The World According to Mitch Fanning

:: a blog about marketing and the business of new media with a dash of uncommon sense ::

Posts filed under ‘Digital Marketing’

Is Your Website Converting Leads into Gold?

September 17, 2010

Approx. reading time: 2-3 min

Originally posted on the Fruition Interactive Blog.

Fact: Every business must generate qualified leads that, ultimately, convert into sales.

I know this because the topic always comes up in conversation with clients. That’s why we’re always improving our ability to help clients generate leads via our online marketing services.

For example, a Google Certified AdWords Professional (on our team) manages the AdWords campaigns we run for clients. We do this, not only because it’s a recognized stamp of approval from Google, but mainly because the individual who is certified is an expert. She’s an Adwords ninja. When it comes to increasing traffic and click-though rates, she’s one of the best.

Unfortunately, having a Google Adwords ninja on your side is not always enough. The problem is, too many clients want to focus on just the traffic generation side, and overlook the conversion side.

In other words, they aren’t willing to go the extra mile to optimize their website or landing page for lead conversion.

The conversion issue, however, can often be an easy one to solve. In some cases, paying attention to the following areas might be all that is required to increase conversion (in addition to plenty of split A/B testing).

Are you credible?

Everything on your web site must foster rapport, trust, and credibility. Real contact information, real photographs, and FAQs that answer real questions. Small detail matters, even things like hosting your site on your own domain and how frequently you update your site. People do business with those they like and trust. Include details that make you an interesting and authoritative source, but most important, make sure you come across as credible.

Convincing copy that inspires action

If you want leads that convert into business, it comes down to copywriting. Practically everything you do online comes back to this core skill. Without the ability to convince people to act, you come up short in most online marketing strategies – including Google Adwords campaigns.

Many people know how to write technically, but they don’t have the copywriting skill to generate conversions. And if you’re missing this one practical skill, nothing else you do online works. That means you risk ending up on the online marketing merry-go-round, spending thousands on traffic generation and not seeing a single conversion. Without good copywriting, everything’s harder, takes longer, or doesn’t work at all.

Bullet proof your call to action

Make sure you’ve clearly told visitors exactly what to do. On the other hand, are you asking your prospect to make too many choices? Confused people don’t act. You should have at most two or three options to choose from. Also, don’t be afraid to repeat yourself on several or all pages. Prospects often don’t read every word of your website. Find creative ways to restate your call to action and the most important benefits.

Have your own favorite conversion strategy that you didn’t see here? Let me know about it in the comments.

About the Author:

Mitch Fanning is VP of Strategy & Business Development for Fruition Interactive, a professional member of Social Media Club, and founding member of Social Media Club Niagara. He’s spent 10 plus years working with businesses of all sizes, from global brands to some of Canada’s fastest growing Internet companies ranked in the PROFIT 100. Follow Mitch on his adventures in new media here at [mitchellfanning.com].

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Are You Motivated By Passion or Drive?

July 5, 2010

So, “what do you do?”

There is the odd time when I don’t enjoy answering this generic cocktail question.

Don’t get me wrong.

I enjoy my work, and I am genuinely interested in being ‘social’ regardless of the scene.

Mostly, it’s because what I do can depend on when you ask me or who I’m speaking with.  At any given time, I could be brainstorming ideas for a client, working on my blog, writing, starting a new business venture, or resting under a tree in a quiet vineyard with @treatqueendiva.

The “job description as self-description” society we live in can sometimes influence people to give a dull cookie-cutter response, which often leads us to view one product launch, job, or project as the end-all and be all of our existence.

Besides, if people really answered correctly most would say – “I do email.”

Passion Versus Drive

Life is too short to waste – “Do” things that engage you, you’re passionate about, and excite you.

Most importantly, don’t mistake passion for drive, which is something completely different.  Drive pushes you forward.  It’s a duty, an obligation.  Drive is the desire to achieve a quota, get that bonus, to cash out.  That’s drive.

Passion pulls you towards something you cannot resist.

It’s the sense of connection you feel when the work you do expresses who you really are.  “What you do” needs to inspire you, and others around you, in the here and now.

From my personal experience, substituting passion for drive in an effort to pursue money by itself won’t cut it.  Postponing who you are, what you care about, and jumping through hoops to reach that pot of gold is a fool’s errand.

Money alone is never the solution.

Now for the Good News

At times, following my passions hasn’t been easy.  However, I’m delighted and proud to say that doing so has recently brought me some good fortune, which I now would like to share with all of you.

As of today (July 5), I will be bringing my passions, knowledge, and experience to the Fruition Interactive family in the brand new role of VP of Strategy & Business Development.

For the official release go here.

What I Do (Now)

Including my new role at Fruition Interactive, what I do can be split into three areas I’m very passionate about:

Fruition Interactive

As VP of Strategy & Business Development, I’m responsible for helping Fruition Interactive create exceptional business results for its small to mid-sized B2B clients.

Simply put, as a marketing professional who focuses on digital channels, I will use my talents, expertise, and passion to grow the agency, help clients navigate the digital and social media space, and collaborate with the team at Fruition to deliver successful interactive marketing solutions.

Online Publishing

In my online publishing work, I tell stories and share my insights on content marketing, new media, and emerging social technologies.  I’ve experimented with blogging platforms since 2005 and currently share my ideas here at [mitchellfanning.com] and now on the Fruition Interactive Blog.

New Media Education

As an educator, professional member of Social Media Club (SMC), and founding member of Social Media Club Niagara, my primary goal is to promote social media literacy, trends, encourage ethical behavior, and share best practices.

The club aims to bring together entrepreneurs, business owners, journalists, publishers, professionals, artists, bloggers, and developers who want to share their experiences and success stories.

That said, what I “do” could be summarized as follows:

I’m a digital marketing professional, online publisher, an amateur writer, social media practitioner, and an educator.

I feel very blessed and once again would like to take this time to publicly thank Kent Wakely for giving me the opportunity to pursue my passions and spread my wings at Fruition Interactive.

Enough about me.

So tell me, “what do you do, what’s your passion, and how can I help?

I’d love to know via your comments below, twitter, or email at mitch@fruitioninteractive.com

About the Author:

Mitch Fanning is an online marketing and social media practitioner. He’s spent 10+ years (and put in his 10,000 hours) working with businesses of all sizes, from global brand (NBC.com, Nestle) to Canada’s fastest growing Internet companies ranked in the PROFIT 100, creating, selling, implementing both traditional and digital marketing opt-in strategies.

Photo credit: larryosan

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