by Mike Leberman

Lead theft is occurring every day on every single website. Even yours. How can you know if someone is stealing your leads? And more importantly, how can you stop lead theft?

First, look at the number of unique visitors landing on your website each month. (Those are people who want to buy from you. After all, they found your site, right? They searched or were referred to you, and they visited your site.) Then look at the number of leads your site generates for your business. If the number isn’t 2% of total visitors, your competitors are stealing your leads.

Here is an example. If you had 1,000 visitors to your site, you should expect to get 20 leads per month from your website. If you are only getting five leads a month from your website, someone is stealing 15 leads a month from you. Do the math on your own site. If you don’t know how many unique visitors you are getting, find out and find out fast.

Maybe right now you’re asking, “Who is taking them? How do they know who my leads are?”

Your competitors are taking them. They’re stealing them because your website is failing to capture the attention of your “ready to buy” prospects. After prospects leave your website, they are going to your competitors’ website, and your competitors are getting those leads.

How do I know this? I know this because buyer behavior has changed, and 88% of buyers start doing research for products and

services online. I know this because Google reports that 9 out of 10 people visit your website before calling you, clicking through, or reaching out in any way. I know this because Microsoft reported that people typically spend 10 seconds on a site before hitting the back button and looking at the next site. Is that enough hard data?

If you’re not worried, you should be. Now, how do we stop lead theft? It’s actually quite easy to stop people from stealing your leads. The first step is recognizing you have a problem—and starting to fix it.

The process all starts with a more effective website.

Here is a quick assessment you can do on your site right now.

1. Make sure your website has the right messages on the home page. These messages must connect with the prospect quickly and emotionally.
2. Make sure your home page is designed in a simple-to-read, easy-to-navigate format. If your visitors have to think too hard, they are going to leave very quickly.
3. Your website must have educational information, including videos, all over it. Buyers want to be helped—not sold to. Give them educational content, and they will stay on your site.
4. Your website has to make your visitors feel safe and comfortable that you–and only you—can help them. The more remarkable your products or services, the better your buyers will feel about your business.
5. Your website must have testimonials, case studies, or success stories from other people. Your visitors don’t believe you; they want to see what other people like them have to say.
6. Your website has to work right, the first time, on all browsers, smart phones, and tablets. Potential customers are unforgiving. If your site doesn’t work or looks strange, they click onto another site.

I know it sounds basic, but you would be surprised how many website fail these six simple tests. Take a long hard look at your site. I bet you are losing leads to your competitors right now.

Co-founder of Square 2 Marketing, Mike Lieberman is passionate about helping entrepreneurs and marketing professionals create marketing machines. Mike also is the author of the popular Remarkablog and a frequent speaker on Reality Marketing.

Source: MarketingProfs