Top Website Features You Need To Improve Blog Conversions
What website features are essential and which ones can wait when just starting out?
That’s a question I’ve been getting, and I wanted to take a moment to outline a few essentials you’ll want to be sure to implement before launch (or immediately if you’ve already launched!).
Don’t worry, these website features aren’t complicated, and won’t prolong your launch by any significant amount of time.
Popup On-Click Optin
Most people have an optin form that’s always visible, or setup a timed popup to appear to their visitors. While these can be great for attracting subscribers, their tracking is a little suspect.
If you’ve setup a standard non-click optin every visitor will see the form whether or not they are interested in doing so, your impressions will be inflated, dragging down your conversion rate. Wouldn’t it be better to know how many new, interested visitors viewed your optin form and see how that compares to your conversion rate?
A “Popup On-Click”, also known as a “2-Step Optin”, instantly increases your conversion tracking accuracy. It does this by focusing on visitors who haven’t yet subscribed and ignoring your existing fans. How is this possible?
This technique invites your visitors to click on a button or image, which then presents them with your optin form in a popup window. Now interested visitors will be measured and repeat visitors will be excluded, giving you a more accurate picture of how your form is performing.
For more detail on Popup On-Click Optins, and help setting up your own, check out THIS PRIOR POST.
Big, Bold P.S. Line
After writing your amazing blog post and asking visitors to comment and share, you’re work is done, right?
Wrong!
Before you leave them, make sure you give visitors one last opportunity to connect with you.
This is done using a BIG, bold P.S Line.
Remember when you used to write notes to your friends in school and at the bottom you’d mention something additional that may or may not be related to the rest of the note, but was very important for them to take notice? Sometimes it even got a little crazy with the PPS, PPSS, etc??
Well, you want to do the same thing here. Your P.S. Line should catch your visitor’s attention and offer them something that converts highly for you. Not only does this job their attention and remind them of more ways you can provide value, but it provides a highly desirable opportunity to get new subscribers.
Scroll to the bottom of this post for an example that I’m currently using.
Action Steps
Every time you write a blog post, you want to make sure to leave your visitors with an action you want them to take. If you don’t tell them what to do, they won’t do anything.
These call-to-actions can take many forms: from a simple “click here” or “sign up”, to personal ads, to a resources area, and much more. Just make sure those actions are tied to some form of lead-capture!
Each of your posts needs to lead to something you want your visitors to do, but it needs to fit the post content. If it makes sense to create a download to accompany your post, work it into the content. If you’re talking about people or products, be sure to mention them in a “resources mentioned” area so interested readers can easily find out more.
Whatever you want visitors to do, make sure it’s obvious and repeated a couple of times.
Never let someone read a post and be left thinking “that was great … what should I do next”
Google Analytics
If you’re not tracking your website statistics, you’re throwing away a lot of time, effort, and money.
Have you ever found yourself wondering what to post next on your blog, or which social network to focus on next, or even if your latest ad campaign was truly successful?
There’s a simple way to answer those questions: Google Analytics.
When most people hear about all Google Analytics has to offer the’re immediately intimidated … but not us, right?!?
I’ve written a few posts to help with your introduction to Google Analytics, and I’m sure more are on the way to help answer some of the questions that have come up:
1. Dashboard Reporting – a collection of widgets that provide you with information about your website. Each widget is completely customizable to make sure you’re getting the information that’s most important to YOU.
2. Social Media Reporting – there are 6 different social media reports that are dedicated to providing info about how your social media presence is affecting your website.
3. Campaign Tracking – a simple way to identify how visitors are entering your site, or tracking how effective your latest ad campaign or email broadcast was.
So there you have it! The top website features that I’ve found to be essential for any website or blog.
I highly recommend that you spend some times getting each of these setup on your blog before launch (or asap if you’ve already launched!).
Please share this with your friends who are just getting started, and let me know in the comments below if you’ve got any essential website features that didn’t make my list!
Resources
Here is a list of the resources mentioned in this post:
Blogger’s Jumpstart Guide – Download my FREE guide outlining how to successfully start your own blog
P.S. If you’d LOVE to start Your Own Blog with “Just 3 Clicks”, check THIS out!
Was this valuable for you? If so I’d really appreciate your comments below and shares on social media.
Very informational post, Bruce! I loved the analytics portion, and I’ll have to look more into that! Thanks!
Analytics are very powerful for your website, Chondra. Be sure to check out my series on setting up Google Analytics for more help
Bruce Schinkel recently posted…Your Complete Google Analytics Introduction To Setting Goals
Thanks for sharing these awesome tips, Bruce! I like to take a look into Google Analytics further.
So glad you enjoyed Keren! Be sure to check out my Intro to Google Analytics series for more help with that!
Great post Bruce… love how you explained how to use pop-ups correctly and effectively… thanks for sharing this
Thanks so much Ron! Love using the pop-up onclick technique
Bruce Schinkel recently posted…Your Complete Google Analytics Introduction To Setting Goals
Great stuff Bruce especially with pop up ads! The biggest challenge with Pop-Up ads is that some people either have too many pop-ups or they don’t set it where it comes up when they leave or toward the end of the blog.
Dr. Lisa
So true Dr. Lisa, and it’s all about the ability to properly track your stats!
Bold p.s. lines have helped me out tremendously when giving calls to action. That pop up opt in? I need to finish working on that! Thanks for the reminder Bruce!
You’re very welcome Joseph! Can’t wait to see how pop-up optins help propel you even higher
Great blogging strategies Bruce. The optin on click tip is one that has helped me really keep track on what’s working vs what needs work.
Thanks for that point George. I’ve seen the same thing ever since I first implemented them
Awesome post, Bruce.
Ray Higdon mentioned recently at the MLSP event in Austin that hemade over $250,000 alone just with his P.S. message. Very powerful tip!
Thanks.
Thanks Erik! Always great to hear that everyone uses these same basic techniques
Thank you sharing such great value and tips, Bruce. Will be looking into these further. 🙂
Theresa Lovelace recently posted…Resolutions For The New Year vs. Goals For The New Year
You’re very welcome Theresa! Would love to know how they help you as you implement them
Bruce Schinkel recently posted…Your Complete Google Analytics Introduction To Setting Goals
Magic tips Bruce! Value with practical things… thanks!
Gordon Attard recently posted…5 Steps Network Marketers Need To Do To Have A Productive Year
Thanks so much Gordon, you’re very welcome!
Bruce Schinkel recently posted…Your Complete Google Analytics Introduction To Setting Goals
Great tips Bruce – Google Analytics has helped me so much with my blogging and knowing what my audience want from me.
Dani x | http://www.flourishingfreelancer.com
Thanks Dani! Yes, Google Analytics is such a useful tool once you streamline how you use it.
Bruce, this is really helpful!!
Thank you so much for sharing it.
You’re very welcome Anna! So glad you received value
This is a great list, I love Analytics for making content decisions for my website! And the tip about action steps is great! You always have to tell people what to do next you never want them to guess!
So true. The less people have to figure out for themselves, the more likely they are to take the next step.