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First Grade Web Site

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Once you decide your business needs a Web site, you should do a little research to determine your own preferences. Online research is a good idea whether you create a Web site yourself or hire a developer because design is subjective. Realistically, you will probably end up looking at your Web site a lot, so it's best to try and figure out what you like and don't like.

Not everyone who has a Web site necessarily spends a lot of time online. After all, many people work in businesses that don't require much time at a computer. But surfing around, doing searches, and looking at Web sites forces you to find out what else is out there. Unlike many other advertising mediums, with the Internet you can easily look at what your competitors are doing with their marketing.

As you wander around the Web, study Web sites with a critical eye. Write down the Web address (URL) of each site and take notes with your answers to these questions.

* Is the overall layout pleasing? What works and doesn't work?

* Do you like or dislike the photos? Why?

* Do you like or dislike the colors used in the site?

* Does the navigation make sense?

* Can you find information easily on the site?

* Is the written content clear? Does the site do a good job of explaining what it's about? Can you read the text easily (is it too small or too large)? Do you like the fonts that are used?

Once you have a page of notes on other sites, you'll probably have a good feel for how you want your Web site to look and behave. And how you don't want it to look. What you don't like (and why) can be as important for your developer to know as what you do like.

You may discover that many sites in your business niche look particularly amateurish. In that case, you may need to explore sites in other industries to find sites you actually like. Conversely, you may find that every site in your niche offers high-end (read: expensive) tools. Banks have ended up in this situation, for example. Almost all banks now offer some type of online bill-paying service. Similarly, to remain competitive, many real estate sites now almost always have large database back-end systems for their listings.

Because people use the Internet to find information, think about the information you want to provide. With a new site, you have an opportunity to offer information that your competitors don't. Look for obvious holes in their coverage of your industry. These lapses are opportunities. Many people find Web sites through searches, so if you can write articles on topics that aren't covered by your competitors, people will find your site instead of theirs.

The old saying, nothing happens without a plan is true online too. After doing all this research, you will be able to formulate a good plan of action for your site.

First Grade Web Site

Blogs can be great for sharing ideas with other people and expressing yourself but they can also be used to help your online business.

Here are some proven techniques to increase website traffic through effective blogging.

First thing you have to keep in mind is that most blogs on the Web have a community feel to them. You may think that your blog is your own, since you're the one who installed and developed it. And you may be right. But your blog is also connected to other blogs on the same site. You may also be connected to other blogs that are using the same blogging software as you. This situation guarantees that sooner or later, a person will land on your blog and be able to see all that you have to say. This can also mean that your blog is now getting free advertising within the blogging community. It should be obvious how this is can contribute to the traffic your site gets.

However, you do have to keep in mind what you're posting as your blog's content. If all you're doing is making posts that promote your products or your business, then you're dead. Believe me, that is not the recommended way to use your blog. Have you seen the Internet lately? It's already overflowing with loads of advertisements for products and services. Be different. Your visitors need a good reason to keep coming back to your blog. A blog can be used to share expert information of your field of knowledge with your readers. If you're selling a product on your site, talk about it on your blog, and don't just post a measly advertising blurb.

Let's say you're selling power tools on your website. You can write reviews and other useful posts about the kinds of tools you have on your site. What you're doing is providing some insight for your potential customers about the tools you're selling. These blog posts will then be able to generate confidence in your readers and encourage them to actually buy the products.

Another advantage of having a blog is that it makes it easier for interested buyers to get access to the seller (that's you). Usually, readers of a particular blog post are allowed to leave comments on what they've just read. For example, you've just finished a review for the new Ajax power drill. It's easy for a reader to leave a comment if they have a question about your product. You can then see the questions and post your answers. See? You'll be able to connect on a personal level with your readers and potential customers. This makes you much more approachable, as compared to the faceless entity behind the impersonal commercial website.

In addition, your readers will also have the option of subscribing to your blog feeds via RSS or to your newsletters, so they can be immediately notified about any new posts you make. If you have established a reputable standing in your niche, a long list of eager readers will soon be waiting for your next post, and lots more will be coming to your website.

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About Author

Both Susan Daffron & Richard Legg are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

Susan Daffron has sinced written about articles on various topics from Ezine Articles, Computers and The Internet and Writing. Susan Daffron is the President of Logical Expressions, Inc. () and the author of books on pets, web business, computing, and veget. Susan Daffron's top article generates over 9900 views. to your Favourites.

Richard Legg has sinced written about articles on various topics from Computers and The Internet, Internet Marketing and Cars. traffic for free at

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