The following began as a simple post on my Facebook wall.
Blows me away! Out of all the people who appear on Shark Tank only a handful have their websites optimized for new traffic.
Most do not have a way for visitors to opt in for anything whether it be a coupon, a report or a training video as it relates to their products and services and market need. Oy vey.
These people are being seen by millions of people yet they are not doing all they can to have their site completely “visitor” ready.
Wake up folks. If you’ve made it to the Shark Tank wouldn’t it be a good idea to prepare your site for it?
The number of likes and comments I received on this short post were a lot more than expected. Most people agreed with me while a couple of people said I shouldn’t be critical.
It’s not about being critical, it’s about educating entrepreneurs on how a few simple steps can increase effectiveness and revenues.
Imagine the hoops Shark Tank contestants have to go through to appear on the show. This is no easy feat.
It is beyond my comprehension that contestants wouldn’t do all possible to bring their site up to the highest standard possible when their story will be seen by millions of people.
You can bet lots of viewers are checking out contestants websites on their IPads, IPhones, and laptops while watching the show.
Imagine how many opportunities are missed if there isn’t a way for someone to opt in. Ouch!
Without capturing contact information visitors will likely never come back to your site and will soon forget about you. A harsh reality.
Here’s a simple rule; have an opt in opportunity with something of extremely high value for site visitors.
When you have someone’s email address you can let them know about specials, discounts and product bundles while continuing to create massive value for your subscribers.
Once someone opts in continue to create high value as well as offer products and services they would benefit from.
If you’ve been looking for a simple solution on how to increase revenues you generate from your site, I just gave it to you.
Far too often people say, “My business is not working.”
Yet, when they are given the solution on what to do they don’t take advantage of it.
For example, there was one Shark Tank participant I had a phone conversation with after he appeared on the show. He was frustrated he didn’t get the funding he had hoped for nor was his site selling much at all.
Within seconds of being on his site I identified a few glaring problems with his site.
I told him I wanted to use his site as a case study for a group of my high level clients. I wanted to show them a few simple changes that he could make to make the site a money magnet.
“Absolutely,” he said without hesitation.
I created a short screen capture video in which I pointed out the most obvious steps he could take to improve conversions. The video was made available to my private clients as well as to the owner of the site.
The guy got really excited about the information, saying he was going to update his site as soon as possible.
One change would have been very simple; offer a gift such as a report, short video or MP3 that visitors would opt in for.
Another was to offer a fabulous special for Shark Tank viewers. Make it super easy and very low risk for people to make their first purchase.
The site owner received the video about four months ago. Not one change has been made.
Mind you, if he would have said, “I’m not interested, I have no desire to change things, beat it,” I would be fine with that But the fact is, he got really excited by my offer, said he didn’t know much about using the Internet to market his business and welcomed my recommendations.
So why hasn’t he updated his site? Simple. He’s not convinced it’s worth the effort.
Consider this, online purchases this holiday season were up considerably from last year.
Retail web sales increased 12% over last year’s holiday shopping season and surpassed $92 billion according to Shop.org, the digital division of the National Retail Federation trade group.
The increase covers shopping during November and December.
E-retail spending to increase 62% by 2016.U.S. consumers will spend $327 billion online in 2016, Forrester Research says.
Personally, I think the projection is low. I predict the increase will be well over 100% in the next three years.
Most consumers are choosing online means to purchase what they want. For an entrepreneur not to have your site fully optimized (especially when millions of eyes will be seeing what they offer) is crazy.
If you’re not doing everything you possible to ride this ever-increasing wave, you’re soon to be left behind.
Mind you, opt in boxes are not the only thing you have to do. There is more to the process. It would behoove you to be fully prepared when any opportunity arises.
What would you do to prepare if you knew you were appearing on Shark Tank? Comments welcome.
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Kathleen,
Thanks for this reminder of the importance of having our sites visitor-ready, especially when those visitors could be investors or customers.
I have the opt-in box, but need to make it clearer what my services are and how to work with me. That just moved to the top of my to-do list.
My pleasure Flora. And yes, get that list checked off. 🙂
Hi Kathleen,
I totally agree! My hubby & I enjoy watching Shark Tank every week too, and many times I go to check out their sites & I am amazed at how often their sites are so user unfriendly, or don’t even mention being on the show! We all know that just being on the show is great publicity, even if they don’t make a deal–so many missed opportunities. One of our favorite parts of the show are the updates of past participants, it can be so motivating & inspirational!
I personally do most of my shopping online these days, especially when you can get free shipping on so many of them (by checking sites like freeshipping.org), so I agree with you about the increase of online shopping too. Thanks for always giving such great info! Juls
Yes, it blows me away when they have no reference to the show. The words, Shark Tank, would give them some SEO yet, they likely have not invested in hiring a consultant who can help them optimize. Saving a few bucks on the front end is costing them huge on the back end.
Wow Kathleen, I love Shark Tank and I am amazed that participants are not more prepared. Thanks for sharing your insights!
It always amazes me at how unprepared folks are.
I’ve recently got invited to be on AGT, sent reply have to wait do to a spinal fusion. Response? If I get better before April contact. I want on to get out my children books, and I don’t care if I get booed off the stage. i could get out my children books. So it’s a win, win situation for me. I think my site is ready. We’ll see
Way to go on AGT.
The link to “5 Easy Step” is not working.
David, that’s an image just to show people what they can put up. It is not live.
Sorry for the confusion. You can, however, opt in for my free report by got to the upper right hand area of my blog.
Kathleen –
Sharp and right to the point with your quick assessment and list of solutions. Entrepreneurs would be “crazy” not to follow the steps and strategies you outline! You’ve given them a key to success!
“Most consumers are choosing online means to purchase what they want. For an entrepreneur not to have your site fully optimized (especially when millions of eyes will be seeing what they offer) is crazy. ”
Terry
And there are lots of “crazy” people out there. LOL
You are soooo right! I’ve been disappointed by many a website from that show because I WANT to hear from them and when their products are ready! It should almost be a requirement to be on the show..that and to get a private server for the day it airs. I’ve seen way to many sites go down the day of the show as well.
Nice to know we like the same things in television too:)
I agree. There have been times I want to stay in touch with these folks but they make it near impossible.
Isn’t that just shocking?!? In this world of instant communication where everyone and his left brother is walking around with at least one e-device, not to have a decent website to get people back to if you’re on this show makes my head reel! Thanks for pointing this out – all the more reason to continue to urge clients to upgrade their websites! Happy new year, Kathleen –
aloha –
Angela
Kathleen, I too watch Shark tank and am surprised the gentleman did not use your guidance. I have what i think is perhaps an unusual question. A friend of yours Lynne Klippel is my publisher for my first book, just out. She checked out my website and said it was good enough that I did not need to develop a site purely for the book but to have some secondary pages for it and connect them.
My question for you is when you are in a field such as I am in which is animals consciousness and spirituality and I do have a non-profit animal foundation – how can you really really best drive traffic to your site or create a niche tribe or community of people to know you? There isn’t that just one question to solve or problem to fix. I work with healing,communication, transition, and loss.
I do think what is different about me is that I have identified specific agreements that the animals have come in for to experience with us – but for anyone who is working in a different level or aspect that does not fit the typical models today – how do we best track or get peoples’ attention?
A great way to drive traffic is through forum involvement. Do a search on Google such as Animal Consciousness + Forum. There are likely to be lots of forums that come up. You will need to research those that do to see which your target market hangs out in. Get involved, become visible and position yourself as a valuable resource.
You can also do a search on blogs that would be of interest to your market and see about doing guest blogging.
And of course, paid advertising with very specific criteria of who sees your advertisement could work nicely.
There’s more but these three will get you moving in the right direction.
Kathleen,
please forgive me, a new computer so my finer slipped and wrong email sent and i did not even give you the name of my book – it is The Fur Agreements – Lessons in Consciousness from the Animals – thanks for your time.
Kathleen, you are so on target. I shared your article with our LinkedIn group, She E.O.’s Watching Shark Tank. What also surprises me are the people who haven’t done their homework and don’t know their numbers.
Live in Southern California? The South Bay Entrepreneurial Entrepreneur Center is hosting Tune your Pitch Bootcamp, parts 1 and 2 http://www.meetup.com/SouthBayEntrepreneurialCenter/events/98995902/
I have never seen Shark tank, and never want to be in one! Sounds like a fascinating show via the safety of TV, however. Lots of interesting comments here. I was particularly struck by Tricia Working’s comments and query – as we have much in common (and in common with Kathleen) – animal beings worthy of our wonder and protection. For me the main impetus has been my now departed wolf, Lupey – a truly amazing animal whom I tried to understand first “objectively” as a scientist and then more deeply by no longer treating him as an “objective object” but part of a full partner in our relationship, one of trust and mutual affection (see first website starts, lupeywolf.com). No where near as powerful a website as he (Lupey) and the book in progress deserve.
As a side note, there is a fascinating philosophical paper by Thomas Nagel (1974) on what is it like to be a bat. He admits we can never fully know. Fully knowing in anything may always be beyond our grasp, but knowing all we can within the niches we choose as individuals always makes sense. Here Kathleen’s sage advice (and compassion) is special.
I have enjoyed and benefited from the comments raised by all here.
John
Hi John, so glad to connect with you through Kathleen – I completely understand your concept of having your beloved Lupey as a full partner in your relationship – I believe that that is where we as humanity oftentimes miss the mark – by making assumptions of what and where the animals are and are not and ourselves as well. If we come here to experience lessons and to heal, teach, message others, then how can we assume that the animals do not do the same? Would love to connect with you and others in the community who are animal-hearted and very much open to learning how to get information out into the world on behalf of the animals.
Kathleen, thank you for the suggestions I will look into them – you were really great on the Successful author series and are a blessing to those of us just finding our way. How does one put their pcture up here?
Spot on Kathleen. To get on the show the entrepreneur must be incredibly persistent and committed so just imagine what he could achieve with what would probably only be a day’s work to get his site up to scratch. Great post.
So true on how little time it would actually take to get things set up.
You are absolutely right Kathleen – if I knew I was going to potentially be seen by millions of viewers,
I would want to get my act together on a website – to make sure I had an exciting opt-in offer and simple capture setup for email addresses. But even if I don’t have millions of viewers about to check out my site, I should treat my site that way and so will now go back to the drawing board – I have an opt-in but am missing a juicy reason – a brain fitness give-away (I have a wonderful eBook ready to go), to encourage people to sign up. Sometimes it’s hard to see the things right in front of your nose but also, the YEARS pass in a blink of an eye. So I have to do more in LESS TIME!! Thank you for your advice. I agree about Shark Tank – I enjoy watching the show and learning about valuations and more. Be well. ALLi
Hi Kathleen. Right on point, as usual! I’ve never watched Shark Tank, but it seems like it should be totally obvious that it’s a potential on-line goldmine for particiipants. Even a simple internet radio interview was a huge impetus to make sure I had my website up and a free “irresistible offer” ready to go. I guess the inventors are like many helping professionals–they see the value in the work they do but they don’t think about what is required to actually make it a business. What a missed opportunity.
Interesting article. I have a different angle regarding your post. My view, without giving out a lot of detail, has to do with interviewing many of the winners/participants from Shark Tank for my multimedia book due out at the end of Quarter 1 2013. My book, “Conversations With Shark Tank Winners! How The Shark Tank Effect Dramatically Increased Sales, Exposure And More For These Successful Entrepreneurs” explores what these entrepreneurs did before, during and after their time on the show.
A lot of these entrepreneurs are dealing with All aspects of their businesses and have to make hard choices about what is Urgent and what is important. For example, by going on the show, one of the entrepreneurs I interviewed who had a very limited budget, no business plan or sales is now doing incredible business just from the exposure of going on the show. This entrepreneur didn’t even make a deal but one of the Sharks is working with them and now their website is doing incredible sales etc.. for them.
So there is an amount of uncertainty going on the program. You actually do not know how it will turn out and the entrepreneurs do go through a lot. As one of them told me, “Going on Shark Tank is a grueling process!”
Rey
I definitely agree that it is about priorities, and I would be hard pressed to have someone convince me that gathering viewers’ contact information is not a priority. It would make their sales process a heck of a lot easier.
I, too, love Shark Tank. Right now, I am working on getting a website. So, if I went on Shark Tank, I would definitely make sure my website was up and running, and I have the infrastructure in place to make sure that I could handle the extra traffic and volume of purchases that, I hope, would be a result of the exposure. Thanks for highlighting this very important point and using one of my favorite shows, Shark Tank, to do it. :o)
Tracey L. Moore
Author of the upcoming book, Oasis For My Soul, Poems and Inspirational Writings for Spiritual and Personal Growth
It has been said that luck is when opportunity and preparedness meet.