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Calgary Software Application and Web Development Articles |
5 Web Site Development Tips to Turn the Tide In Your Favor
It always pays to be on the alert for sage advice from others, and
recently I found something that got me thinking... and now sharing...
with you.
In a nutshell, say you want to put together a website of any type -
affiliate, shopping, books, clothing, retail, wholesale, etc.
Before you start ask yourself this most important question, "Who will be my competition?"
The answer is simple. Online you are up against the Barnes & Noble's, the Amazon's, the Wal-Mart's... the list is endless.
Will your little website scarf the business away from these biggies? Of course not. Don't even dream.
So what can you do? Here are five ideas to get your web site designed in the right direction:
1. Develop a website designed to draw your visitors in. Since you can't
be the best in terms of traffic and pricing (not up against the giants
of your industry) you need to come at your business from the opposite
direction. For every customer you draw to your site, give them a reason
to stick around and then come back for more. Free stuff works like a
charm. But make sure it is quality free stuff or you're missing the
point.
2. Pick a niche. Versus trying for a conglomerate of everything do your
homework and research specifics! Be the only one on your block that
provides CDE (not ABC) widgets. If they can only get them from you, or
you have the best source, they must come to you. The narrower you focus
your site, on keywords and terms people are searching for, the greater
you up your odds of being successful online.
3. Speaking of keywords, pick the right ones. If you go to great
lengths to design and develop the prettiest, best, etc., website all
about XYZ widgets, but no one is looking for them, what good will that
do you? Not a darn lick of good. So do your homework first, then set to
the task of developing your website around searched-for terms.
4. Maybe you're coming at making money online from the wrong direction.
Versus products and stuff, where once again people can go to Barnes
& Noble or Wal-Mart, what the internet provides is the perfect
arena for savvy marketers to develop informational websites. Think
about it... students, teachers, your mother and aunts and uncles all
get online to LOOK THINGS UP right? Why not develop first a site that
supplies that searched for information and then, on the side, suggests
products and services to further that cause? It's easier to get someone
to first come read then to come buy - especially if you're an unknown
starting out.
5. Have a plan and set aside a budget. Most people love the idea of
having their own spot on the web, but if it can't be found among the
billions (yes billions) of other web pages, what good is it? Marketing
and advertising takes money, patience, and persistence - in that order!
- to develop website recognition. Think about these costs before you
pour your heart into your design. To "break even" online means covering
your hosting, your design (time or hired help), product inclusion,
research (again time which is money) and marketing and advertising. Too
often hundreds if not thousands of dollars are spent up front only to
leave the proud but now poor website owner without the means to market
and advertise. A website gathering dust is no website at all.
Having your own spot online - and making money from that spot for some
- is the goal and dream of many internet users. The reality is yes your
dream can go from rambling around inside your brain to a "physically
virtual" place online. Just be sure to do your homework up front to
develop that website you've been dreaming about!
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About the Author:
Theresa Cahill and her partner Jeff Greer invite you to make wise decisions when planning your next online move. Marketing strategy is a skill not luck. Come visit us at Molten Marketing for more information.
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