| Sticky
Sites Rule The Internet
By: Bonnie Jo Davis
Read through the hundreds of forums and bulletin
boards on the internet and you will find dozens of threads
centering on the lack of web site traffic. All the other remaining
threads bemoan the difficulty of getting visitors to return
long enough to buy something. Then there are the threads about
the complexity of getting listed and ranked well in important
search engines.
All of these dilemmas have the same cure - CONTENT. Content
that is pertinent to the subject of a website and updated
regularly makes a site "sticky." Sticky
sites drive and keep occupied all the visitors you could possibly
handle. Search engines drink from the fountain of fresh and
interesting content provided by savvy webmasters who enjoy
increased rankings and sales.
You too can enjoy these benefits with just a little effort
and a small budget if you create or find content appropriate
to your topic. Add some or all of the following types of content
to your site and your traffic will increase and visitors will
return often.
Articles - There is no doubt that free reprint articles are
the best way to populate websites. You can maximize the benefits
of articles by writing them yourself or by offering a small
fee to writers for customized versions of their popular articles.
Quotes - An interesting set of quotes on topic will help motivate
and inspire visitors. Add and delete quotes regularly to keep
your site fresh. Find quotes at http://www.annabelle.net/
and http://www.brainyquote.com/.
Puzzles - People love games and puzzles. Appeal to the child
that exists inside all of your visitors and they will reward
you with their time and attention. One place to get a new
monthly puzzle is http://tinyurl.com/6spgk. Consider investing
a small sum to have a custom crossword puzzle developed for
your site.
Forums - Follow in the footsteps of successful websites by
adding free forums to your site.
Check out forum software at http://www.yabbforum.com/
and www.phpbb.com Ask loyal visitors to serve as moderators
for specific topic threads.
Feedback/Guestbook - Allow visitors to ask questions or comment
on an issue raised by your site or your blog. Make this information
public (so long as it is in good taste) and searchable by
visitors.
Reviews - Unbiased reviews are universally popular. Add reviews
of books, software, hardware, scripts, movies, television
shows, schools or spas to your site and visitors will return
again and again.
Case Studies/Success Stories - Everyone loves a success story.
Interview your best customers and add their stories to your
website to bolster your credibility and satisfy your content
needs. Be careful to make the success story interesting and
motivational rather than commercial.
Jokes - A sense of humor is often lacking on the internet.
Imagine how impressed you would be by an attorney who has
such a good sense of humor that he keeps all the best attorney
jokes on his website. Follow in the footsteps of that attorney
and visitors will look forward to visiting your site.
Newsfeeds - Does your site cover a topic that frequently generates
breaking news? Add current news to your site via feeds available
at such websites as http://www.news4sites.com/services/index.php?t=sites
and enjoy a higher rate of return visits from your readers.
Resource Directories - Instead of the usual reciprocal link
campaign consider adding a resource directory to your site
that actually points your visitors to valuable sites that
complement your own. List only the sites you choose and do
not incur search engine wrath by insisting upon reciprocal
links. All links in the directory should open to a new browser
window.
Newsletter &; Archives - You don't have to recreate the
wheel and attempt to create a huge list for your newsletter.
Offer regular updates by e-mail or blog to current and potential
clients and include links to pertinent articles or resources.
Keep archives publicly accessible and search engines will
visit often.
Blogs - Why should you jump on the current trend of blogging?
Search engines adore blogs and visit them often because they
tend to be updated frequently. You can use a blog to replace
your e-mail newsletter and to feature your product or service
reviews and other bits of pertinent information that do not
merit a special e-mail to your customers.
Job Listings - Consider adding fresh job listings to your
site that fit your topic. For instance, you could feature
telecommuting jobs if your site topic is "work at home."
Make sure you have the permission of the employer prior to
posting their openings on your site.
Testimonials - Request testimonials form current and past
clients and sprinkle them throughout your website. Remove
outdated testimonials and add fresh ones on a regular basis.
Give your clients live links (opening in a new browser window)
to their website within the testimonial.
Please remember that you need permission to use content created
by someone else and at all times follow the rules of the Digital
Millennium Copyright Act of 1998. You can read the full text
of this law at http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c105:H.R.2281.ENR:.
The internet was conceived as a method of sharing information
with people around the world. If we all return to these roots
by filling our websites with topic appropriate content then
we will be rewarded by search engines. Forums complaining
about the lack of website traffic will disappear and be replaced
by recommendations of interesting websites to visit.
(c) 2005, Davis Virtual Assistance. All rights in all
media reserved.
About the Author:
Bonnie Jo Davis is a Virtual Assistant and veteran article
marketer. For your free e-book "Writing For Publicity"
visit http://www.ArticleSubmissionSites.com
today!
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