If you build it… they will come. You hear it all the time, but the sad truth is… that’s not always the case, especially for websites, in fact, most websites often fail.

So why does this happen? Maybe the business didn’t do very much advertising. Or perhaps no one knew the business had a website or that they even existed. You can go on an on looking for reasons – but I think it all boils down to poor planning.

You see, when most people build websites, they focus on the design. What it looks like instead of figuring out who the website is for and what it is supposed to do.

That is why, in this post, I’ll share some helpful tips, that will help you increase the success of your website.

1. Plan for your most wanted outcome

Before you even consider building your website, you need to ask yourself what the purpose of your website will be.

What are your goals? What do you want visitors to do once they reach your website?

Then plan your site around that action.

For example, say you want to capture leads. Make it easy for your visitors to sign up for your list.

Place the sign-up form in multiple locations or offer an incentive for their information.

If you have a service based business offer a free information download. If you are selling products offer a coupon or discount code.

2. Understand your potential customer’s behavior

You need to understand who your customers are.

How will they find your website? What keywords will they type into Google?

By researching, asking questions and getting feedback, you are one step closer to figuring out who your customers are and what problems they are struggling with.

Which in turn helps you craft the content that will engage them and get them excited about your product or service.

3. Focus on strategies that work

Have you heard about the Pareto principle or the 80/20 rule?

Basically, it states that you get 80% of your results from 20% of your effort and vice versa.

Why does this matter?

Because you can use this principle to help get the most ROI (return on investment).

How?

By using tools like Google Analytics, which track visits to your site. It tells you who is visiting, for how long and where they are coming from.

Which then give you the information you need to start focusing on the channels that bring you the highest return.

Finally, one important thing to note is that a website is never really done. It is always changing and evolving.

Which means that if something doesn’t work, try something else until you find the strategies that work best for you and bring you the biggest results.

I hope this is helpful, let me know if you have any questions or need help with anything else.