Seven Easy Tweaks to Turn Your Site into a Holiday Sales MachineWith the year's prime shopping season looming, here are some tips for improving your website to boost sales.

ByCarol Tice

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Seven Easy Tweaks to Turn Your Site into a Holiday Sales MachineThe year's prime shopping season is looming, but is your website ready? If not, no worries. The great thing about websites is you can change them, fast.

If youdon't have a website, consider getting one. Basic sites are free from services such as约拉orFlavors.me. That way, you can at least stand a chance of getting found by Web-surfing shoppers.

If you have a site, a few quick tweaks might help it bring you more customers. Here are seven ideas for improvements that could help your site convert more visitors into buyers.

  1. Declutter.The more widgets you plop onto your sidebars, the more confused visitors get. Then, they leave. Speaking of which, if you have more than one sidebar, try to cut back. To help your decluttering efforts, useGoogle's In-Page Analyticsor similar tools to learn what visitors click on -- and eliminate any extraneous, little-used items.
  2. Make buttons bigger.Studies have shown thatbigger buttons convert better. Apparently we humans just can't resist a big, juicy button. So style up your PayPal buttons with some nicer graphics.
  3. Add testimonials with photos.Consumers are strongly influenced by seeing success stories with photos that make them think: "That customer is like me." Put out a call for testimonials if you don't have any fresh ones. Check out these on the home page ofA-List Blogger Clubfor an example of well-done testimonials.
  4. Update your copy.When's the last time something new appeared on one of your static pages? Rewrite your landing page or add some news to your media page. Maybe rewrite a few product descriptions. Let shoppers know your online site isn't a ghost town. Rewrites can also help improve your site's Google rankings.
  5. Make your "About" page sell.The About page isone of the most-visited places在大多数网站。人们总是好奇先w who's behind the curtain. Does your About page tell a compelling story? That can make a big difference in customers deciding they trust you, and will buy from you. Also, put a purchase or subscribe button on that page, as doing so has been shown to improve conversions.
  6. 刷新your design.Look at your color palette -- does it seem dated? When's the last time you changed it? Changing your colors can be a quick way to make the site look fresh and new --ColourLoversis a great site for playing around with possible color combinations.
  7. Improve your SEO.Is yoursite search-engine optimized to help customers find youon Google? Simply by adding a description of your business to your site's headline or tagline can work wonders for helping you rank higher for key searches.

Have you fixed up your Website for the holidays?Leave your URL so we can take a look, and tell us what's new on your site.

Carol Tice

Owner of Make a Living Writing

Longtime Seattle business writerCarol Ticehas written forEntrepreneur, Forbes, Delta Skyand many more. She writes the award-winning Make a Living Writing blog. Her new ebook for Oberlo isCrowdfunding for Entrepreneurs.

Related Topics

领导

5 Books That Will Change The Way You Think About Being an Effective Leader

Want to improve the way you lead? Learn from those who blazed the trails you hope to follow.

Living

Unleash Unshakable Confidence in 7 Days: The Neuroscience-Backed Blueprint

In the cut-throat business world, self-doubt can be the difference between success and failure, costing you everything.

Business News

Knaus Berry Farm Will Reopen on Halloween, 8 Months After Brutal Attack on Co-Owners

The reopening is marked by tragedy, as the co-owners, Herbert and Rachel Grafe, were victims of a vicious assault in February, resulting in Rachel's passing.

Business News

Meta Spent $27.1 Million on 'Other Compensation' for Mark Zuckerberg in 2022 Including Security Costs and Private Plane

While the Meta CEO is paid a humble annual salary of $1, his security costs have racked up quite a tab.

Business News

'Stupid Idea Overall': McDonald's Is Making a Major Change to the Beloved McFlurry

The sweet treat has been a staple at the fast-food chain for decades.