2008 was a good year for the Internet. In December, it celebrated surpassing one billion users, and those users spent more time—and more money—online than in years past.
Regardless of what dark economic news our media outlets share with us each day, every day more people use Google to find what they’re looking for.
Is your website positioned to prosper?
Get Them, Keep Them, Win Them Over
Loyal visitors don’t materialize from thin air. You’ve got to get people to come to your site, click around and see what you offer, and decide they like what they see.
1. Get Them. It doesn’t matter how fabulous your site is if no one sees it. Search engines offer some of the best exposure to people who are specifically interested in what you offer. If you’re appealing to a local audience, a well-rounded marketing campaign that includes other forms of media can also drive traffic to your site.
2. Keep Them. With so many sites out there, few visitors will stay on a site that confuses or repels them. You want your site to be informative, have a user-friendly layout, and be attractive (or at least not ugly). The longer they browse between pages on your site, the more likely they are to make a purchase, comment on a blog, sign up for your service, or otherwise engage with your site.
3. Win Them Over. Make your visitors’ time worthwhile by offering something that is truly appealing and useful to them. If you run a blog, update regularly and write well. If you sell products, post accurate information and photos. If you provide a service, include tasteful reviews and testimonials.
Ultimately, the elements of a successful website don’t change when the economy slows down. But a good site will outperform and outlast the rest. Put yourself in a good position by making sure your site is not just easy to find, but worth finding.
