If You Build It, Will They Come?
 by: Alexandra Leonova


When some business owners launch their websites, they wait for that success they’ve heard so much about, to start rolling.

I’ve heard some business owners say “I thought when I’ll launch my website; the entire world will see it.” Unfortunately that’s not how it works.

If you build it, they won’t come automatically. But that’s when usually most of the work starts. Here are some tips how to make your website successful:

Is your website search engine friendly?

If you’ll perform a local search for your product or services, does your website appear on search engine’s result page? If it does not come up when you do a local search, then your website requires web search engine optimization and implementation of keywords. Roughly 25 percent of online buyers seek merchants that are near their home or work locations, according to TKG and Bizrate, as 44 percent of survey respondents revealed that were performing more local searches than they were one year ago.

Keywords are important if you want your local buyers to find your business or services by using a local search engine. For example if a company is an independent contractor, that company should use keywords such as : “independent contractor Indianapolis, handyman services, Indiana, windows installation, custom flooring installation” etc. You get the idea right? By defining keywords based on services or goods and adding city’s name and state, these keywords will help that independent contractor’s website to be displayed when someone is doing a local search on search engine.

Also your website’s content just as important as keywords. Writing good content and using keywords that define your business is a key to get high rankings with search engines.

Making your web site rank higher with search engines

Nowadays some search engines rank website based on how many other websites are linked to your website. Add your website to as many online directories as you can and have other websites link to yours. Having high number of other websites link to yours, will boost your website’s search engine ranking per page, according to Google.com.

Avoid intros and flash slow loading screens.

Although having some animation with music on your website seemed like a wow effect five years ago, customer’s expectations are rapidly changing. As the saying goes “You only have one chance to make a first impression” – will your website make that first, lasting impression? If a potential customer has to sit there in front of computer and wait for your intro to load and play, most likely they’ll leave your website right away and go to your competitor’s website whose website does not have any annoying flash intros and competitor’s website has clean code and professionally, beautifully designed.

Also using flash movies on your website or having your website designed in Flash might not be such a good idea. When a website is done entirely in flash, search engines will less likely to spider your website. Search engines most likely to list a website that uses keywords relevant to website’s content. And flash movies do not provide text content for search engine to spider it.

Third party sells

Use your client’s testimonials on your website. “The third party sells”. Ask for client’s permission to write their testimonials on your website. If they are happy with your work, let the world know.

Creating buzz for your web site

To get visitors come to your website, create some offers or sweepstakes or provide online coupons with discount if you sell goods or even service. Consumers always looking for good deals on the web, by offering coupons with discount for your services, will generate traffic to your website. If offering online coupons or sweepstakes isn’t something you want to offer on your website, writing articles is another great way promoting your website. Consumers love to read, and sharing your expertise with public through online articles will prove that you are an expert at what you do and you will gain potential client’s trust.

Post your written articles on your website. Make sure your content is interesting and useful. Good content will make people to revisit your website frequently. Besides good content with good keywords will help your website to be ranked higher with search engines. Submit your articles to various national and to local magazines and newspapers. By giving your expertise on particular subject, might interest some local editors and they might want to write an article about your business! What’s better than generate free publicity buzz?!

Keep your web site constantly updated.

Some business owners neglect their websites. A key to successful online marketing is to constantly promote your website and update it regularly. Keep your information and your products or services content updated. If you give your expert advice, make sure it’s up to date and keep on adding more articles with your expertise advice to your website. If you have online coupons, make sure they are updated. If you are not that web savvy and you can't update your website or you simply don't have time, consider hiring a professional graphic designer or a web site design studio to update it for you on monthly basis.

Let the world know.

And last but not least, once your website is up and running, print your website’s address on every medium you can. Make sure your business cards have your domain address. If you are a contractor, create t-shirts with your logo and your website’s domain name. If you are placing an ad in local magazine or newspaper, make sure your ad has your website’s address also.

The bottom line:

Be patient with promoting your website. Be consistent. Consistency with marketing strategy pays off. Every company is different, find your niche what makes your business unique and promote your website by using your company’s difference.

Remember, your website is the best marketing tool. It advertises your business on the Internet 24/7. By implementing any of those tips I described above, can increase your business’s visibility on the Internet and generate for your business revenue if it’s done correctly.


About The Author
Alexandra Leonova is the owner of an elleven-year-old award-winning graphic and web design studio - Alex Design LLC based in Carmel, Indiana. If your current business logo needs a makeover or if you’re looking for a new logo, you can contact Alex at (317) 815-0449 or visit http://www.alexdesign.com for more information.

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