There are five types of people that browse web: (1) Specific Information Seekers (2) Current Information Seekers (3) Bargain Hunters (4) Entertainment Seekers, and (5) Specific Buyers.

When you identify type of people you want to come to your website, or type of people coming now (for those who already have a site), as well as what gets them there, what keeps them there, then and only then can you design your site to attract type of visitors you want.

Specific Information Seekers (SISers)

To convert Specific Information Seekers into prospects, you will need consistent marketing and multiple trust building strategies. SISers usually search for a particular piece of information. If you have it, they will visit and might stay. If not, they want to find out fast that you don't and poof they are gone. This group is after timely and relevant information. It is an either/or decision -- either you have it or you don't. If their search engine searching continuously sends them to your site and you have on several occasions let them down on having information, they will see URL link in search engine and not ever return.

SISers like to ask questions, usually diving right into question, giving little or no background to question. If they have a deep sense that you have answer, they will generate a quick e-mail to you. They are frequent visitors to FAQ (frequently asked questions) pages. If you want to attract SISers, track all questions customers and prospects ask, provide answers, and post on your site. You can make them happy by placing answers in larger or bold print.

SISers like several different levels of information. With each click you can barrel down details. You can do with an overview page and then in a separate page add full description and other details. Design overview page for on-line reading (large font, white space, and fast, flowing language) and detail pages for off-line reading (printable).

They also like an up-to-date websites with changing information. If "last update date" is older than one week, or if your articles have old dates on them, they usually will not even enter site. First impressions mean a lot to them and determine if they will ever return. Credibility is second decision maker for this buyer. Do not compromise integrity of information you provide. If you're an affiliate just say so, they don't mind.

Their decision to buy is usually immediate if you have what they want. This group reads by scanning on Net. They will scan and read bold, colored and highlighting in long sales letters.

In a retail store, SISers browse aisles. They know what they are looking for before they enter a website or store. Retailers call these people aisle browsers. In a store, they walk through a store, first checking aisle platforms for bargains. Men do fall mostly in this category.

Even though this group only reads what they need from a book, next group, CISers read whole book.

Current Information Seekers (CISers)

Current Information Seekers are curious people who find everything interesting. They can be reading about Mars and next learning about cooking, and later into something different. They purchase material based on whatever is hot in their life at that moment. Usually they over purchase material and get behind in their reading. Yet, that backlog does not seem to bother them, they would feel empty without it.

CISers enjoy reading a high portion of newspaper and read whole book. They want something interesting...something useful...something they would not have found on their own. They want something that will give them an edge, an advantage, an insight, something unexpected.

Use caution, this group does make suggestions that can lead you astray. They also cannot understand why others pigeon hole (their viewpoint) themselves with their businesses. They value exploration and freedom.

To use this group to your advantage define one or two topic categories that fit in with your niche. Then change material daily or weekly. In addition, since they are so busy running after latest and greatest, you will need to make sure they are consistently aware of those changes. Send them updates. They will find frequent updates useful, interesting, and amusing even if they've heard them a million times before. They will return frequently. Frequent updates will keep you on their hot list and bookmarked.

CISers compare before buying. If everything is same and your shipping is 3 cents less they will buy from you. However, they make sure they are exact offers. If you have something that looks more attractive, whether it pertains to their needs or not, they will also purchase from you.

Why? Because you probably *won't* do much, if any, business at all. It's a fact that people on Internet *rarely* buy from someone they don't know. The Internet is a scary place of scams and schemes and rip-offs. Online shoppers are very wary about giving up their credit card information to just anybody.

But if you use right marketing strategies you'll have a much better chance at succeeding. A *good* product will always sell, but you have to approach your propects correctly or they'll turn tail and run faster than you can imagine. And they may end up buying from your competition!