What will visitors find when they click on a link that takes them to your site?
1. Will the visitor arrive at a sort of brochure that gives some information and has a products link somewhere on home page?
2. Will they come to an online catalogue for a variety of products and services?
3. Or will they land at a focused, straightforward sales page promoting one specific product or service?

Your answer to these questions strongly affects the profitability of your web site. Once you've got traffic coming to your site, here are some useful principles that will help make that traffic more valuable to you.

Market research is clear: confused site visitors with too many choices don't buy. They leave, most of the time never to return. Your first goal, then, is to make it very easy for the visitor to stick around long enough to become your customer or client.

You can accomplish this in one of two basic ways.

One possibility: start with a brochure-type page where the visitor signs up to be on your email list to receive something of value for free. For example, offer a special report or newsletter or digital download, etc. This is a type of site often called a "capture page." Then, follow up with the visitor later via email to make offers of products for sale. Note: in your email follow-up, always include instructions on how to unsubscribe from your list, as well as overall compliance with the CAN-SPAM Act.

Possibility two: start with a single-item sales page promoting a low price-point item, the opening of your "marketing funnel." Your low price-point item will demonstrate the quality of your product or service, and you will get repeat business because you offer good value. At that point, you can introduce your new clients to a wider range of products and prices. They know you deliver, they know they can trust you, and so they'll wade through a bit of information about products that don't interest them to get to those you have that do interest them. Besides, now they are in your data-base, and you can market to them again later when you have a special promotion or a new product.

One thing that is usually not a good idea is to present a first-time visitor with a big catalogue site. Lots of products and prices and other distractions might look impressive, but you've got less than 3 seconds to capture the attention of a first-time visitor following a link as they search on-line. A focused, compelling headline is the best way to keep their interest and encourage them to stay at your site.

If you've paid for the link the visitor clicked on to arrive at your site, you naturally want to make the most of the opportunity. You want to get your return on investment (ROI). Many online business owners believe that means making a sale immediately. However, the savvy online business-person understands that making the most of the opportunity really means beginning a relationship with a new prospect, usually via email follow-up contacts.

That's why you save the big beautiful catalogue site for later, after they've become your client, and they know you provide good service and a high quality product. Then, after you've established a relationship, use a catalogue site for back-end sales galore.

All right. That's the story of why to use certain kinds of sites. Now, when you're ready to create your 'capture page' or your one-item sales page, you can find copy writing resources on-line. The resources could involve hiring a copy writer, using a copy writing product, or writing your own page from scratch, depending on your budget and skills. The following list contains nine essential elements of a good page.

1. Headline
2. The Story
3. Credibility
4. Benefits
5. Features
6. Bonuses
7. Value build-up
8. Ordering information
9. Post Script

Use this as a checklist and look around for good models of any of these elements. Use the examples you find as inspiration, but you or your copy writer will use your own way of saying it and applying it to your offer. You'll notice that copy writing is largely formulaic. If you find and follow a good formula, you'll profit from your efforts.