ATILUS - Web Design | Internet Marketing

Three Sure Fire Tips, Growing a Business, Growing a Website

I blogged about the three things required for your website to be truly effective. In order to build a powerful web presence these are the three major items you must consider:

• Keyword Selection
• Search Optimized and User Friendly Web Site
• Links

(sounds easy doesn’t it)

But I realized these are also applicable to general business growth and development. By keeping these three ideas in mind, at all times, not only will you grow your website you will also grow your business:

Keyword Selection

First, as business owners we must define our market and our services. Defining keywords runs parallel to this. Not only does keyword selection run smoother if your business has already thoroughly examined your key market, but through keyword research many companies are forced to further analyze their own services and markets. This process often highlights who EXACTLY you want to target. Your chosen target keywords are then analyzed for competitiveness against potential payout, much the same way traditional businesses analyze a market before jumping in.

Search Optimized, Easy to Use, Web Site

Do you have a nice brand, a logo, and an office location? Are your marketing materials and pamphlets attractive, easy to read or easy to reach?  Do you have a lobby that has a friendly atmosphere - looks nice, smells great, and is easy to maneuver around? Your website should reflect your attention to detail and your commitment to your clients, products and services:

Websites the digital mirror of your company.

Maybe you have a lion you personally trained, wearing a solid gold necklace in the corner… that will grant all clients 3 wishes. It doesn’t matter if your personal office is amazing, with a lion, fountains and marble tile. If your lobby has coffee stained walls and there is a huge hole in the floor, clients will probably not continue inside.

Additionally, if there is no sign outside the office, or no sign on the main road outside how will anyone find you?

A website is a reflection of your office and business. The easier you make it for people to get to you (web marketing) and the easier you make it for your visitors to get what they need (planned interface design and flow) the more visitors, leads and sales you will get.

Links

I’ve spoken often about the importance of links. Links are what drive the web and if you really want web traffic you need links. New website owners cringe when I talk about PageRank and LinkBait. The whole process can quickly get confusing and is muddled by often changing rules.

But, you’d be surprised to know you have already been doing link building for years. As a business owner you’ve probably attended many events for community and networking purposes. Are people happy with your services? Did your friendly staff provide an excellent product? “I heard someone talking about your restaurant yesterday.”

Links are digital word of mouth.

...and search engines are powerful compilers of that word of mouth. As people talk about your business and services online, search engines begin to associate your website with the service or product discussed. Pretty soon, as people search for your service or product (or things related), they find your business.

In addition, the mere presence of your website on the top results of a Google or Yahoo search is an instant signifier that your business is legitimate and worthy - they’re #1 for pete’s sake on Google, they must be good! Alternatively, if a client is already doing business with you or considering doing business, your lack of a great search ranking may hurt or hinder your business.

So, keep these three things in mind:

• Keyword Selection - always concentrate on your target market
• Search Optimized and User Friendly Web Site - make things easy
• Links - build word of mouth

And you are sure to have a successful website and business!