oswebdesign.co.uk Blog

11 Tips what to do after your site goes live

You have worked hard with your web designer and your site has gone live. You now need to ensure your wonderful new website is found!

Here are a eleven top tips to get your site working for you:

1. Local Business Links

Look for other websites which will provide links to your site.  As well as looking nationally, it helps to request links from local businesses which are complementary to yours in the areas where your business operates.  For example if you offer transcription services, you could approach a website selling transcription equipment.

2. Free Listings

You can create a free listing for your local business on Google Maps and Yahoo Local . Your business will then show up on a map when people search locally in your area.

3. You Tube

If you have a video, you can promote this, images and audio content via You Tube.   Google's "universal search" displays not only web page content, but also relevant listings for images, videos, local businesses and audio clips.  For example, if you were to create an informative video explaining what your business offers and upload it to YouTube www.youtube.com you could see a lot of additional traffic coming your way.

4.  Incoming Links

As Google (and other major search engines) rate the number of quality  incoming links to your website as an important indicator of relevance, additional  links will help you rank higher in the search engines.  It is important however to ensure you include only links from those sites which are both popular and can be trusted.

5. Online Directories

Submit your site to online directories.   A directory is a website listing which is sorted according to specific category and subcategory. You can list your site in the free Open Directory Project www.dmoz.com and in the Yahoo Directory

6.  Industry Specific Directories

If you belong to various trade associations which have member directories, ask them for a link too. You may have to pay for this option but the more links you have, the higher your page rank will be!

7. Complementary Links

It’s a good idea to send a personal e-mail to the contact listed on the site where you would like your link featured.  However, do remember to link from complementary sites as Google determines what your site is about, who you link to and who links to you. Not just any link will do, it’s quality links you’re after.  Persistence will pay off in the end so don’t be tempted to give up!

8.  Articles

Write articles for others to use in their  newsletters.  You can increase your online visibility if you write articles about subjects within your area of expertise and send them to editors as free content for their e-mail newsletters or websites.  Don't forget  to ask them to provide a link to your website and a short description of what you are selling or the services you offer.   There is an abundance of information on how to do this available from one of the many article marketing sites.

9.  Press Releases

To broadcast newsworthy events, you can  send press releases to various journalists who work within your specific industry.  The links to your site contained within online news articles should improve the amount of traffic to your website.

10.  Start Writing a Blog

If you offer regular informative content and comments on other forums and blogs, people are likely to link to your website via your blog, thereby increasing your website's page rank.

11.  Social Media Marketing

By setting up Twitter, Facebook and Linked-In accounts (to name just three) and regularly posting credible content via your online profiles, you can develop and build a following of people who are interested in the tips and expertise you can offer in your specific field.  By attracting interest in this way you are encouraging people to visit your website where they can gain more valuable information.

Read more from OS Web Design:

your-portfolio-speaks-volumes/
do-you-understand-why-your-customers-buy-from-you/
why-an-online-marketing-strategy-is-important-when-planning-a-website/
possible-reasons-for-low-conversion-rates/
website-statistics/
what-is-the-difference-between-web-design-and-website-development/
6-tips-to-help-you-stick-to-your-web-design-resolutions-for-2010/
web-design-trends-for-2010/
what-are-call-to-action-buttons/
why-should-a-website-be-compliant-with-standards/
how-do-you-know-if-the-time-is-right-for-a-re-design/