In any given niche, on any given topic, there are hundreds of thousands of web pages.  Even if you have the best search engine optimization and your site ranks number one for every important keyword in your industry, your site could still be doing better.  You need a hook.

Today’s web surfers move quickly.  They may click on your page if it is ranked highly, but if they don’t find what they are looking for, they will click away and head to the next search result.  You need to have something that keeps people on your page and turns them into customers.

A good place to start is with your website design.  Your design should be attractive but not overwhelming.  It should also be easy to navigate.  You want your visitors to understand the site structure immediately and not be confused.  This will increase the likelihood that they remain on your page.

Another hook is the site’s written content.  You don’t want to overwhelm your visitors in this area either.  There are few things online that are more intimidating than a giant block of text.  Very few people will read several long paragraphs online.  You should structure your text so that it is easy to read.  This includes breaking up the content into smaller sections, separating sections with relevant headings and using lists whenever possible to display important points.

You also need informative content.

People visit web pages with a purpose.  They usually want some sort of information and it’s important that you give them what they want.  If you write clearly and in a way that people can understand, they are more likely to stay on your page.

The best way to hook someone into your page is to give them something they can’t find anywhere else.  Maybe your page has an in depth comparison of your product against the major competitors.  Maybe it explains the benefits of your service in greater detail than others do.  Maybe your page makes it easier to communicate with your staff or share ideas.  All of these unique features are hooks that will make you stand out from the competition and turn your visitors into customers.

Once you’ve found your hook, you will usually see an increase in business.  Your web page can be a very powerful persuasion tool and it can definitely boost your sales.  Don’t overlook this valuable resource.

Tags: Search Engine Optimization, SEO, Website Design