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If Its Done Its Done for: Make Your Website Part of Your Business before You Build
Web sites are an Ongoing Part of Business.
All too many small business owners build a web site that is considered complete once the final copy is placed. Do not stop there, if you really want to make your investment into the Web part of a profitable marketing solution, you need to ensure that people return to your site, refer it to others, and use it as a resource in their lives or businesses.
They Will Come. Well, Some Will?
If you have a site that is 'done', you will certainly get new visitors to your site from links, search engines and other marketing, but those visitors will scan through your pages, get whatever information your site has to offer, return once more to see if you have anything new to offer, find nothing new and end their relationship with your site and company. How does that increase your profits?
"But I am no Writer."
No, but you are an expert at your business, otherwise why would you have started it. You already offer information, tips, and help to your customers over the phone and in person. In your real world of business, all sorts of people will ask you questions about your business and industry on a daily basis. It is these answers that people are looking for, write them down in a notebook or journal and then refer to it when it is time for your next update.
Keeping your Web site up to date is an Investment.
Ensuring that your web site is a constant resource and beacon for visitors requires you to sit down and write articles, provide links, resources, white papers, demonstrations and answer frequently asked questions. If you don't have the time yourself designate someone from your staff or hire a writer to put together the items that will help your targeted audience.
Great web sites are not finished. Great web sites become another part of your business.
Jay Gilmore, owner of SmashingRed Web & Marketing, is a Website Developer and Marketing Consultant specializing in Small Business.
Based an hour outside of the capital Halifax, in Bridgewater, Nova Scotia, Jay works with micro, home based, small businesses and organizations to achieve their business and personal goals.
If you are interested in improving your small business website or developing your first website check out http://www.smashingred.com/ for more information.
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