Tips to Turn First-Time Visitors into Returning Customers

All the people to visit your website would be once regarded as a “first-time visitor”. Your website browsing experience will influence whether a first-time visitor would land again or their first time will become the last time they are visiting your website.

When a web user visits a website for the first time, they are looking for helpful and valuable information on the website. If they don’t find what they expected or were looking for, they would simply leave to find it somewhere else.

Even if the website showcases well-developed and high-quality content, there’s a chance the user would leave in a few seconds if the web page doesn’t load fast or isn’t set up properly or maybe have broken images that the user is very curious to see.

That’s the story of a first-time visitor.

With an overload of websites and information on the web, engaging and retaining new visitors is not a breeze. With some planning and thought, however, you can woo your first-time visitors and keep them engaged and coming back for more.

Click here for more info: HOW TO CREATE AN ENGAGING USER EXPERIENCE THROUGH WEBSITE DESIGN?

Let’s delve into some effective tips and tactics to promote visitor engagement and interaction on your website.

Write Down Your Goals

Success parameters for different websites may differ on the outcome the business owner wants from that website. Not all websites want to get the same thing out of their first-time visitors.

For example, a start-up looking to launch a new product on their website, which features a subscribe button along with a promotional graphic, is apparently aiming at getting their first-time visitors to opt in for their newsletters. If the visitors subscribe to their newsletter on their first visit, the website owner doesn’t need to worry about people leaving the website within a few seconds.

Similarly, a website that has just launched a new business blog would want visitors to frequently come back to check out new posts.

That said, it is important to decide what exactly you want your visitors to do when they visit your website for the first time. Also keep in mind that the goals you set now may change over time as your business grows and needs change. Make sure your website and content reflects your current goals to lead first-time visitors to take required actions.

Optimise the Sales Funnel for First Visits

Studies have shown that 98% of first-time visitors don’t buy on their first visit.

This is because when a person visits your website for the first time they might not be already familiar with your brand. They happened to click a link while looking for something on the web, which landed them straight on your website. Or maybe they overheard some co-workers talking about your brand and decided to check out your website.

No matter how they got to your website, the visitor needs to first learn about your business-what you are and how you work, to decide whether it is safe to make a purchase on your website. Therefore, establishing trust is a crucial step in the process of converting first-time visitors into buyers.

A well-optimised first-time visitor funnel can help engage first time visitors while guiding them towards taking a desired action. You can add clickable links, buttons

and graphics to help them learn how they can use your website to get to the information or product they are looking for without having to open several pages.

The purpose is to make your website as easy for those visiting for the first time as possible so that they have a hassle-free browsing experience, which would turn them into repeat visitors and eventually paying customers.

Get back to your regular customers

If you are not a start-up, chances are that you have a bunch of regular or long-standing customers who visit your website often. These are the people who have already been through the sales funnel you are optimising for your first-time visitors. It would be helpful to get in touch with those customers with a couple of questions related to their experience and opinion about your product/service.

Here are some examples of questions you can ask:

• What do you love about our website?

• What specifically encouraged you to convert from a first-time buyer to paying customer?

• Is there anything you don’t like or want us to change about our website?

• Is there anything we can add to our website to improve your experience?

Answers to these questions will help you optimise your website design and elements for new visitors effectively.

Impress through recommendations and associations

According to studies, 88% of people count on online reviews and recommendations from existing customers of a brand. Featuring positive client testimonials and your associations with established brands and industry influencers on your website will promote a sense of trust amongst new visitors who are trying to know your brand.

You can dedicate a small section on your home page to your significant client associations. A review widget on product pages will also help first time visitors to make informed decisions while increasing customer satisfaction and sale conversions.

Moreover, you can add an advanced level of proof of your quality service on your website through case studies. A case study provides an overview of the exact approach and actions you took to address a previous client’s issues and meet their business goals. Showcasing case studies on your website will help provide prospects an idea of what you are capable of and how you work with your clients to help them grow their business and sales.

Wrapping Up,

Every regular customer was once a first-time visitor. So, people visiting your website for the first time deserve as much value as your regular visitors.

By following these tips, you can optimise your website to instil trust into your new visitors who are still not certain if you can provide them the value they seek.

To start with your website optimisation today, get in touch with our web design and development team. From web design planning to ongoing website support and maintenance, our competent designers can take care of everything you need to improve conversion and sales on your website.

For those who have Magento websites, we have specialised expertise and a track record of providing industry leading website maintenance services and Magento support services.

Let’s connect with our team and create a robust strategy to engage your audiences.