Are you your own worst marketing enemy?
Most people don't intentionally turn customers away, but we all make mistakes. So here are some tried and true ways to lose sales and kiss your profits goodbye!
1. You Distract Them
You know what I'm talking about. You've been to Web pages where there were a TON of clickable links. You start clicking away, get 10 screens open... and yeah, you forget which is the original site and why the heck you were there in the first place!
This one is especially true for Internet marketers. Let me ask you... how many clickable links are on your Web page? Don't send your customers to other places before you've made a sale. Once a prospect heads out for greener pastures, they'll probably never find their way back.
2. You Give Them An Unpleasant Surprise
You've probably made a purchase, got set to write the check and discovered extra fees that you weren't counting on paying. No one even mentioned them until you were sitting there with pen in hand. Maybe it was that vacation package you've been dreaming about for a while. You're left with a choice... grin and bear it, or walk off without the vacation.
Nothing leaves a bad taste in a customer's mouth like last minute add ons to the price they pay. Yeah, sometimes they go ahead and go through with the purchase, but next time they'll think twice before they trust you to give them the real scoop on the price... if they ever return.
Be up front! Are you planning to charge shipping? Don't wait until they've already made the purchase. Let them know right up front. When they already know it's part of the deal, they won't have a problem with the fees.
3. You Confuse Them
Eenie meenie minie moe. We've all been there. Trying to decide which item is the better buy and the right one for you? It could be that you walked out without making up your mind, thinking you'd return later. But did you make it back?
Customers who leave without making a purchase are at high risk for changing their minds about making the purchase at all. That's why it's important to keep the decision as simple as possible. Make it a "yes" or "no" choice and you've effectively guaranteed they walk out with the item in a bag.
Marketing is tough enough without making things tougher on the customer. Avoid these three keys to sending customers away and you'll avoid wiping out your own profits.
