Though it’s wonderful to get all those hits to your e-commerce web site, hits don’t mean much unless you convert them into sales. This is especially true if you are paying for, and not converting, clicks.

If your website is suffering from “Conversion Rate Blues”, consider following steps for improving sales and ultimately, profits:

1. Make sure your website is optimized to attract people with highest potential to buy

When I first designed my log furniture website, Log Cabin Rustics, I unwittingly targeted an audience that wasn’t perfect one for my site. As things turned out, I didn’t even rank for my two top key phrases, log furniture and log beds, in search engines. I managed to get pretty high on scale, however, for log cabin related searches.

People who build log cabins are a target market of mine, since many of them eventually purchase log furniture to go with their home. The most likely immediate customers, however, are those who actually searched for term “log furniture” rather than “log cabin”. When I re-optimized my site for search terms I thought would bring highest conversion rate, visitors to my site were more likely to buy because my site was selling what they were searching for. My efforts paid off, when my conversion rate (and sales) doubled in month or two following my changes.

2. Add a personal, trustworthy touch to your site

I don’t personally care to have my picture posted on front of my website, although many people do. I do have my name prominently on site, together with information about why I sell log furniture and my business background as a CPA. I have found that a personal touch goes a long way towards selling log furniture. Many of my customers spend $2,000, $3,000 or even $4,000 on their log furniture order, and some of them have waited years to get furniture they want.

They didn’t find what they wanted in their local area (they must not have many white cedar trees in Texas), but they found it on my site. There’s just one problem, however. They wish they could touch furniture, slide drawers in and out, look for drips in finish, and generally evaluate quality before drop that kind of money. I have had people drive 4-6 hours to visit my store on more than one occasion for that very reason, and frankly, I don’t blame them. I’m pretty picky about my furniture too.

This is where I can help my customers. I use primarily local suppliers, and finished furniture that I sell is finished right in our building. I can and do inspect much of furniture before it goes out. Our finishing department does a pretty good job, but if I see something I don’t like, I have them sand it down and get it right.

Some people I sell furniture to place their order online or with one phone call, but many of them talk to me several times before they place their order. They start to feel like they know me, and I start to feel like they are my friends. The last thing I want to do is ship a suite of log furniture from Michigan to Caifornia and have it come back because customer isn’t happy. And I don’t want to let down my friends. When customers understand this, they trust me to deliver what my site promises, and that translates into sales.

There are many ways you can build trust in your website. When I realized my conversion rate was not what it could or should be, I went out and researched topic on web. By reading a number of SEO articles on topic, I came up with a checklist of things to do on my site. My list included:

• giving name and contact information for owner of site • telling a personal history of business • showing pictures of your factory, office, semi-truck or anything else that makes your business real. If possible, give an online office or factory tour. • getting a secure security certificate and posting it on your site, and • posting a privacy policy, warranty information, and product testimonials

3. Include a detailed FAQ on your site

What I'm about to Reveal to you in this article is a easy to follow, "Step-By-Step" formula for writing Powerful articles in less than a hour.

It might take you a few times to get hang of it first time around, But, once you've gotten through learning curve, your articles will flow out of you without stressing your brain out to much.

I say this from experience because I used to be terrified about thought of writing an article, but, once I got this formula down to an art, they seem to come together quite easily now.

The benefits of writing articles alone Out-Weight fear of having to write them, so read this article with an open mind and if you have to read through it twice, do so.

Writing articles are Very powerful and in my mind, best way to build Trust and Credibility with your online business.

So, without further delay, let's go to Step #1.

Step #1. Targeting your audience.

The first thing you have to figure out is which audience (target market) are you trying to reach.

This is critical to your overall outcome of your article and what you want your potential reader/customer to do next after they've read your article.

So, make sure you know ahead of time who you want to target.

Step #2. Put together a attention grabbing "Headline".

This is probably single Most important step when it comes to writing your articles because this is what's used to "Bait" your potential reader/customer to read your article.

Let's use my "Headline" for this article as an example:

"THE 7 Step 'Formula' For Writing POWERFUL Articles In Less Than An Hour"

Notice how I've stated main benefit you'll receive from reading my article, this is KEY, and this is what you want to convey to your potential reader/customer.

Step #3. Clearly explain your position on issue.

This next step is where you introduce your article with a sentence or two that Clearly and Completely explains your position on issue inwhich you promised in "Headline" of your article.