Does it really matter if you have the same website for 365 days a year? The answer is a simple, “Yes!”
The fact of the matter is that most businesses want their customers to visit their site on a regular basis. If they keep coming back they will undoubtedly take advantage of promotions and sales, as well as be aware of new products that you may offer. Even if you are in a business that changes very little, by keeping fresh information available and encouraging readers to come back, you will strengthen your relationships with customers and secure much better word of mouth advertising.
Stay Fresh yet Stable
Although it is a good idea to change the look of your website from time to time, it is also important to maintain the overall brand of your company. Avoid changing your company logo too often: though this does happen on rare occasions, it should not be done every six months. When a customer visits your site, you want them to immediately recognize it as belonging to your company. Assuming you are not completely revamping your brand, your logo should be the one constant that appears on every page of your website.
Keep your Content Current
If you offer information relating to your industry on your website, be certain that you keep it current. If you have not updated your content in six months, would-be customers may think that you are not on top of the happenings in your industry. This could be seriously off-putting. Even if there has been no significant news to speak of in your industry, re-write the content with a renewed perspective.
Hot Off the Press
One way to be certain that your website does not become stale is to include customer testimonials. Always welcome client feedback on the site. When appropriate, after obtaining your client’s permission, feature their testimonial and possibly a picture on the front page of your site. Not only does this give your site a fresh appearance, but it also makes your client feel appreciated. That client is also much more likely to send friends and family to your site to see their picture and words. Featuring a new testimonial every week or month, depending upon what works best for your business, is a great way to keep a contemporary appearance.
While keeping appearance and content fresh is important, you also need to pay attention to the technical aspects of your site. See how you are doing in the search engines and update your keywords accordingly. One way to tweak your keyword selection is to visit a competitor’s site that is ranking where you want to be ranked. Once on their site, click “view” and then “source” and check their keywords, descriptions, etc. Do not copy them or infringe any trademarks, but use it as a comparison to improve your own keywords. This may also help you to rewrite current content and include an updated keyword list. Your website is your virtual face to your online, and sometimes offline, customers, so keep it fresh!
Professional Website Tips for Small Businesses
If you are a novice that has decided to take on the task of designing your own website you may wonder what a professional would do differently. One of the keys to success is starting with the right perspective – and it’s not your own!
Online Advertising for Small Business
Small businesses are quickly finding out that online advertising is not only the most economical way to reach a huge audience, but it is often a necessity for survival. Paper advertising is fast taking a back seat to every form of online advertising. Simply on price comparison alone, it is easy to see that online advertising offers an attractive deal.
Online Marketing for Small Businesses
Small businesses have to be careful where they spend their marketing budget – every pound counts! There are so many options available it is difficult to decide what the most effective form of marketing is. While there is a variety of off line marketing opportunities offered, to economically reach the largest number of people quickly, online marketing is often the hands down winner.
