Web Content Is Vital To Having an Effective Web Site

An appealing design will pull people into your web site, but it’s the content that will make them stick and become buyers. In other words: Pictures tell, but words sell. That’s why your content is one of the most important elements of your web site.

Outlining a clear strategy for your content is the initial step to creating effective content for your web site. First, identify what you want to accomplish, what information it will include and how the content will be organized.

Your site should provide information your prospects need to know to buy from you plus information you want them to know that will convince them to buy from you. Need-to-know-type content for potential customers might include information about your company, products/services, customers and testimonials.

Information that you want them to know might include work samples, frequently asked questions, press releases, reports, articles and other material that can educate them about your business. And don’t forget to include a clear and effective marketing message that will convert visitors into buyers. After all, isn’t that the primary reason for having a web site?

While your content must cater to site visitors, it should also be strategically developed for the best performance with search engines. So be sure to include the right keywords in your regular text, meta tags, headings, etc. The goal is to make your content appealing to site visitors and search engines. If you optimize your content effectively, you can keep a steady stream of free traffic flowing to your web site.

Web Content Writing Tips

One of the most important things to remember when writing content is this: Keep it simple and clear. Most people find it 30 times harder to read text on a computer screen than on paper. Also, site visitors tend to skim over web content, focusing on headlines, bold text and links. So be sure to format your web content so the information is easy for people to find, read and understand.

Here are seven smart ways to create effective Web content:

1. Be concise. Cut out extra words in sentences, get to the point and express what you need to say quickly.

2. Be conversational. Don’t use complicated words or business language no one outside your industry will understand. Just write the way you talk, so your copy will convey a friendly, comfortable and confident tone. 

3. Write in small chunks. Group ideas by topics and present them in small, manageable chunks of information. Keep your sentences as short as possible and vary the lengths so you hold readers’ interest. Then add descriptive, bold headings that will make the content easier to scan. 

4. Give good information. Most people go online to find information about their hobbies, products or other interests. Don’t waste their time by placing useless, self-serving content on your site. Make sure you provide information that’s not only interesting, but also educational and enriching. (In fact, many search engines won’t consider listing sites into their databases if they lack useful information.)

5. Use descriptive links. Go beyond the typical "click here" link on your Web pages. Try something like: “Take our demo,” “Get a sample,” or “ Order now!” Not only is this more engaging, but it can enhance your performance with search engines.

6. Link to complementary Web sites. Include links to Web sites that offer supplementary (not competing) information. This will not only benefit your site visitors, but it also can boost your search engine ranking.

7. Keep your content fresh. Keep the information on your site interesting and updated so visitors will have a reason to come back.

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Copyright 2006, Kate Smalley

Connecticut Secretary

http://www.connecticutsecretary.com

kms@connecticutsecretary.com

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Posted by Kate Smalley at 03:36 PM | Permalink

Three Simple Tips to Boosting Your Website Traffic

Would you like to attract more visitors to your Website? Try these three easy, effective, traffic-building tactics:

1. Register Multiple Domain Names. Your domain name—also known as your Web address or Uniform Resource Locator (URL)—is an important element of your online presence. That’s why it’s important to have a name that’s short, simple and easy to remember. You can include your company name, plus searchengine-friendly keywords that are relevant to your product or service. To attract visitors from a variety of locations, register multiple domain names and point them to your site. Having variations of your domain name can help you cater to different segments within your market, as well as emphasize different aspects of your business.

Also, be sure to take advantage of direct navigation to capture “type-in” traffic. Type-in traffic is simply traffic generated when someone types a Website address directly in their browser address bar. And it’s one of the most popular ways for consumers to locate information, products or services online. In fact, research shows that 86 percent of online consumers reach Websites using non-search methods such as type-in traffic. Also, type-in traffic produces Website visitors that are twice more likely to convert to buyers than those coming from search engine links.

Type-in traffic is the purest, most targeted form of traffic on the Internet because it doesn’t rely on search engine placement, paid advertising or links from other sites. With type-in traffic, Web surfers locate information without using search engines/directories or clicking on links from other Websites. They typically access Websites directly by typing descriptive keywords with a .com into their browser’s address box. For example, Web users interested in tropical vacations, would type www.tropicalvacations.com in their browser. To capture this traffic, you would simply purchase this domain name and then forward visitors to your Website.

Additionally, type-in traffic can send a steady stream of high-quality, hot leads to your Website. Here’s why: Internet users who type keywords into their browsers are actively searching for products and services. And this makes type-in traffic a powerful marketing tool for businesses wanting to boost Website traffic and reach a broader target market. 

2. Submit to Major Search Engines and Directories. Search engines and directories are the electronic equivalent of the Yellow Pages. Therefore, you should optimize and submit your site to search engines, so it’s easier for people to find your business online. Search engines can drive a steady stream of “free” traffic to your site—people who are actively seeking your products/services. Also be sure to submit your site to directories that relate to your topic or target audience. This will not only help improve your link popularity, but it will also satisfy the search engines and very possibly increase your keyword search ranking and Website traffic.

3. Promote. Promote. Promote. You have to constantly promote your site in order for it to be successful with your existing and potential customers. Consider using pay-per-click advertising from Google, Overture or Yahoo! to drive instant, qualified traffic to your site. Send spam-free promotional emails and a regular e-newsletter for target campaigns. You can also submit articles to online magazines and other Websites, including a link back to your own Website. And don’t overlook the effectiveness of banners, pop-up ads and online classifieds. The possibilities for online advertising are almost endless!

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Copyright, 2006
Kate Smalley, Connecticut Secretary
Transcription Services and Freelance Secretarial Support
http://www.connecticutsecretary.com
kms@connecticutsecretary.com

Posted by Kate Smalley at 08:00 AM | Permalink