Great new Australian business directory.

Getting inbound links to your website is one of the important strategies to improve your rankings in search engine results. A new Australian business directory I've found is ClickFind.com.au.

One of the interesting features of ClickFind is there are lots of options to include key words in your business listing. This helps for being found within the ClickFind results, as well as options for broader exposure on the internet (using Search Engine Optimisation processes).

Plus, you can list services separately to products. This is great for service-based businesses as you can present your services properly without being categorised as a product.

For those businesses who don't even have a website yet, this is a good option as you can include full contact details, automatic map, and other information - just like a mini-website.

As you would expect, this is a paid service and you can see the fees and what you get at this page.

Disclosure: ClickFind did ask me to review their service, and this post reflects what I found. I've seen many business directory listing sites (and used quite a few of them). This one has a comprehensive set of very useful features.

Only 25% People Go To Home Page; What it Means For You.

In a recent report on BBC News in the UK web usability guru Jakob Nielsen explained that website users are getting more impatient. And more people are going directly to web pages at the heart of a website, rather than starting at the first page.

Interesting stuff! This is due to search engines giving deep links to the relevant content in search results listings - instead of a link to the home page of the website.

In 2004, about 40% of people visited a homepage and then drilled down to where they wanted to go and 60% use a deep link that took them directly to a page or destination inside a site. In 2008, said Dr Nielsen, only 25% of people travel via a homepage. The rest search and get straight there.

"Basically search engines rule the web," he said.

What does this mean for you?

* Your website pages needs to be optimized.
* Your home page needs to be instantly helpful in directing people to what they are there for.
* Information on web pages needs to be direct - especially the 'first' screen (also called, above the fold).
* Be careful with the use of images. Make sure they add to the experience, not distract users. And make sure they load quickly and without problems (this has always been an issue even when dial-up connections ruled the Earth).
* Navigation needs to be consistent, and easy to follow. Users could come into your website on any page... so let them know what else you have to offer.

Learn How to Handle Every Sales Encounter

Over the last 4 years of presenting Selling With Confidence I have seen many delegates start the program very shy and cautious. They don't really like selling, but they have to do it anyway. And they aren't sure how to get results and NOT look like the stereotypical 'salesperson'.

My answer to that is for them to learn how to explore the clients situation in enough detail so they can present their solution with power.

Most inexperienced sales people (and that could be someone with 10 years experience in their industry, but not in selling) dive in far too quickly to try and 'sell' their services.

They try to convince their prospect why they should buy.

And this only encourages their prospect to object.

WHY?

Because the prospect doesn't know if you really understand their situation and what they need. So they say 'No'.

The answer is to learn the skills and strategies to understand your prospect and get them to see the value you offer.

Then you can start getting 'Yes'... and start feeling better about selling.

Register for the next Selling With Confidence course:

- Sydney July 7-8
- Melbourne July 21-22
- Brisbane August 5-6

Website Layout for Products vs Services

You may know that I specialize in marketing for service-based businesses. But I do stay in touch with marketing for products as well. When considering the layout for the home page of a website selling products there are some differences to the home page for a website selling services.

One of the key differences is that for a product-based site customers need to be able to quickly navigate to the categories they are interested in. And offering a product search option is important.

Whereas for a service-based site, there is often more of a need to establish the credibility of the provider, and explain what services/outcomes are being offered. A bit more education is required.

For some great tips on how to layout your product-based home page I suggest you check out this article about Perfecting Your Online Stores Homepage at Ralph Wilson's fantastic website Web Marketing Today.

If you sell services and need some ideas, see my article about online marketing for service businesses.

Making Your First Million-dollar Sale

If you dream of making your first million-dollar sale then read these success stories from Inc.com of how four entrepreneurs made it into the big time.

It's interesting to note the main elements of success, and how they are common across many success stories.

* Being prepared for something BIG. Knowing what might happen and making contingency plans.

* Having patience. Big deals, with big companies, can take many months to mature after the initial presentation.

* Talking to the right people in the client organization. Sometimes you need to work around existing channels to get your message across.

Reminder: Don't lose sight of what is possible. If you want those big deals worth big bucks, then put in the homework and be prepared to work hard to make it happen. It's rarely an 'overnight' success!