Website Traffic Ahead

Artist: James Rizzi, American (1950 - 2011)

"There is a lot of 'build it and they will come' hype about web sites, but it's simply not true. You may build it, but then it's one of billions out there, with millions of sites added every day. Talk about information overload! That's why it's your responsibility to drive traffic to your site."

- Page 105 in The Designer's Guide to Marketing and Pricing by Ilise Benun and Peleg Top

This year I have been learning how to build Wordpress websites for others. Sadly when I finish a website everyone on the Internet doesn't come running to see it. It may be functional & look amazing, but you, my friend, have to tell people about it.

How you ask?

Talk About It
This new website is your baby. Treat it as such. Tell everyone you know about it. Online & in real life.

Put it in Print
Put your URL on everything. Business cards, brochures, even your truck. The more people see you have a website the more apt they will be to go there when they need your services.

Pick a Focus Point
What do you want a visitor to do when they get to your new site? Sign up for a newsletter? Subscribe to your blog? Let's put that action 'above the fold' (in the area before a visitor would have to scroll). This way your website will not just be a wallflower, but will build a relationship.

Keep Your Website Fresh
Try to update your website with new content regularly. Do you have a Facebook page to link to it? How about new work to brag about? For visitors to come back again & again something new needs to be happening.

I am not an expert at increasing website traffic by any means. SEO, Google analytics & keywords sound like a list of foreign languages - that I am learning. I will promise to make your website functional & look amazing, if you promise to tell people about it.

Now to go update my website.