If you were to host a party at your house, you would [most likely] spruce up the place. Ensure the environment is welcoming. Make sure your guests have something to do. {i.e. food prepared, conversational seating arranged}

As a business owner, let's use that analogy in thinking about your home base—your website.

Let's first ensure your website is in tip-top shape and ready for guests. Is it mobile friendly? Is it easy to navigate? Does your messaging clearly state who you are and what you can offer them? Are there good visuals to draw them in? We live in a visual world, ya' know?

You are prepared to receive new guests, but what about your old, loyal ones who have been around for a while? Are you regularly engaging with them via email? They have been around for a while and are most likely big fans. Nurture them. Up-sell, cross-sell. But make sure each time you reach out to them, it's something valuable.

I recommend using either MailChimp, Flodesk or ConvertKit as your ESP.

Will your site visitors receive a call to action? Do you have an opt-in that will help them solve a problem or entice them to purchase from you instead of your competitor? Once they have acted to your CTA [AKA you've captured their email], do you have a plan or email series in place to keep their attention? Your email engagement can not be a one time and forget it with your audience. Why? Because they will forget about you.

Let's get a solid email series in place [AKA a welcome series] where you will be engaging with your audience. Nurturing them. Building relationships. Establishing your authority in your market. Building trust. And in the end ... making a sale.

By now, you've got an audience—regardless how small or how big—and it is continuing to grow. You've got your ducks in a row when it comes to how your visitors will be treated [the value they will receive from you], so now we can branch out and grow even more.

How? Social media channels, utilizing Facebook ads, affiliate programs, influencer campaigns—just to name a few.

If you've been spending money on marketing and advertising and not seeing a return, let's back up and and see if we need to spruce things up a bit at “your home.”

It's easy to know how awesome your product(s) or service is as the creator. [If you don't believe in it, you need to rethink why you are in business.] But the consumer? He/she may need some convincing. Or definitely an explanation.