Birmingham, AL (PRWEB) May 11, 2007
Alli Denning, owner of denning e-solutions, LLC, a web design and search engine optimization company, offers 10 tips for adding valuable content to a web site. Content freshness is critical to a web site’s success, yet it is often ignored as site owners perceive the job is done when the site is launched. However, a web site not a one time project that gets checked off a to-do list; it is an iterative process that needs ongoing attention to maximize success.
Search engines love content and the only thing they love more than content is new content. They reward sites that regularly update their content with higher rankings. Users love sites with regularly updated content and respond by visiting those sites more often. There is only upside here. So, give them what they want.
Here are ten great tips and ideas about ways to make regular (and easy) updates to a web site.
1. News Column – Feature news items in a news column on the site’s home page with items that include new product/service announcements, new contracts secured, new hires, internal promotions, notice of new web site content, announcement of awards or certifications received, and notice of newsletter posted or sent. Best of all, these updates can be very fast as they can be just a few words/lines of text that link into the relevant page of the site.
2. Portfolio of Projects – Showcase completed projects with an online portfolio section. An online portfolio also helps in subsequent marketing efforts as potential customers can be guided through this area during the sales process with the portfolio serving as an excellent visual aid.
3. Blog – A blog can be a great way to stay in close contact with site users. A blog can added to a web site for little or no cost – try this link to learn more: http://wordpress.org.
4. FAQ Section – Businesses are asked the same types of questions by customers and potential customers over and over again. Write out answers to those questions and update the list regularly as new issues arise.
5. How-Tos – People are online looking for information and solutions to the issues they face. By writing how-tos that provide solutions to users’ problems, the site provides valuable information to users while establishing the company/site as the expert in the field. (see this article as an example)
6. Before & After Stories – What is better than a before and after story? People love them. They can be a very effective and interesting way of demonstrating in concrete terms the benefits of a product or service.
7. Case Studies – Case studies are the perfect way to feature business successes. State the challenge faced and detail the solution provided. Like the online portfolio, these case studies become an effective sales tool in acquiring future business.
8. Monthly Newsletter – Many businesses write some type of regular newsletter to their customers already. Make sure that the newsletter gets added to the site regularly and that an archive of past issues is maintained. Newsletter communicate important information while maintaining regular customer/client contact.
9. Statistics Related to Your Business – Statistics are interesting and people like them. They make the site’s business or industry more real to its customers and highlight the importance of its products or services.
10. Customer Stories – These can add a concrete and personal touch to the site’s information about its services /products. Simply feature a customer, interviewing them about their use of the site’s service or product and its impact on them. This idea has the added benefit of contributing to great customer relations.
Making it Happen
The best way to ensure that these content-building ideas get past the idea stage is to assign it to someone – make it a line item in their job description about which they must regularly report. Finally, set concrete goals for content delivery, such as one new piece every week. Remember, the search engines (and site users) love new content so keep it fresh!
About denning e-solutions, LLC:
Founded in 1999 by Alli Denning, denning e-solutions provides web site design and search engine optimization services to small and medium-sized businesses.
Contact:
Alli Denning
denning e-solutions, LLC
205-298-7655
http://www.denningesolutions.com
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