When people come to me and ask me to build them a website I immediately ask them if they have considered how they will drive traffic to their new site. The saying, “if you build it, they will come”, does not apply here on the world wide web. A website is nothing without a comprehensive plan as to how you are going to get people to visit, revisit and stay on your site. To ensure success with your website consider the following basics:

1. Content and Usability: First off, make sure that as you build your site you develop it to be  information rich and easy to navigate.
2. Keywords: Search engines index your site using commonly found words and phrases on your pages. If you want to be found in specific search engine searches, determine what “keywords” people will use (or you want them to use) to find you and then create copy on your pages to support those searches. Be sure to use keywords that are specific to your site, and use them repeatedly throughout the text on your site, as well as in your meta tags, titles and alternate text used to describe images.
3. Easy Loading Pages: Don’t load up on the big images. Optimize your images for quick and easy viewing.
4. Newsletters: Send out a regular newsletter and offer visitors the option to opt-in. Always offer an opt-out in each email! Be CAN SPAM compliant.
5. Easy to find Contact Information: Don’t make visitors search for your email or phone number.
6. Setup Anayltics to Track and Measure Site Traffic: Check out my resources page to track where your visitors are coming from, how they are finding you, how long they are staying and what pages they are visiting. Try different things and test how visitors reach these changes.
7. Submit Your Site to Search Engines: Check out my resources page for the links to submit to the top three Google, Yahoo!, Bing and Ask.
8. Develop a Linking Strategy: Submit your site to directories, trade organizations, and request reciprocal links.
9. Develop a Social Media Plan: Social media helps to promote your site by building a network of people who are interested in you and your business, generating awareness and interest, and producing links to your site. Social media activities include blogging and social networking on sites like Facebook, Linked In and Twitter.
10. Utilize Every Point of Contact: Taking an integrated approach make sure that every communication includes your website URL. Include it on your business cards, stationary, literature, email signature and print ads.

Following these basic steps will help to keep you on the right track. As with every promotion activity test and measure your success. Good luck with your website and if you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact me.