3 Things To Track If You Want A Thriving Business Online

Would you like a run a thriving business online? As business owners, we are constantly flooded with a lot of things to do (both personal and business), so, where in the world are we going to find the time to keep track of what is happening around our business online?

Well, if you want a thriving business, I believe it’s important to keep an eye on what’s happening around it online. I’ll do my best to share some pointers for you to consider, especially if you’re currently trying to figure out how best to approach online marketing:

#1 – Your Traffic Sources:

Do your best to keep an eye on where ALL your traffic (mostly organic) is coming from. The fact that you’re active on a particular social media platform (i.e. Facebook), does not mean your organic traffic will only come from there. If you are sharing content online, and your website is well optimised for SEO, then there’s a chance of getting found via search engines, and other channels.

I’d presume you already know about Google Analytics, so I won’t dwell too much on the subject. If you don’t have it setup on your website yet, then it’s something to look into (all you need to do is ask for help, if you’re not able to set it up yourself 🙂 ). But if you have another tracking system you’re using, then that’s fine.

This process will help you know where to spend your time/money, and also the platforms to keep an eye on. In my case, Pinterest has now surpassed LinkedIn to become my 2nd social media traffic source (Facebook remains #1). This is because of the fact that I’m always sharing my blog posts to Pinterest (I share to other networks as well though).

Other things to consider:

• If you have a web form on your website for visitors to fill (e.g. a booking form), you can can ask them how they found you on it (this will be a drop down with various options). This can also form part of the conversation you’ll have with the prospects once you get on the phone with him/her… “so what was it that made you decide to click through to book this session with me?” (just a sample question).

• Be sure to use link trackers in order to track the clicks on the links you share on social media (this will also help you know where your traffic is coming from). I share some of the ones I use here on this ‘conversions engine blueprint‘.

What to look out for… referral sites, direct traffic (i.e. people with direct links), social media, email, organic/search engines, Ad traffic, and new/returning visitors.

#2 – Your Conversions (Leads & Sales):

A thriving business is one that has consistent conversions, on a monthly basis. Conversions is often my primary focus, when it comes to online marketing. Don’t get me wrong, traffic is good, but if there are no conversions coming in, then there’s something wrong somewhere.

Tracking your conversions online is very important, because it gives you an idea of how well your funnel systems are doing. If you have a broken (or leaky) funnel, and you don’t have a clue that there’s a problem, then you’re missing out on potential leads and sales.

How do you monitor these things? When you setup a funnel, it’s important to test it to see if it works, before publishing it (confession: I’ve often fallen short on this advice… so this is also a note to self 😀 ).

There are several tools out there that you can use to setup your funnels, and also track what’s happening in regards to your conversions. If your landing/sale pages are underperforming, you will know.

If you’d like to a grab a free copy of my conversions engine blueprint, then click here –
(There are lists of tools and ideas on the blueprint for you to consider).

#3 – Your Communication Sequence:

This is usually the aspect of online marketing which brings in the most sales for businesses, and the reason is because roughly 90% or more of first time contacts will not convert immediately. You need to know how to make this work if you want to have a thriving business.

Usually, after a few communications with your leads (value based), a percentage of them are likely to convert to clients/customers. Also, the ones who are already clients/customers will likely buy more from you, if you keep giving them value, and also provide offers that resonate with them.

It’s a process that needs consistency. It can take months (sometimes years) for some people to even consider becoming your client/customer. That fact that you’re not getting the response you need now, does not mean you should give up. I tend to put myself in the shoes of those within my communication database, and this helps me create contents that are focused on them (I don’t always get it right though, that’s why I’m big on surveys and polls).

With the vast amounts of email marketing tools out there, it’s best to narrow things down to what you intend to achieve via emails, and then look at the tool that will give you results. Another thing to keep an eye on is your CRM platform (if you have any).

Knowing your CLV (customer lifetime value) goes a long way to help you communicate effectively with them online. If you’re passive when it comes to engaging with them, then they’ll head off somewhere else. Customer services/support is where most businesses make the most impact, which also drives sales.

Conclusion:

Keeping track of these things should not be a burden, but a process that actually helps you understand the direction your business is going online. When it comes to tracking online, there are a gazillion tools out there to use, but the downside to this is usually overwhelm, especially when it comes choosing the right tool(s), price, and how to set things up.

Your traffic source will determine your conversions, and when you build a good database of leads and clients/customers, there’s a chance of growing your sales… as long as you stay consistent with value based contents and good offers.

I hope this was helpful? Have your say on the comments section below and share your own  online tracking ideas.

To your success!