Imagine for a minute a web surfer who, with an abundance of interests, is right now firmly, and enthusiastically, focused on learning more about selling photography online.
If you think this viewer is reading every word you write, think again.
Often the reality is very different.
In fact, they are more likely to be quickly scanning for the best information they can get from your page.
You probably do the same - feverishly looking around for anything vaguely interesting, or which resembles what you're looking for.
Strangely enough, I know that often I glance at the text beside an image before I actually move my eyes up to look at the image itself! Of course, it all depends on the material on the page, and what the user is trying to do.
And not only do we scan pages, but we tend to 'travel' around the internet at warp speed.
Why? Because we can.
Just think...
how many web sites have you seen in the last month, and actually gone back to visit? Do you remember the web sites you viewed last week? From what I can see, many photographers (and online entrepreneurs) are rather shy about establishing anything remotely resembling a relationship with their customers.
In other words, they hesitate building a list of their customers...
yet they want to see success with their selling photography online efforts.
Doesn't that seem a little strange to you? Put yourself in the shoes of your customer for a minute.
They've tirelessly dug up your site using search engines or a referring link, and rocked up to your site hungry to see what you do (or learn more).
They found you, and more importantly, they are interested in you! And guess what? They liked your site, your photos and content.
But WILL they come back? Let me put it another way.
How on earth can you make new friends, and establish new relationships, if you don't make the effort to get your friend's contact details in the first place? Just imagine that you walked into a physical, real world shop, super ready to buy, credit card in hand, but were completely ignored by all the shop assistants.
You wouldn't be wrong in thinking that "this shop doesn't want my business.
" Of course, not everyone wants to buy, but the fact that the visitor came to your site shows they are interested...
and you should ACT on this knowledge.
So if you're a photographer or online entrepreneur, and you're not doing anything to collect your customer's details, then little alarm bells should be ringing in your head.
Stop what you're doing, and go set up a simple form on your site that invites absolutely anyone who visits your page to sign up.
You really don't want all these online visitors to fly past your website and never ever come back.
It makes no sense.
(Just think of all the time and effort involved with putting a website online, working on your unique, selling photography online content, and building your unique brand).
By getting your 'interested visitor' to sign up means you can potentially contact this person for years to come! You can get to know their needs, what they want, and establish a relationship with them.
Then, help them achieve their dreams.
Do this part right, and your selling photography online adventure will constantly amaze and astound you!