Content is King
by Nancy J. Reid

  Have you noticed the question has changed from "Do you have a website?" to "What's your website?" If the answer is "I don't have one", you will notice the look you get from the other person. It's a look that questions how serious you are about your business.
  This does not mean you have to have your own website, although that is ideal--but it does mean you should at least have a page on a website that has a lot of traffic and has topics related to your business, product, or service.
  Just having a webpage or website is not enough, however. There are good sites and bad sites--sites that work for the owner and sites that don't. It is just like a storefront. There are storefronts that make you want to go in--and those that don't.
  Besides a nice looking and easy to get-around site, Content is King! Content is what makes people stop and read your site/page instead of clicking on to something else. Content is also what makes a person tell someone else about your site, and fresh content is what makes a visitor return. Remember, it takes a person several looks at an item or service before they buy--so returning traffic is where your sales come from.
  Websites must be interactive and regularly updated. They are ideal for promoting products/services to a much wider audience at a minimal cost compared to print, radio or TV advertising. But with literally millions of websites on the internet how to you make yours stand out? Here is a checklist:

• Make sure visitors are greeted with a nicely designed and easily functioning site. No links that lead off the website and never bounce back. No typing errors, and clear, well thought out and easy to read copy. You need a good webmaster that understands design, functionality, AND marketing.

• Make sure you have interesting relevant content that is updated regularly.

• Links from other sites to your site help your Search Engine Rankings. Swap links with sites with relevant content that you have seen yourself!

• Offer your readers a monthly Eletter. This one item can bring you lots of traffic and returning visitors--which means sales. It builds trust and increases your profile on the internet as an expert in your field. Your Eletter should contain free information--not just sales pitches--to be successful.

Follow these guidelines and you should see an increase in both traffic and sales. If you are interested in a free website consultation, call Nancy at 760-367-9911. She has been the webmaster for SouthwestBlend.com for 9 years.