Adhere to some simple rules to keep your site alive

As your website evolves, it’s important to reassess it continually.

Here is some  advice we give to clients: 

1.  Stay focused on your audience and specialty

The Web is a niche medium.  With the tremendous availability of sites, you need to set yourself apart as a site that offers something unique, something that isn’t offered any where else. Focus on what makes you successful off the Web -- and use your site to bring that success alive on the Web. 

2. Up-to-date information fosters trust

Continually provide updated and timely information is vital.  If visitors suspect that the site isn’t updated regularly, they’ll choose to go elsewhere. 

3.  Capture your interested visitor

When a visitor comes to your site and finds it useful, make sure you don’t lose them.  Make sure you “capture” them and their e-mail addresses.  Give them a chance to sign up and receive regular e-mail notices.  These notices can be simple updates about changes to the site or an extensive monthly newsletter.    We use Constant Contact for our e-newsletters.  

4.  Create community to encourage return visits

In most cases, you'll want visitors to return to your site – over and over and over. The key is creating a sense of community. Encourage them to post comments and give feedback. Ask them to contribute to a poll. (See Tools We Use to implement this kind of interaction.) 

5.  Network with other sites and throughout the Web

Coordinate articles or products and then link to one another. Write articles for other sites and think of creative ways to collaborate.  Are you on Facebook and Twitter? Are you linked from other blogs? Social networking is a great way to network on the Web. We regularly advise our clients to use social networking and help them to use these tools.

6. Promote your site on non-web mediums.

Make sure to mention your site on everything from your letterhead and business cards to any print publications where you are featured.