The 3Q Secret Formula
Having worked on a lot of websites in the past decade or so, we discovered the key to making a successful one. With that, we developed the 3Q Formula in building a website.
The 3Q Formula is a simple 3-set questionnaire that we ask ourselves (website developer and owner alike). This will help us determine the best approach to presenting information on your website and ultimately convert its users into income-generating clients / customers. Jump to 3Qs
The 3 questions to the 3Q formula
- Why would anyone drop by?
- What are they searching for?
- How can you guide your visitors gently towards become loyal customers?
If you could nail these three simple but powerful questions, you’re on the right path to building a website that not only attracts but also converts visitors into actual paying customers. Sounds simple, right? Let’s break these questions down and see how they apply to different scenarios.
Why would anyone drop by?
Your website stands as the digital reflection of you or your business in the world wide web. When planning the layout and content of your website, it’s paramount to grasp the motivations behind a person’s visit.
Understand that your website’s core mission is to cater to its users. If you’ve served these users well, they’d eventually convert into valued clients or customers.
Let’s answer the question together in different scenarios…
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Example 1: Architect
Let's say you're an architect. People might come to your website because they need help with designing their house or a building. -
Example 2: Dentist
Imagine you're a dentist. People could visit your website when they need dental work done. They probably want to find a clinic that's close by. -
Example 3: Restaurant Owner
Suppose you own a restaurant. Folks might stop by your website because they're searching for a place to eat or celebrate a special event. -
Example 4: Lawyer
If you're a law firm. Someone might visit your website if they need legal advice or a representative for their case. -
Example 5: Online Shop
If you're running an online shop, people will come to your website because they want to buy things online.
What are they searching for?
The best way to answer this question is by imagining you’re the person visiting the website. Let’s circle back to our examples above.
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Example 1: Architect
If I wanted a house that has a modern contemporary design, I'd certainly be looking for an architect who has experience building modern contemporary houses. So, I'd check out pictures of the houses you've designed before to see if I like your style. -
Example 2: Dentist
If I wanted to go to your dental clinic, I'd want to know where it is. I most certainly would want a clinic that's nearby. I want it to be easy to get there. Then, I'd look for your clinic hours. Finally, I'd need to figure out how to get in contact with you and make an appointment. -
Example 3: Restaurant Owner
If I'm thinking about going to your restaurant, I'd for sure want to know where it is and when it's open. Next, I might want to look at the menu. And if I'm thinking about holding an event there, I'd like to see pictures of the place and how much it choses. After that, I'd want to know how to make a reservation or speak with the events person. -
Example 4: Lawyer
The first thing I'd like to know about your law firm is what kind of cases you handle. It'd be good to know if you've worked on cases like mine before. And if you've had, I'd be curious to know how well you did. -
Example 5: Online Shop
There are two types of shoppers. First, there's the shopper who knows exactly what they want to buy. Then there's the shopper who just feels like burning some money on something but doesn't know exactly what. If I am the first kind of shopper, I'd quickly search for what I want, add it to my cart, pay for it, then go. If I'm the second kind of shopper, I'd spend more time on your website, looking randomly at things.
How can you guide your visitors gently towards become loyal customers?
With a clear understanding of the stuff our users are likely looking for on our website, we can now move on to answering question number 3.
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Example 1: Architect
Having a special page just for your past projects would be nice. This page can show pictures of houses you've designed before so when people see this, they'll know your design style. -
Example 2: Dentist
You could put a map to help people find your dental clinic easily. Make sure your clinic hours and details on how to reach you are prominently displayed. It's also a great idea to let people schedule appointments right on your website. -
Example 3: Restaurant Owner
Just like the last example 3, having a map that will help people find your restaurant would be great. You should also make a website where your menu is shown. And if your restaurant has special rooms for events, letting people book those rooms directly on your website can make it really convenient for them. -
Example 4: Lawyer
Make sure to show a clear list of the services your offer on your website. Have a page where you talk about cases you've done well in the past. Also, write a bit how to deal with cases that you've dealt with in the past can help show your expertise. -
Example 5: Online Shop
To help make things easier for the first kind of shopper, add a search bar that's usable on every page. To understand and cater to the second type of shopper, there are 3 important things to know about them:
1) Everybody likes to save. C'mon, who doesn't? You can make a special section on your homepage featuring 'on sale' or 'discounted' items. This can get your users instantly hooked and spend more time (and money, hopefully!) on your online shop.
2) New stuff is exciting. Nobody wants old stuff, right? Create a section on your homepage for 'new items'. This can make the user feel like they're getting them before everyone else.
3) People love hype. "If everyone else is buying it, I must have it!" Along with having a section for 'Hot Products' or 'Mostly Bought', add a feature where people can leave reviews or rate products. This can create a buzz and excitement around your products.
Takeaway
Creating an exceptional website boils down to understanding what people want or need and giving it to them. They are the end-users, after all. By stepping into the shoes of your potential visitors, we can design a website that’s user-friendly, valuable, and affective at turning visitors into customers. Find out how much it will cost you to build an awesome website, use our free website cost calculator.