What makes a good website?  Great graphics?  Great content?

The answer is yes. . . . .and, not necessarily.

How about having flash?  Again, not necessarily.

Often, when I am looking over websites, I find that these six things are missing!

Analytics

Analytics are your website metrics.  You know, how many people came, how many views you have, how long they were on your website, those kind of things.  These are absolutely essential if you want to know if it is worth the effort and expense you have made.

It also helps you know where to improve or what needs to improve.

Google Analytics is the top program, but you may also be interested in Quantcast and Omniture.  They are paid options, however Quantcast has a free version which will help you with demographics.

Keywords

You need to research your keywords.  If you have keywords that are not heavily searched, you may not find much traffic.  Therefore, you need to really decipher what keywords you want to use.  They are the cornerstone of search engine optimization.  Figure out the best keywords for your business, and add them to your website in the meta tags.

Pretty Permalinks

Pretty permalinks are the internal links to pages on your website, and a string of code is not attractive to Google and her search engine friends.  Make sure the permalinks include the keywords of your article or page.  Add those keywords to the page and you get a nice keyword density that will help that article or page be found more easily in the search engines.

HTML

HTML is the code in which the world of the web runs on.  Sure there are other types of code such as java, php and jquery which may be included in your website, but it is html that the search engines really pay attention too.  This is why so many website designers are ditching flash based websites.

For instance, headers in your page that are surrounded by the header tags (<h1> or <h2>) magnify the keyword and tell the search engine that this is an important word on the page.

Updated articles/blog

With shear number of websites that are online today, a static, brochure-type website falls short of what is needed to receive the kind of traffic to help meet online goals for your business.  It takes an updated website to keep track with other websites.

A frequently updated blog or blogging platform on your website can help achieve this.  Add a blog to your website and publish articles, news, etc.

Points of Contact/Social Media/Email Newsletter

This is completely a “no brainer.”  Your website must include contact information, and, I believe, multiple forms of contact.  Include your mailing address, a business phone number, a contact form and any social media channels you have.

Also, have an email newsletter.  It can be simple, but you can build an email list (not spamming or selling/renting information of course!), and send emails reminding readers of new posts, products, etc.  There are plenty of email newsletter programs out there such as MailChimp.

If I can help you address any of these problems, let me know!

Photo source: practicalowl

I have encouraged business owners to start blogs for more than one reason. There are many advantages to writing a blog including the benefit of increased traffic to your website if your blog posts are marketed well.

Therein lies the problem for many business owners. I understand myself as I often have a hard time trying to decide what to write for my own blogs.

Flickr: camboida4kidsorg

Do you find yourself staring at the screen wondering what to write? Me too!

I don’t have all the answers, but I want to offer some advice, some tips and some good resources for how to jump-start your writing.

I believe the best thing to do is to mix up your types of posts. It adds variety for your readers, and it allows you to have a template to write a post. Some bloggers will even put together a publishing schedule using a basic calendar to keep them on track.

There are many kinds, or types, of blog posts you can write. There are far more than I can mention here, but stay tuned because I will point you in the direction of some awesome resources for writing your blog!

When I first started making this post, I thought in terms of “kinds” of blog posts, but now, it is more in the mode of “topics.”  Either will work find, but here are mine.

1 Feature a product/service/employee/customer/community leader

I like to do this one.  I like to feature someone for a number of reasons.  First, they will instinctively promote the post.  Second, and more importantly, it an opportunity to brag on somebody.  I love to brag on others!

2  News about your business

People don’t think much about this, but it is a legitimate blog topic.  When people are perusing your website, they are curious as to what your business is up to.  Large corporate websites do this with their businesses including any media attention they receive.  Well, it is just as important to small businesses and maybe more so!

3  How to/Advice

This is simply showing someone “how to” do something.  You can be creative with your titles doing lists, etc.  However, the premise remains the same.  Simply write a “how to” post because people love to learn things. . . or criticize.  Either way, you will get readers.

4  Industry Trends

No one knows more about your industry than you.  You keep up with your industry and you are your readers’ best source of information.  Plus, it gives you an opportunity to give commentary and to add your own spin to your industry’s trends.

5  Fun Stuff

Don’t be afraid to write about something fun.  Did you just get back from vacation and really enjoyed visiting a museum or theater?  Let your readers know.  It breaks up being serious all the time, plus, it lets your readers know that you are a person.

6  Inspiration/Life Lessons

Did you learn something significant about life?  Share it with your readers.  Do you have a favorite quote or saying?  Let them know!  Life lessons and inspirations are something that resonates with everyone.  Again, it lets your readers see your humanness.  Now, this isn’t the place to practice confession, unless its funny and not too damaging.

Flickr: Additive Theory

7  Community News

Are you involved in your community?  Comment on news in your local community, especially as it relates to your industry.  Support your community and others in it and in turn, you will find they will support you.

8  What I would do . . . .

This is a case of showing your ability to reason and how you would solve a problem.  This provides two things.  First, it provides content.  Second, and most importantly, it is a “resume builder.”  As a business owner, you have to have “resume builders” which shows you are capable of doing the work for which the prospective client would hire you for.  On the flip side, consider “what I have done. . . ” type posts, which are case studies.

The last two topics require a large community of readers for your blog.  If you have that, then you can proceed with these two topics for your blog.

9  Ask your audience

Ask your audience a pressing question.  Encourage feedback and develop interaction.  Facilitate discussion so that readers can learn from one another.

10  Mailbag. . . .

This is often used in the sports world, but I have seen it used successfully in other industries.  You get lots of email each week, many with questions.  Choose a good question, or more, and attempt to answer them.

There you have it.  This should keep you blogging for a while.

In addition, you might check out these resources.

Resources

• http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/how-to-write-a-great-blog-post-in-just-15-minutes/
• http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/how-to-create-headlines-that-go-viral-with-social-media/
• http://www.copyblogger.com/5-simple-ways-to-open-your-blog-post-with-a-bang/
• http://www.mirnabard.com/2010/07/10-instant-blog-post-templates-to-help-you-write-articles-in-30-minutes-or-less/
• http://www.copyblogger.com/headline-breath-test/
• http://www.copyblogger.com/how-to-write-headlines-that-work/
• http://www.copyblogger.com/write-article-fast/
• http://www.copyblogger.com/brainstorm-blog-topics/

Driving to my church homegroup last night, I saw a business sign which read, “Follow us on Facebook.”  The first question that came to my mind was, “Why?”

“Why should I follow you on Facebook?”

Scott Beale / Laughing Squid http://laughingsquid.com/

I am a little bit of a sucker for following Facebook fan pages, probably because I have set up a few and know how hard it can be to get fans.  I do try to be a little discerning, but the fan page is for a friend, etc., I usually follow.  However, many people are harder to convince.  People’s time is a commodity we should never take for granted, even on Facebook.

Therefore, what kind of strategy do you have in place for your Facebook fan page? Is your goal to get a certain amount of followers?  Once you get your followers, then what will you do?

Many companies set up the Facebook account without any idea what they will use it for.  After all, there are over 400 million people on Facebook.

1.  Give something away

If you sell products, you might have a contest for fans to win something.  You got great products, right?  Everyone who “likes” your page can be entered in to a drawing for a free “fill in the blank.”  It worked well for a client of mine who increased her fans to well over 800 fans just by giving something away.

2.  Post links to your blog posts

You do blog don’t you?  Post the links to each individual blog post to your Facebook fan page.  A blog that offers advice or gives an “insider’s” view to your business has great value for customers.  Make sure your fans know about your blog!

3.  Post links to your website

This is self explanatory.  If your website is built around a blog, then #2 should work just fine.  Offer some kind of special at your website and promote it on your Facebook page.  The goal is, after all, to get people to your website to buy your product or become a member of your community.

4.  Post contact info

Do not neglect this!  Post a way for folks to contact you.  It is a customer service issue.  It can be sending them to your contact page at your website or posting an email address or phone number.  This is especially true if you do not have a website.  People need to know hours and other info too.

5.  Interact

When someone posts on your wall, respond!  This is the unique strategy of social media, interaction with fans/customers.  You can offer fans a chance to win something by posting on the wall, etc., but whatever you do, get your fans to interact.  And, then, join the discussion!  Facebook is a communication medium, and communication is a two-way street!

I hope this helps those of you trying to establish a Facebook page.  Having a Facebook fan page is an active process.  I hope you’re ready!

I see it all the time.  A company decides to create a facebook page or twitter account because that is what they heard they need to do.  They keep up with trends, they hear the buzz, and, after all, social media tools such as twitter and facebook are free, so why not?  They set up the facebook fan page or twitter account but no one comes and joins them.  When you look at their profile, they haven’t posted in months!  “Chalk it up to another fad,” they might say.  Of course, it didn’t cost anything to try social media.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/matthamm/

Why do companies have little success using social media?  It is because they do not have a strategy.  Did you realize that social media marketing requires a strategy?  Maybe you just thought that all a business needed  to do was just set up shop and watch it take off.  It doesn’t “just happen,” and chances are, you may need to invest a little in a strategy.

How does one invest in a strategy for social media marketing?  Well, you find people who do it for a living to consult you and help you devise a strategy and implement your plan.  Where do you look for that person?  For one, start on the internet.  That is where they are!  Go to Google and type in your town and “social media marketing.”  It should bring up a list of people who can help companies devise a plan.

What kind of things do social media marketing experts do to help give you a strategy?  They will help you identify a purpose and a goal for your social media strategy.  They will help you set up your profiles or optimize what you already have set up.  They put in place metrics to track progress, and they will help you find followers.  A social media marketing expert will also help you see the “big picture.”  He or she may think that you need a blog.

It costs money for this kind of help.  The more success a person has had, the more their rates.  I have heard all kinds of fees.  I am willing to bet that the ones that charge the most are worth every penny!  Ask yourself, “Is it worth it to have more customers and being well thought of in the world of social media?”  Think about a tweeter who has several thousand followers talking about a great experience they had at your place of business.

The truth of the matter is if you intend to put together a social media marketing campaign, you have to have time or money, and in most cases, both.  The rewards can be unbelievable.  You will also need someone to run the campaign and keep up with your social media profiles.  If that means you have to hire someone to do it, then hire someone.

If you are in Central Arkansas, and you are looking for someone to help you set up a social media campaign or run your social media accounts, I am available.