|
1. What is the purpose of
your website?
When you're well-known through
face-to-face contacts, your website will serve
as an additional source of information to potential
customers. You may need only a basic "calling
card" site: a list of contact information,
coming appearances and basic brochure copy.
On the other hand, your
website may be your primary revenue source. In
that case, you'll need to direct visitors to your
"for sale" section and come up with
a plan to take their money. You'll need a shopping
cart and perhaps a merchant account.
2. Who will be your ideal
target market?
Draft at least two hundred
words describing your ideal client. Where does
he live, work and play? Where does she eat and
shop? What are your client's goals and hobbies?
You're the psychologist: create as many details
as possible. Some copywriters recommend assigning
your target a name so you can see the person behind
the credit card.
3. What action do you want
everyone to take?
Your home page copy drives
your website visitors to a clear, unambiguous
target. Keep them on your site as long as possible
and suggest a specific action. Buy an ebook. Sign
up for your ezine. Sign your guest book. Make
it easy for visitors to take this action, placing
forms and links right on your home page.
4. How will you maintain
your site?
Many new website owners
budget the cost of web design and a year of web
hosting. But that's only the beginning. A website
that's unchanged will grow cobwebs. It's easy
to tell when you've landed on a website where
nobody's home. Something's broken. The whole place
looks abandoned.
You'll need to replace broken
links, fix spelling errors, add updates to your
schedule, and a whole lot more. And in my experience,
your website will look different after five or
six months. Time for a new overhaul! That's why
I say, "You need to become your own web designer,
marry your web designer, or be prepared to pay."
5. How will you promote
your site?
A website without promotion
is like a 747 flying around the world without
any passengers: expensive and useless! You can
write articles as free content, swap links and
submit your site to the search engines. Fill your
website with content, update the content regularly,
and write your copy with an eye to your keywords.
You'll have to budget
time for promotion or hire an assistant. Planning
ahead can help you create a website that makes
your job a whole lot easier down the road.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
About
the Author:
Cathy Goodwin, Ph.D., is an author, speaker and
career/business consultant. Your Next Move Ezine:
Read one weekly and watch your choices grow! mailto:subscribe
"Promote your website free" http://www.cathygoodwin.com/promotefree.html
Contact: cathy
|
