After the event
This issue we’re focussing very much on the various things you can do to get your website noticed after the design and development has been completed- something that we all know is important but which sometimes people neglect. This might be simply because of time issues, or it might be because it seems such a vast subject in itself and it can be difficult to know where to start. With this in mind we’ve prepared a brief guide to some things that you can do to draw attention to your website, cutting out the jargon and outlandish promises that the world of website optimisation often seems to use.
Blogs and News
If you have an area on your website that you want to update frequently, such as a Blog or a News page, it’s always a good idea to generate interest in the site by keeping people up to date with what’s going on- update it as frequently as you can to keep people coming back for more!
Special Offers and new messages
Make changes- even if they are minor- to your Home page. By making regular changes to the home page that highlight any new content and provide links to other areas of the site, you are giving people a good reason to look further in. Important messages and special offers are good examples of things that you can put here and change on a regular basis.
Email Marketing
Email, used properly, is one of the most effective forms of online marketing available and is a good low-cost way of keeping in touch with your readers or customers. It reminds the recipient about you and your site, and can keep them up to date with any changes or special offers. More companies than ever now realise the benefits of email marketing and in particular HTML newsletters which can act as an extension to your website providing direct links to important areas. We offer newsletter writing services so do get in touch if you would like to find out more.
Well, it works for some and not for others, but it’s free and easy to set up, so worth trying out to see if you get any further interest in your site. You can post links to updates, press releases and anything else that’s new. You can utilise Facebook, MySpace and other social networking tools in a similar way.
Social Bookmarking Tools
There are many social bookmarking sites, which are designed to help people find websites and articles that are interesting and relevant to them. Examples include StumbleUpon, Digg and Reddit, although there are many more. You can place icons or links to the various social bookmarking sites on areas of your site that contain useful information or articles, the purpose being to make it easy for people to “recommend” the information using the Social Bookmarking sites.
Track Analytic Data for Your Site
Check your site statistics. If you host your website with us and don’t already have access to your site stats get in touch and we will give you the details you need to access them.
Google Analytics
You could also consider using Google Analytics, it’s free and easy to use. Once you have registered for a Google account and registered your website with Google Analytics they will give you a snippet of code that needs to be placed on your website. If you would like us to add the code to your website just let us know.
