Keeping your Website Current

You've got your website up and running – now what? In today's market, it isn't enough to simply build your site; you have to maintain and update it regularly as well. There are many reasons to create an ongoing update plan for your site. From maintaining contact with your client base, giving visitors an incentive to come back, and appealing to the search engines, the websites that keep up to date have a greater chance of improving traffic, ranking, and sales.

4 Ways to Update Your Website

There are many ways to keep your site current. From updating products/services, to periodically adding client testimonials, and from updating content as needed to a more proactive role such as using newsletters, blogs, and discussion boards, keeping your website maintained should be a priority.

1. Simple Updates

   Keep your site up to date. If you are a Realtor, ensure that new listings get added as soon as possible and sold listings get deleted or marked sold. If you sell products, update your product list when applicable. If anything changes, from your company profile or staff list, to your services, delegate someone to get the information changed on line as soon as possible.

2. Newsletters
   

   On line newsletters are a great way to keep in contact with your client base. Provide timely content, and any new products or specials. In addition to sending the newsletter out by email, create a newsletter section on your website and archive old articles. You can then submit your articles to various 'article engines' on line If you do this, make sure to include a link to your website in your byline as this helps with your search engine ranking.

3. Write a Blog
   

   'Blogs' have become very popular on line They are less formal versions of a newsletter and are easy to update. A typical blog combines text, opinion, narrative, links to other websites, and images. Creating your own blog allows you the opportunity to be an 'expert' in your chosen field. Have fun with it and use your blog as an opportunity to get to know your client base. After each entry, your blog readers have the chance to comment on what you've journaled, which is communication vertical you can explore.

4. Discussion Forum
   

   Discussion forums or message boards are great for networking and retaining your client base. Use your forum as an opportunity to keep in contact with your web visitors and as a place for them to discuss the topics at hand. Ensure that either yourself or your staff maintain the forum and regularly post discussion topics.

Static websites are becoming a thing of the past. Having regularly updated content on your website not only helps with your search engine ranking, but helps to create a sense of community with your website visitors. If your business relies on forming relationships with your clients, retaining past clients, and marketing to new clients, ensuring that your site is regularly updated with current, fresh content, and giving your clients a place to connect with you on line, will help you achieve your goals.

By Michelle Collie
GetOn.com Technologies Inc.