The process of setting up a website and going into business has never been easier and has convinced a large percentage of website owners that they can load some content on to a template and visitors will arrive. This practice rarely works in that manner but by taking the following five steps you can greatly increase the odds of building a website that generates traffic, leads, and conversions.
Take these steps before you do anything else:
Know your consumer – Determine who is going buy what you are offering and where you can find them. Search engine optimization will help with rankings but you can also reach out to your potential consumers through blogs, articles, and social media sites. These consumer direct venues may not generate a lot of revenues but they will help you build credibility with your consumers and the revenues that do come can help pay the bills while optimization efforts unfold.
Know your competition – Getting advance information on whom else is already doing what you want to do, what keywords they’re using, and the costs of going head to head with them will allow you to set up a search engine optimization strategy with the highest potential for a return on investment. Competition isn’t a bad thing so don’t be intimidated. The benefit of having some competition is that you can gain intelligence on what is being done well in the field, where keyword and other opportunities exist, and get a sense on the size and activity of the market you plan to address.
Differentiate your business – Separating your business from the competition by addressing neglected issues or offering the best product or service in the category will gain valuable attention from searchers. Try not to get bogged down with a “me too” type of product that looks like the same thing consumers can buy from a handful a sites. Articles, white papers, and blogs can also help to establish your brand’s superiority.
Research your relevant keywords – Thorough keyword research can help you learn how your market is searching for what you are selling and will prove to be a significant factor in maximizing the return on investment for your SEO efforts. Many owners make the mistake of assuming that the keywords relevant to searchers and spiders are obvious and can be defined without paying for research. Popular keywords can generate tons of non-targeted visits, can be highly competitive, and can be extremely expensive to get ranked on the front pages of the search engines. Using relevant keywords with less competition, derived from analysis, might drive less traffic to the site but your stickiness and conversions will be much higher. The can also be search engine optimized for faster results.
Determine how you’ll define a conversion on the site – While a whiz-bang website might impress a visitor, but having them convert is what is ultimately going to generate revenues. If the objective of your website is to sell complex or customized products and services, a conversion might be defined as a visitor setting up a phone appointment for more information on your products or services. If the offering is clean and simple make it easy and obvious to the visitor that you have what they want and how they can purchase it. Beginning with the landing page, your site should guide the visitor through the process using the simplest format necessary to get the conversion.
It may take a while longer to get started, but following these five steps will get results much faster than plowing ahead blindly. Additionally, employing the services of an SEO Company can ensure that pre-campaign preparation is thorough, efficient, and gives you the best chance for optimal results. If you’re contemplating the initiation of a search engine optimization campaign.