Access Database support Microsoft Office Software Visual Basic Software www.NevVB.com.au Website Optimisation Effective Copywriting Market Research www.NevSEO.com.au nev@NevVB.com.au Sydney (02) 9453-0456
Many companies and small businesses have a Website that is reasonably non-functional. The Websites just do not attract visitors, let alone customers or bring about sales - and a fantastic marketing opportunity goes to waste. With Internet competition on the increase, more and more Websites are being left out in the cold. So before creating a new Website, it is essential to do some preliminary research. Identifying the Target Market and the resulting Keyword Research are necessary precursors to Website implementation. Keep in mind your objectives when creating a new Website:
Here is a checklist that covers the essential aspects of setting up a New Website:
Use Words in the URL relating to the content, so that visitors can easily remember the URL. To choose a Website name and domain name, see Choosing a Website Name.
Choose a Website host that offers reliable and personal service, with minimal downtime. The software available must be flexible enough to allow continuous Website Optimisation.
It is imperative to select your target market before a start on the Website build is made. You must know the age group, educational level, technical knowledge and degree of sophistication of your target audience. Identifying the target market goes hand in hand with Keyword research. You cannot optimise Keywords without knowing the target market. See The Target Audience.
Keyword Research is needed at the start as it affects the content and every aspect of the Website. Each Web page must incorporate targeted Keyword Phrases. See Website Keywords and Keyword Phrases.
Select page topics and create the write-up. The write-up must stick to the topic and incorporate the Keyword Phrases selected for the topic. The Website must be friendly and direct. The Website must be professional. See the page Content is King!
Originally Search Engine Optimisation involved making sure that selected Keywords had a Density of 5%. Nowadays this will be regarded as Keyword stuffing. The Density Analysis is still of value – check to see if a Keyword or some phrase has been used too frequently (or too infrequently). Use synonyms to avoid any problem and improve the chances of a Search hit. See Keyword Density and First Phrases Analysis.
Do a search using your Keywords, and check how the opposition is going, and what they are using to get better rankings. When the new Website is up and running, remember that the "Sandbox effect" will operative.
The "Contact Us" page should (if it has not been done elsewhere) establish trust and credibility. It should have an Email facility.
Create a Company Logo, Images and Slideshows. A favicon.ico should be included with the Images. Make sure that the Company Logo has an explanatory ALT tag containing Keywords - it often appears in the SERP listing. Minimise Image sizes to improve response times. See Website Images
The Keyword tags, Description tags and Page Titles must be optimally set. The resulting Search Engine Results Page (SERP) listing must be inviting. See The Meta Tags and Website Page Titles.
It is important that all the Web Pages are consistent, have the same look and feel, and are attractive. Create a Website Template that defines the layout, theme, style, colours and Fonts. A Website Template will also speed up development. An ASP.Net Master Page makes an ideal Template, and will ensure consistency between Web pages.
CSS is also necessary for consistency between Web pages. Use CCS to ensure that Printing does not include superfluous text, and that the font is not too small. See Website Standards.
Choose the navigation style - vertical or horizontal are the alternatives. Also choose the style of the Menus and Sub Menus. Above all, page navigation must be simple and easy.
Set up tracking statistics - see StatCounter in Writing Effective Content. Or use Visual Basic and SQL Server to derive and store customised statistics.
Submit the Website to the Search Engines and directories at the earliest moment, even if it is not complete. Submit the Website to any local directories. See Directory Listings.
Start submitting quality articles to submission Websites. See the page on Internal and External Links.
Visual Basic.net can be used to vary Headings, Advertisements, Content and Images.
When the Website has been built, check that all the Search Engine Tips have been implemented. And keep checking on a regular basis. This is not a one-time task.
Who said it was all going to be quick and easy? Email me if you have any queries or suggestions.