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If you run an online business, you have certainly wondered how to maximize your presence in cyberspace in order to get more sales. As the internet is still an evolving and developing entity, many people who start a business online are wondering the same thing. And while being a business owner online or offline can be a challenge, there are some simple things you can do now to maximize your current sales, as well as secure your future sales.

1.) Your Site's Design
One of the most important things you can do to maximize sales is to ensure your web site is doing its job; selling. The entire purpose of having a web site is to sell your products and services. If your page is poorly designed, or does not function properly, visitors will not become customers. It is recommended to have a knowledgeable professional assist you in the design and development of your site, as there is a lot that needs to be taken into account. In fact, small, simple mistakes can kill your conversion rate quickly. Often times, business owners overlook the importance of things like their product page and their checkout process, leaving visitors to try to navigate through a sea of cyber junk. Essentially, your website needs to be focused on the customer's experience. You want a sleek page that is functional, without sacrificing usability.

2.) Search Engine Optimization
Search engine optimization, or SEO, is a means by which your web site is tweaked to be found by search engines more easily. This process is also aimed at trying to get your site ranked higher in search engine results. Editing certain information on your pages, such as its keywords or other metadata, is one part of the equation, while adding incoming links to other people's web sites is another. The process of SEO can take a while to work, but it is a long term strategy to maximize your exposure to potential customers online, while allowing you the potential to maximize sales.

3.) Gain Repeat Business
"Under promise and over deliver." This phrase has been used in business for centuries, and it is just as relevant in the online world as well. By offering the customer the best value for their money, and by following through on your promises, you are sure to gain repeat customers, thereby maximizing sales. All too often, online business owners over promise things, and then when they cannot possibly meet their own obligations, the customer is left missing out. This is not good business, and will almost assuredly destroy any hopes of repeat business. In order to maximize sales, you want to leave the customer with a completely positive experience, leaving open a greater possibility of repeat business. Doing this will also usually lead to that customer telling others of their positive experience with you, further maximizing potential future sales.

4.) Use Advertising Effectively
There are many advertising companies online that promise to have your company seen in front of thousands, or even millions, of people. At first, this may sound like a good marketing avenue to pursue; however, you should keep in mind what your target demographic is. Your approach to advertising should not be a "throw everything at the wall and see what sticks" approach. Use your advertising budget wisely, and only target your demographic. By doing this, you will maximize sales while not wasting money on useless advertising campaigns.

5.) Track Your Stats
As with any business, you need to measure the success your business is having. In the online world, one way to do this is by measuring analytics. Analytics are basically statistics about your website, and they can tell you everything from how many unique visits you have to your site, as well as what the ratio of visitors to customers is, and what pages people are visiting on your site the most. Knowing this information, you can then tailor your site to make it more friendly to visitors, thereby maximizing sales.

Jen Silva is a writer for Choosewhat.com. ChooseWhat is a company that provides product reviews and test data for business services and products such as business cards and PBX services. Their goal is to help small companies make informed buying decisions on business solutions that help their business.