Dwight M. Scott

So, you finished your website and wondering whats next? The one question that I am constantly getting asked is: “I have my website up now, but where do I go from here?” This is probably the most important question ever. Having a static website with no push or marketing behind it, just rendered itself as useless! Think about it for a second…the website and the presence it creates by itself is simply not enough. There are techniques you can do to jump start your web marketing efforts.

The best and probably the least expensive (because it’s free!) ways are placing your website on top search engines local listing. This will give you more impressions for your website, especially when searching for you locally. In conjunction with this, you should consider getting involved with a pay per click campaign. I recommend that you find your niche so you don’t waste ad dollars. I always tell my clients to let me install analytics on their site so we can see how their audience is reaching them. We then can strengthen the efforts that are already in place, as well as develop new innovative keywords and strategies for their audience to find them.

While pay per click campaigns and sponsored links will drive about 40% of your sites traffic, your organic efforts will take precedence with the remaining 60%. This is why it is imperative to correctly convey a clear message to your audience - allowing search engines to find you. The content that you generate as well as the frequency of it will determine how you rank in search engines.

Social media plays as a HUGE outlet for you to market and advertise you newly built website. Generate buzz and create a movement of followers for your website by taking advantage of the social media craze. These social sites such as youtube, facebook, twitter, digg, etc. are there for you to take advantage of. Use them to establish your business as trusted company by generating a following. This following will, in return continue to spread throughout their networks and create a whole viral campaign. Its too easy to get wrapped up in the social media world and post personal status updates that have no relevance - unless of course your website is personal. Instead post quality that your follows actually want to read and contains value. I recommend using social media to display a new post in a newsletter, events you will partake in, promotions, etc. This will return a much greater result than “Sitting at Wendy’s eating a hamburger”.

You have to be completely involved in every aspect of your website, especially if you want it to generate ad revenue. With this comes what I like to call “getting involved”. This simply means finding a more popular blog than yours at the time and commenting where their users can use your expertise. This is just another way to establish you as an expert. Guest blogging creates links that will link back to your website and ultimately putting you in more places! It’s that easy! Take advantage of the fact that some sites already have a wide range of readers, why not get them to visit your website while they are there?

During these rough times; because of the economy, companies are usually quick to do budget cuts. Most times I have found that companies cut their marketing and advertising budgets first. There is no better time to invest in a SEO (Search Engine Optimization) or SEM (Search Engine Marketing) campaign like now. Get a jump start in your company’s marketing and advertising efforts while everyone else is cutting back.

The way the economy is right now, gives you the advantage to attack your target market harder than ever. SEO is one of the most inexpensive and easiest way ways to attract leads. SEO allows you to target more of your audience at once, unlike some other traditional forms of marketing and advertising. Companies cut their marketing budgets not realizing how much harm it’s really doing to their business. Taking advantage of an inexpensive way such as SEO is vital during these times.

SEO is more than just a bunch of keywords used to identify your company. It’s more of a formulated course of action used to define your company’s niche, ultimately generating leads, increasing revenue or productivity. This is now more than ever a time to rely on what your Trusted Web Expert can do for you.

Essentially in the business world time is money. A question that is often asked is; “How do I turn time into money?” There are a few different ways. The first way would to be organizing your day. If you go in to the office knowing what you have to do there is a greater chance you will get it done in a more timely manner.

Preventing useless meetings is another way to save time. I know we all want to sound busy and say we have meetings to attend but in all actuality this is killing your revenue. The only time you should attend a meeting is when picking up a check or receiving a commitment from your prospective client.

Taking these couple of tips into effect will allow you to budget your time better and allow you to turn that once wasted time into more productive doings. This will hopefully bring your more leads, sells, and revenue. So stop wasting time and get more productive with your day.

A website can almost be determined as a twenty-four seven online representation of your and/or your company. That is why it is very important to have one that works properly and looks good at the same time. A lot of people fail to realize that the visual representation of your website can cost you business.

Having a poorly executed website not only sends a red flag to potential customers but puts a MAJOR cap on the growth of your business. Think about it…your website can work in so many ways for you or when you simply do not want to work - twenty-four seven! Why not make your website increase your revenue, generate more leads, and raise awareness for your business?

Now, I know you are wondering, “How can there be more than 1 part to design vs. development?” Sometimes, if your budget does not allow you to conquer both a fantastic fully functional back-end and pleasing design with the bells and whistles then you may be forced to scale down. I’ll further explain what to scale down on and what to sacrifice. If you should sacrifice at all. Stay tuned…