Sticky Sites Rule The Internet
Read through the hundreds of forums and bulletin boards on the internet and you will
find dozens of threads centering on the lack of web site traffic. All the other remaining
threads bemoan the difficulty of getting visitors to return long enough to buy something.
Then there are the threads about the complexity of getting listed and ranked well in
important search engines.
All of these dilemmas have the same cure - CONTENT. Content that is pertinent to the
subject of a website and updated regularly makes a site"sticky"; Sticky sites drive and
keep occupied all the visitors you could possibly handle. Search engines drink from the
fountain of fresh and interesting content provided by savvy webmasters who enjoy
increased rankings and sales.
You too can enjoy these benefits with just a little effort and a small budget if you
create or find content appropriate to your topic. Add some or all of the following types
of content to your site and your traffic will increase and visitors will return
often.
Articles - There is no doubt that free reprint articles are the best way to populate
websites. You can maximize the benefits of articles by writing them yourself or by
offering a small fee to writers for customized versions of their popular articles.
Quotes - An interesting set of quotes on topic will help motivate and inspire
visitors. Add and delete quotes regularly to keep your site fresh. Find quotes at
http://www.annabelle.net/ and http://www.brainyquote.com/.
Puzzles - People love games and puzzles. Appeal to the child that exists inside all of
your visitors and they will reward you with their time and attention. One place to get a
new monthly puzzle is http://tinyurl.com/6spgk. Consider investing a small sum to have a
custom crossword puzzle developed for your site.
Forums - Follow in the footsteps of successful websites by adding free forums to your
site.
Check out forum software at http://www.yabbforum.com/ and www.phpbb.com Ask loyal
visitors to serve as moderators for specific topic threads.
Feedback/Guestbook - Allow visitors to ask questions or comment on an issue raised by
your site or your blog. Make this information public (so long as it is in good taste) and
searchable by visitors.
Reviews - Unbiased reviews are universally popular. Add reviews of books, software,
hardware, scripts, movies, television shows, schools or spas to your site and visitors
will return again and again.
Case Studies/Success Stories - Everyone loves a success story. Interview your best
customers and add their stories to your website to bolster your credibility and satisfy
your content needs. Be careful to make the success story interesting and motivational
rather than commercial.
Jokes - A sense of humor is often lacking on the internet. Imagine how impressed you
would be by an attorney who has such a good sense of humor that he keeps all the best
attorney jokes on his website. Follow in the footsteps of that attorney and visitors will
look forward to visiting your site.
Newsfeeds - Does your site cover a topic that frequently generates breaking news? Add
current news to your site via feeds available at such websites as
http://www.news4sites.com/services/index.php?t=sites and enjoy a higher rate of return
visits from your readers.
Resource Directories - Instead of the usual reciprocal link campaign consider adding a
resource directory to your site that actually points your visitors to valuable sites that
complement your own. List only the sites you choose and do not incur search engine wrath
by insisting upon reciprocal links. All links in the directory should open to a new
browser window.
Newsletter Archives - You don't have to recreate the wheel and attempt to create a
huge list for your newsletter. Offer regular updates by e-mail or blog to current and
potential clients and include links to pertinent articles or resources. Keep archives
publicly accessible and search engines will visit often.
Blogs - Why should you jump on the current trend of blogging? Search engines adore
blogs and visit them often because they tend to be updated frequently. You can use a blog
to replace your e-mail newsletter and to feature your product or service reviews and
other bits of pertinent information that do not merit a special e-mail to your
customers.
Job Listings - Consider adding fresh job listings to your site that fit your topic.
For instance, you could feature telecommuting jobs if your site topic is work at home.
Make sure you have the permission of the employer prior to posting their openings on your
site.
Testimonials - Request testimonials form current and past clients and sprinkle them
throughout your website. Remove outdated testimonials and add fresh ones on a regular
basis. Give your clients live links (opening in a new browser window) to their website
within the testimonial.
Please remember that you need permission to use content created by someone else and at
all times follow the rules of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998. You can read
the full text of this law at
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c105:H.R.2281.ENR:.
The internet was conceived as a method of sharing information with people around the
world. If we all return to these roots by filling our websites with topic appropriate
content then we will be rewarded by search engines. Forums complaining about the lack of
website traffic will disappear and be replaced by recommendations of interesting websites
to visit.
(c) 2005, Davis Virtual Assistance.