"Indeed.   You really do suck.

"Not just you, so do your products.  They suck, too.  And did I mention that your company history is about as interesting as my grandma's Safari Vacation slide show?" said the casual web surfer as he visited your site.

Allow me to explain.

Have you ever been to a web site where the first thing you are shown is the history of the company and information about everyone who works there?

They seemed really proud of themselves.  And the manager of that company probably felt like he was really boosting Mary Sue's morale when he let her post some pictures of her baby on the web site.

Do you remember visiting a site like that?  I'm sure you do.  The web is full of them.  Think back to that website and I bet you'll find one thing to be true: You didn't buy anything there.

This same website proudly displays the words "our product speaks for itself".  And here sits the web surfer with just five questions about the product - waiting in vain for this product to magically speak for itself.

Does this sound like your site?  Take a hard honest look.  I'm sure everyone one of us is guilty to a certain extent of this kind of egotism.  We are proud of ourselves and what we do.  And, heck, we probably deserve to be.  But think back now about the people you know and ask yourself if you know someone who is really proud of himself.  You know?  That person who makes it a point of ensuring you know how proud he is of himself?  I bet you'll find one thing to be true about that person as well: You don't like him.

Don't assume people care about your history.   Don't assume they care about who you are.  They don't.

People care about what your product can do for them.  How it can improve their lives.   If you don't prove this, and prove it well, visitors will automatically assume that your product sucks.

You have 5 seconds or less to grab the attention of the web surfer.  Do you think you should waste any of that time talking about your great corporate history?

No!  Nobody cares.  Put yourself in the shoes of the customer.  Get into his mind and find out what interests him.  If you aren't offering something of immediate benefit to the web surfer, he will say to himself "you suck" over and over.

He will do this by hitting the back button of his browser.

Now, take this time to visit your site as if you were a casual surfer and ask yourself:

1. How much time would I spend here?
2. Would I buy this product myself based on the information I have listed here?
3. Have I clearly stated all of this products features and benefits in such a way the reader immediately understands?
4. Will I be enticed to come back somehow?

Don't delay!  Make changes to your site today that reflect this new insight. Take time to do this now and watch what happens to your bottom line.  It will make a difference.

Article by Mark Joyner, of 1001 Killer Internet Marketing Tactics. Mark is also the CEO of Aesop Marketing Corporation. 1001 KIMT is an absolute *must have* for anyone serious about Internet marketing. It will dramatically boost the results of any campaign in a very real and measurable way. They are offering a special right now where it comes with a bonus database of over 6,000 media contacts (including email and FAX numbers). This could genuinely be the most important URL you visit all year.