The advent of the Internet has made it possible for many people to run a home based business and realize profits far quicker than a mom and pop business did fifty years ago. What hasn't changed is the methods used to bring in customers.

Technological advancements now make it possible to reach customers through the written word, audio and video formats, all valid ways of to bringing in the sale. But a website with all the bells and whistles can still fail if it lacks one important ingredient: The customer's wants and needs.

Developing the skills to reach the customer is based on five key points you absolutely must employ in your site before you can make that first sale.

A Good Understanding on How Your Visitor Thinks:

A flashy website does nothing if it doesn't address the customer's needs within eyesight on the first page. The customer will simply move on if he doesn't see any value in surfing your site. Few people buy based on logic. They buy on emotions and a website has to stimulate those emotions. The reader isn't much concerned about the features of the product, how it's made or what it consists of. He wants to know how it benefits him.

A Strong Promise:

You want your customer to buy while he's on your page. He may not be back tomorrow and will have forgotten about your product the day following. The only way you'll get him to buy is by making a strong promise. That means more than just making a money-back guarantee. It means providing the many benefits of the product and what it can do for him in such a way that he can't leave your site unless he takes out his credit card. These benefits should be there on the front page, not buried within the site. Keep in mind that your promise must be something the viewer actually wants.

Create a Picture:

The viewer is more apt to buy if he sees himself sunning on the beach front you have for sale. Whatever you sell, you need to create a picture in the prospect's mind. Use vivid descriptions and active verbs. If your text doesn't stir some picture in the reader's mind, then you're better off folding up your site and stick to your day job.

Supply Proof:

Viewers are skeptical. They won't buy unless they feel comfortable with you and not how your site is put together. So you need to backup your promises with proof in the form of testimonials, endorsements, facts and even referrals. But you do need to be careful as the viewer does have the ability to spot a fake testimonial. If you use them, they must be specific, not a generalized statement. If the product did what an existing customer says it did for him, the potential buyer is more likely to believe it. So work some proof into your copy.

Leave Features on Another Page:

The first page is there to entice the reader to learn more. Prices and all the technical details should be located on separate pages of your site. However, you should still focus on the reader's desire to keep him interested as he surfs through your site and reads those features. One thing you should keep in mind when you construct your web page is that the features of your product is what the buyer uses to justify his purchase. Before the sale, he is swayed by those many benefits.

If you follow these rules, you are likely to make more sales than the average marketer who puts up a lackluster site that draws little attention.