personal information to Viacom (Computing.co.uk)
Janie Davies, Computing , Friday 4 July 2008 at 10:21:00 A US court has ruled that Google must provide Viacom with details of users who have watched YouTube videos Google has been ordered to disclose personal information, including viewing habits and internet addresses to Viacom, in the latest phase of the ongoing legal battle between the two companies.... Google must surrender its users' personal information to Viacom (vnunet.com)
Janie Davies, Information World Review , Friday 4 July 2008 at 11:52:00 A US court has ruled that Google must provide Viacom with details of users who have watched YouTube videos Google has been ordered to disclose personal information, including viewing habits and internet addresses to Viacom, in the latest phase of the ongoing legal battle between the two companies.... ...
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