Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Flipboard 3 Every time someone arrives at your website, they take just a few seconds to form an opinion about you, your business, and your products/services. Regardless of how high you show up in the search results, how many links you have, and how many fancy graphics you have, your visitors are going to look at ONE thing when they’re sizing you up — your content. So, what do people REALLY think when they visit your website? There are a ton of GOOD thoughts that your web content can generate. For example, if it’s well-written and carefully-researched, it’s easy for people to assume that you’re a legitimate expert in your industry. Or, if it’s written very conversationally, it’s easy for people to assume that you genuinely understand their problems and want to offer an easy way to solve them. However, there are a ton of BAD thoughts that your web content can generate, too. And, your content doesn’t have to be blatantly horrible to make people think poorly of you. Even a few simple mistakes can damage your credibility forever. So, put yourself in the shoes of one of your visitors, and take an HONEST look at your content. You may discover that … …People think you’re lazy To you, a spelling error is a minor typo that no one will hold against you. However, to your website’s visitors, it’s the equivalent of holding up a neon sign that says “I’M LAZY!” After all, if you’re too lazy to proofread something as important as the content on your website, what else are you too lazy to do? Once people start thinking you’re a corner-cutter, you can kiss that boatload of sales goodbye. …People think you blend into the crowd How many competitors do you have? If you run an online business, there are thousands — or even millions — of other people who are targeting the same audience that you are. If your content doesn’t stand out, your website’s visitors aren’t going to understand why they should choose to do business with YOU over all of those other people. …People think you’re only looking out for yourself photo courtesy of Patty O’Hearn Kickham on flickr It’s one thing to have catchy sales copy that people remember long after they read it. However, you can’t publish web content that’s ALL style and no substance. Underneath those eye-catching bullet points, your website’s visitors are going to want to see that you offer legitimate answers and solutions. If your content doesn’t properly convey all of the benefits to working with you, you’re going to look like one of “those” people — you know, the ones who simply want to make a quick buck, and don’t have any real interest in helping their customers. …People think you’re a “wannabe”, instead of a “somebody” photo courtesy of istolethetv on flickr There are “wannabes” all over the web. (Don’t believe me? Just do a quick Google search, and you’ll see hundreds of websites where people are TRYING to look like experts, but in reality, don’t have the credentials to specialize in anything!) The “somebodies” do things very differently from the “wannabes”. Specifically, they don’t waste web visitors’ time with fluff. They get straight to the point. They make it clear that they understand their target audience’s needs, concerns, and problems. They offer up solutions that are distinctly different from what the competition offers. They have a website that’s authoritative, interesting to read, and genuinely helpful If you’re not doing ALL of those things, you’re telling the world that you’re a “wannabe” — and your visitors are smart enough to pick up on it! Twitter Tweet Facebook Share Email This article was written for Business 2 Community by Nicole Beckett.Learn how to publish your content on B2C Author: Nicole Beckett Follow @nicolebeckett Nicole Beckett spent more than a decade telling compelling stories as a TV news anchor and reporter. Now, as the President of Premier Content Source, Nicole prides herself on taking her clients' businesses to new levels through a variety of content writing services and content marketing consultations. She also… View full profile ›More by this author:3 Content Myths That Are Killing Your Bottom Line4 Reasons Why People Hate Your Blog5 Lies Your Content Marketing ‘Expert’ Is Telling You