Moving Forward

Steps on what to do with your new website and how to build a great online presence.

Spreading the word with a megaphone

Spread the Word

When your website goes live, the most important thing you can do is drive traffic to it. This will help Google index it faster and start improving your SEO rankings immediately. Here are some ways to consider getting the word out:

  • Word of Mouth: Word of mouth is still the most powerful referral. Tell those around you about your website. Get their opinion and see what they think about your new online presence.
  • Social Media: Use your network of Facebook friends, family or co-workers to get the word out. You’d be surprised how far one post can go when it’s shared and liked. This also works on Twitter, Instagram, Linkedin and other social media.
  • Email Newsletter: If you have a newsletter or email list, be sure to let them know that the new site has launched and even more importantly, how it can help their business or add value to them. Mailchimp is what I use and highly recommend.

Keep Your Website Fresh

A website is viewed by google as being “alive” or “dead.” An “alive” site is driving traffic, getting new and existing users, being updated, posting new blogs and content. If your site is “dead” – e.i. not being managed, updated or taken care of – it can impact your SEO ranking dramatically. Keeping your website fresh is also a great way to keep people coming back. Here are some suggestions keep you going:

Update Regularly

 

  • Make Sure Your Information is Always Up to Date: There’s nothing worse than having wrong information on a website. As information, services, or staff change be sure to update your site accordingly.
  • Swap Out Images: You should consider swapping out or updating images at least once a year, particularly the header and other images on the homepage.
  • Colors/Layout – if your site has been sitting for more than a year, it’s strongly recommended that you do something to spice it up. Whether it’s making some cosmetic changes to the action colors or menu bar, or even just adjusting or adding some new graphics.

Create Content

 

  • Create New Pages: it’s generally good practice to update your content. If you have more services or products to add to your site, do it. Google loves seeing that a site is being built on to.
  • Write a Blog: blogging sounds a bit overrated, but websites with blogs generally drive 30-40% more traffic to their sites than their competitors. Google will often pick up blog posts before picking up major website pages. Creating well thought out content will drive more traffic to your site. Don’t be afraid to use social media and your network to get the word out.
Five Stars

Ask for Reviews

Online reviews are more important than ever. Particularly for businesses being googled and found online, a user will look at reviews almost immediately. There are many different ways and platforms on ways to get reviews, but here are some we recommend:

 

  • Google Review: Google reviews are generally what will pop up when somebody finds your site with an internet search. You can either have your customers google your business, then leave a review OR you can use Supple or simliar websites to generate a direct link.
  • Facebook Reviews: Facebook is also a good place for customer reviews. Don’t be afraid to ask customers to leave a review on your Facebook page and have them share it.
  • Testimonials for Website: Users will often look for reviews ON the site as well as on other outlets before making a purchase, calling or emailing. The best five to ten reviews (usually gathered via email or off of google or Facebook) can be added to the  a testimonials page or even the homepage.