Pain Free Website Strategies.

When the flurry of activity from publishing your website is over don't make one of the most common mistakes of falling completely inactive.

Because they are not critical for getting the initial website up and running, the valuable second phase developments are often overlooked.

Here are some of the most successful pain free strategies that you can implement in the second round of development to improve your website performance.

Ifyou don't already have one, prepare a short About-Us page. Throw in your aims and guarantees, perhaps your location if suitable but concentrate most of your efforts on your history. Visitors that bother to view an About-Us page are looking for a clue that you are trustworthy. Nothing settles a nervous vistor quite like the statement "Established in 1874".

Checkyour (true) average response time for an e-Mail from your Website. One of the top complaints about sites is that e-Mails are not answered in a reasonable time. Most visitors see 24 hours as being good, within 48 hours as merely acceptable and anything over that as very poor indeed.

Assoon as the website is published (never before) start distibuting your new business cards featuring the website address.

Changeyour answering machine message to include the website address. It may be the only part of your organisation still open.

Whereyour website is requesting visitors to telephone you, state the hours that someone is available to take the call. Even if it is only two hours a day it lets the visitor feel confident that they are not wasting their time.

Adda few pages to your site containing testimonials about the work you do. Contact a few of your customers and ask directly for a short testimonial. If they are genuinely satified with your work, people are often happy to provide one (especially if you feature their name or website).

Whensomeone e-Mails you, let them know you have received it. Even if you need more time to fulfill the request send a courtesy e-mail thanking them and promising to deal with it swiftly.

Considerwhat benefits your website actually offers to visitors, are these benefits made clear enough for even the most lazy visitor? Would an extra section support the site and really push the message home?

Doesyour home page appeal to each of your intended target markets? It may not be possible for one home page to properly serve two different target markets. If this is the case don't beat yourself over the head with an impossible task, just divide the site into two new websites. With each devoted to a particular audience you can maximise the focus of both of your websites.

Assoon as the website is published (never before) start distibuting your new business cards featuring the website address.

Updateall your stationary and advertising to include the website address. This includes the sign above the door and on the side of vehicles.

Neverlet your site go stale. Set yourself a time limit that forces you to produce something new. Even if a visitor has no interest in the new item, the fact that it exists tells them the rest of the site is up to date and is being tended.

Ifyour aim is to present a friendly, personal website then introduce yourself. Create a small area of the website that features the human side of your organisation. A few lines with a real persons name written underneath their photograph is all that is needed.

Directlye-Mail a limited number of customers and ask them to pick from a short list of possible improvements for the website. Ask if they have their own suggestion. Make the most popular improvement and then e-Mail again thanking them for their input and promoting the new feature.

Tryto offer something free on your website. Information, pdf books, desktop wallpapers and replacement manuals can all add value to your site.

Forwebsites offering a service, throw in a case study showcasing your best work. Use a storytelling tone to make it interesting and feature a few well chosen photographs.

Checkeach page of your website for a clear "call to action". What do you want visitors to do after viewing each page, contact you, keep reading, download, buy now? Don’t make your visitors struggle, make it easy and obvious.

Havean advertisement policy for your website. Adverts can increase website performance but too many "Click Here" demands can detract from your main goals. Decide early what level, if any, you will use and be consistent throughout the website.

Tryoffering an appealing discount or special offer via the website only.

Contactother websites, not direct competitors of course, and arrange for reciprical links between sites. Try similar organisations from other countries, or complementary sites, for example a cutlery website linked to your crockery website. Visit the website of your trade associations and the local Chamber of Commerce. They may have a listing for members that could be displaying your website address and e-Mail.

Researchyour local media online. Newspapers, magazines and radio stations all have websites. Be creative in what you can offer them.

Ifyou have a story to tell (humble beginnings, tenth anniversary) produce a press pack area on the site and directly contact the relevant media to let them know.

Assistin (or perhaps sponsor) local charity events and feature this in your website press release and e-Mailings.

Whenthe time is right, have a cosmetic redesign performed on the website. Then send out the e-Mails and press releases trumpeting your improved status.

Doesyour website demonstrate your knowledge? If you are selling polka dot roses then write features on polka dot roses. It enhances your website if you can show your expertise on a given subject.

Makea request for guest authors to write about a product or service they love. It is amazing how little prompting enthusiastic people need to speak their mind. Their enthusiasm can be infectious.

Runa competition directly through the website.

Signup to a few relevant discussion sites and forums. When a topic matches your website and you think others may be interested, tell them about your website. If you are an expert on a particular subject answer the questions of other members, each time displaying your website address to the world.

The above article is provided for information purposes only.