Top website tips

Search engine marketing tips

1. Get with the lingo

Know the search terms customers use to find your business on the Internet and use them on your website: titles, headers, sub-headers, meta tags, and general content. Try to secure relevant key phrases as domain names. A unique, topical name like melbourne-florists.com.au should rank higher in search engine results than myfloristshop.com.au if potential customers use the search term ‘florists in melbourne’.

2. Content is King

What you write on your web page is what appears in the search results. If the text does not relate to what customers are searching, your site will most likely be ignored, thus, lowering your search engine ranking.

3. Spread the word

Get back links from relevant credible sites. Google, in particular, will rank your site based largely on how many other sites have had visitors click from their website to yours.

4. Don’t forget to sell your wares

Once they’re in, turn your site visitors into paying customers or genuine prospects. Do you want them to buy online (in the case of e-commerce), sign-up to your newsletter, fill out your contact form or download your whitepapers? Whatever it may be, make the most of their visit while you have their attention.

—Robelen Bajar, marketing manager, Business and Consumer, Melbourne IT (www.melbourneit.com.au)

Picking a host

1. ‘Glocal’ focus. For the majority of business it is important that your support and service is local. Also, if you have overseas clients, consider partnering with a global provider with a local presence (Glocal) for support and billing.

2. Deep technical knowledge and support. It is critical that your hosting company is has the depth of technical support to help you deliver the best out of your site. Regular R&D, training and accreditation of staff is essential to stay on top of the latest trends.

3. What is your hosting providers security or back up policy? Ensure that data centres are fully redundant with back-up power, internet connections, and extreme firewalls built into the network.

4. Green Hosting. Socially responsible hosting companies are considering the effects that they have on the environment and looking at ways to reduce their carbon footprint.

5. Size and reputation are important considerations. Do your research and ask questions such as, how long they have been in business, ask for a list of key clients, how large the firm is, and what accreditations and qualifications they have.