Will This Increase Sales?

Buskerdoo · 09-03-2004, 09:08 AM

Just left a prospects office and was wondering what other do in this situation.

The client asked if the web redesign and seo we proposed would significanly increase sales.

We said it would significantly increase traffic and the potential to make sales. They then wanted to know what it's done for other sites in their industry. Since I have no idea, I said I had no idea. We can get em there and make the experience nice,etc but I can't promise sales other than the statistics that the more chances you have the better off you are.

Any thoughts or experiences?

TGR · 09-03-2004, 10:03 AM

Are you re-designing the site, or just SEO?

Are you controlling the overall usability?

If so, and you do a good job, you can almost certainly guarantee that sales will increase.

yankeeman · 09-03-2004, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buskerdoo

Just left a prospects office and was wondering what other do in this situation.

The client asked if the web redesign and seo we proposed would significanly increase sales.

We said it would significantly increase traffic and the potential to make sales. They then wanted to know what it's done for other sites in their industry. Since I have no idea, I said I had no idea. We can get em there and make the experience nice,etc but I can't promise sales other than the statistics that the more chances you have the better off you are.

Any thoughts or experiences?

You handled the situation correctly. Your function is to assist in delivering an audience, you cannot guarantee a "sale"

Your not in control of the pricing, the quality of the product, the treatment of the customer , etc.

infinitystudios · 09-25-2004, 07:13 PM

very tough spot... the big dilemma most designers face at one point or another... reminds me of a saying: "you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink".

All you can do is make the experience as visually appealing, as user friendly, and as streamlined as possible. A good redesign/seo WILL increase traffic, but at that point it's really out of your hands, since you don't control the product, it's quality, it's price, or any of the other million things that go into the actual purchase of a product/service...online or otherwise.

My advice: (and the way I handle the same question).....

I put the ball back in THEIR court. I ask them if they believe in their product. Do they think it's good and people want/need it? If the answer is yes, then I just tell them that I can provide them with a larger audience and if the product is good and the price is right and there is a need for it, then it will sell itself... the key is getting the right people to hear the message.

Take that for what it's worth... but it usually works for me.

PRBot.Com · 09-26-2004, 07:39 AM

Agreed. if you increase the value of the site via outstanding design and good SEO you will increase the possibility of more sales but nobody can guarantee sales based on the aforementioned work.

max

Buskerdoo · 09-26-2004, 08:28 PM

Thxs for the input. Will be put to the test again soon I'm sure.

danny boy · 09-27-2004, 03:53 AM

"I put the ball back in THEIR court. I ask them if they believe in their product. Do they think it's good and people want/need it? If the answer is yes, then I just tell them that I can provide them with a larger audience and if the product is good and the price is right and there is a need for it, then it will sell itself... the key is getting the right people to hear the message.

Take that for what it's worth... but it usually works for me."

i agree 100%.

GeXus · 09-27-2004, 01:13 PM

I would just tell him exactly what it is your going to do.. Tell him that your going to build a design that will convert better then he has now, and tell him you are going to increase targeted customers to his site, will that increase sales "you bet your ass it will".. but you will not guarentee an increase in sales, since you truly have no control over it.

George Ahrens · 09-28-2004, 04:50 AM

That's a good one. I quit this business a few short months after
starting it because every client wanted to buy results from me.
I couldn't guarantee it to them, since I honestly had no experience
to get involved in a challenge like that.

Now I see this all with different eyes. Design is one thing,
copy on the site another thing. Product is one component. Seo one.
Marketing is a completely different subject. So what exactly is the
order, consider that every component has a different price tag.

If someone wants to buy results, I would charge my basic fee
for the onsight work part, and expenses plus a percentage for
sales results, otherwise I would not get involved in results at all.
It's the most difficult part and usually has not much to do with
design work. It's more about the offer, pitch and the sales process.