Those who enter the world of web design quickly find out how important content is to the success of a website. It is a well-documented fact that this is the best way to attract visitors to a site and keep them coming back. Visitors are easier to convert to customers when they trust the content on the site. They will be confident that the content is reliable and the site a trustworthy source of goods, services, or information.
Content, Content, Content
Right from the initial planning phases of the design, it is important to incorporate areas that can be frequently updated with new, fresh material. This makes it easier to design the flow of pages and encourage people to make a purchase. Certain elements can be tied to the pages where they make the most sense. An article on home improvement projects is complemented nicely by a series of images that can open as a slide show. One of the benefits of this tactic is that the article is still open when the slideshow is closed so the visitor can keep reading the article or review it.
Keep It Fresh
It may be tempting to simply tack on a blog and bury it deep in the site just to add keyword loaded posts. This is a waste of time and effort as it will have no effect on visitors or search engines. A blog can be a productive source traffic when it is filled with reliable and helpful posts. Not only will visitors find this attractive, but so will the search engines. ‘How to’ articles and those describing tips and tricks are particularly effective at holding a visitor’s attention.
Keep It Varied
Well written and informative passages are a key part of online communication. However, there are other ways to freshen a site so visitors are reassured that the owners are actively supporting the site. Images are a very effective way to communicate with people especially when trying to express traits like:
- Kindness
- Trustworthiness
- Confidence
- Reliability
Making the site personal and easy to relate to will come naturally when real photographs are integrated into the site. Having high-quality pictures taken by a professional around the business makes it relatable to the site’s visitors. Rotating these pictures regularly increases the appearance of active involvement by the business.
Alternative Forms of Content
The nature of website pages means their colors can be manipulated to create a certain effect. So can adding logos to help associate the brand with the site. The company logo makes a great background in a subtle way. Some sites may even benefit from adding music files as a background, but in most cases, this is wildly unpopular.
The Value Of Video
Adding a collection of videos can have a strong impact when applied correctly. They have to be useful and informative and give the visitor something of value. This is another opportunity to tie in keywords in titles, sub-headings, descriptions, and even comments.
Integrating Search Engine Optimization
While content is essential for developing traffic, it also has an effect on search engines. This is a powerful tool in the hands of SEO specialists as search engines appear to rank sites higher when they are frequently updated. This makes content one of the most valuable resources an online business can have.
