Monday, September 7, 2009

Update Your Web Site or Blog Regularly


Keeping your web site or blog current is a must. Your business isn't static, and your online presence should reflect the ever-changing nature of your business. Just as you change other advertising to reflect seasonal offers and other changes, you should update your web site or blog on a frequent and regular basis.

Web sites should be updated at least once a month and blogs should be updated on a weekly basis at a minimum. These regular update times should be noted on the web site or blog, so that your customers can return regularly to see what's new.

Keep Them Coming

Even if there's nothing spectacular to announce, you can still keep customers coming back to visit your web site or blog. Try these tools to get regular customers visiting your pages on a regular basis:
  • Weekly or monthly internet specials -- Offer a special sale or discount to your web visitors, and give them a code number or word to use to get the special. Not only will this keep customers visiting your blog, but it will let you track the effectiveness of your online presence.
  • Biographical sketches of your employees -- These snapshot bios of your employees, complete with an on-the-job photo, familiarize your customers with the people they meet when doing business with you. Customers like having a connection with the people they see at your business.
  • Customer Service articles -- Here, you get a chance to provide useful information to your customers. This information can lead to sales if linked to seasonal needs or new offerings.
  • Business-related News -- On your blog, post news stories that apply to your business and explain how you can help customers take advantage of this news. Again, information that leads customers to your business is a great way to keep your site or blog current and informative.
Updates Benefit You in Many Ways

Regularly-updated web sites and blogs are noticed by the search engines, too. It's another way to keep your site at or near the top of search results. That's important for attracting new customers or clients to your site or blog.

Regular updates also let you fine-tune your web site or blog on a regular schedule. As the owner of a small business, you should visit and check your web offerings regularly, looking for errors and areas where the site or blog can be improved.

Finally, thinking about ways to keep your web presence lively and current can focus your attention on keeping the business itself fresh and full of new ideas. Nothing's more important in marketing than offering something new and improved to your clients and customers.

If you're thinking that you don't have time for all this, you may be right. That's another excellent reason to use the services of a web content professional to help you keep your web offerings fresh and always changing. It's economical and prudent to have someone handle the job who knows what keeps web sites and blogs attractive to your customers.

If you have questions about how you can keep attracting new and current customers to your site or blog, I'd be happy to discuss them with you. Email Me for a free site or blog evaluation, and I'll get right back to you with some ideas. In the meantime, please visit my Twin Cities Writing and Editing Services site for more information.