AWI - Ohio Valley Chapter FREE eNewsletter
Volume 1, Issue 1, August 28, 2006
Kenneth E. Daily
Many people ask us how they can attract more visitors to their websites. We have compiled a list of the top 15 ways to enhance your presence on the web and at the same time, drive more visitors to your website.
Many of the ideas listed below are neither complicated nor expensive to implement. They simply require advance planning as part of your overall marketing efforts...
1.
Build a solid business foundation. Design a business plan, marketing plan, ideal client profile, and a site diagram for your website.
2.
Be consistent. Brand your company.
3.
Use your web address in your signature for emails (idea - change it regularly to highlight something new you're promoting).
4.
Place your website address on all your printed literature -- business cards, brochures, newsletters, letterhead, email signature, invoices, quotes, advertisements - everything!!
5.
Network locally to bring people to your site.
6.
Make your website trustable. Create policies that build trust (i.e. customer service, code of ethics and newsletter privacy policy).
7.
Have an open house and create a permission-based marketing program by gathering the email addresses of clients or prospective clients as part of your standard registration form. Then start a monthly or quarterly eNewsletter.
8.
Create monthly opinion polls or questions to improve customer service - take a proactive rather than reactive approach. This also provides a non-threatening way for people to express any concerns.
9.
Check your links regularly to make sure they all work.
10.
On large websites, create a "Site Map" for your visitors and/or create a search function.
11.
Search engines look for certain things so it is crucial to make sure your site is "search-engine friendly". Make sure your pages have MetaTags & Keywords embedded to increase searchability.
12.
Offer added values that make sense to your business and prospective client. This can include coupons, discounts, give-a-ways, affiliate programs, books, and recommended links to other websites.
13.
If you have on-line billing, find easy and secure ways for your clients to pay you.
14.
Add a "Recommend This Site" on your site. If someone visits your site and knows someone else who may appreciate it, this feature will email the page's link to a recipient.
15.
Write articles, ebooks, or white papers containing helpful information pertaining to your target audience.
Kenneth E. Daily is the Vice President of Buckaroo Technology Group, a full service marketing firm specializing in marketing communications and website development. He may be contacted at kedaily@buckarootechnology.com or 317.845.0830.
