When you decide to start a website, you not only have to think about how you want to design it, but also how are you going to market it. Marketing is the key in all business, online or offline, and will be a foundation to your success. Taking the necessary steps to get your website noticed on the search engines is not a complex process, but it does take some time and effort.
The very first thing you can do is to start a blog. Blogging is an excellent way to start bringing traffic into your website. Let people know why you started a site, and what you intend to do with it. How are you going to help people and be any different than the next guy? Blog posts that contain keyword-rich content will help your site rank higher in the search engines, although it may take some time for this to happen. Get your voice out there and be consistent.
- Write with your audience in mind – What is it that your target market wants to read about? How are you able to solve their problems with your site or product?
- Engage your reader by asking them questions – The simple way to know what your readers want is to ask them. Make them want to leave comments and suggestions regarding your content. Once your audience feels like they can engage with you, trust begins to form and a solid relationship can be created.
- Clear, concise headlines – Make sure your readers know what your content is all about. Having a headline that centers on an issue the reader wants to know about will draw them in and make them want to know more from you.
- Call to action – Once you’ve wrote your epic content, make sure there is a call to action following the blog post. You can offer them something in return for signing up on your email list. This can be a free report, e-book, or set of articles that help them solve a problem.
- Social networking –Social media is such a big part of online marketing in today’s world. If you want your website to get noticed you must become a part of a social community. You will be able to expand your readership, and gain a larger following. The reach that social media has is vast. This is not something you want to pass up when trying to build your business.
- SEO – Optimize your website with keyword rich content. This can allow your ranking to be higher within the search engines. SEO is not something that can be learned overnight. It will take some time, effort, and patience on your part but it can be a helpful technique in getting your website noticed.
No matter what way you choose to market your site, just make sure put your audience at the forefront of everything you do. They have chosen you as a valuable source of information by even coming to your site and reading your content. Your audience definitely plays a factor in how you should market yourself and your site. Be transparent and unique in your delivery and you will be sure to build lifelong relationships with people that like and trust you.
Wonderful tips! I need to get better at remembering to include a CTA! I’m so bad at making that link, but it’s key! Also SEO! Thank you so much! 🙂 Here from UBC!
Give it time and practice and you will remember to add a CTA (Call To Action) – try a post-it note on your computer monitor to remind yourself to included one, Eyenie.
Great tips. I agree that it is important to always remember your readers and customers. I noticed a huge difference when I changed my writing style. When I first began and was still in the learning phase, my first articles I wrote were rather boring and wordy. It was more like I was writing for a school project and not to help and inform my readers. I have changed my style and now it is all about the customers. I actually feel like I can be myself more than I did before.
Thank you,
~ Jodene
I am sure that your audience appreciates it when you write for them as opposed to writing for the Search Engine bots.
Hi Paul,
Great tips. Each point you described, be it writing for the readers, social media presence, SEO, is crucial for a blog’s success.
My policy goes like this- Readers first! 🙂
Grate policy, Arun!