Web visitors and search engines are like your average diner—they prefer to visit sites that have fresh, new, rotating content (not offerings that are stale or scant), and sites with content that feeds their need for information. So, as proud Web site owners, we need to please our visitors. After all, the average reader, in conjunction with most Web search engines, are pretty smart. They look for the signs that a site is dynamic—and that is largely governed by how often your content is updated.
So let’s do it! Why? You’ll get more hits—and that means more visitors—and that translates to more business for you.
Whether you have a Web administrator, or you create and
maintain the site yourself, try out these tidbits of information. We think you’ll be surprised at the results.
- Break up or “chunk” long passages and pages into smaller sections, and update the information often
- Start a blog section, and add to it at least every other week—more often if possible
- Add news items that are relevant, and update them continually
- Post current articles, ensuring your site has substantial and meaningful content—and be sure to refresh that content often
- If you don’t like to write, look into online reprint directories for articles
- Buy single or “packs” of written pieces called “private label rights” articles
- Hire a ghostwriter to write content for your Web site
- Change the images, banners, and front-page information by replacing them, or rotating them to another location or page
As you begin to create a dynamic, refreshing site, be sure to include current-event and local information—even helpful hints. For instance if your Web site is geared toward families, create your site “menu” accordingly. Post content or blog about cost-saving tips, safety standards, local family-friendly attractions, and/or holiday-appropriate information. Include a link to a pertinent article, hint at soon-to-be-posted updates, and talk about your new content subjects in any e-mail notices or newsletters you send.
Again, one of the golden rules of Web site best practices: Keep your content timely, ensure it’s dynamic by changing it often, and ensure it’s up-to-date. It’s a proven way to boost traffic to your site—and that, of course, is icing on the cake.
