The 5 Ps to Owning a Profitable Website

Is your website doing all it can to bring you business?
 

Why do some websites help their owners turn a brisk profit while others languish on the internet like pampered pets? In previous newsletters, we’ve addressed two of the issues: visibility and credibility. If the website can’t be found (or it’s not worth finding more than once) it won’t magically become profitable.

Once you have a website that’s worth visiting, do everything you can to get the word out. Many seem to believe a website is “A Field of Dreams” –if they build it, business will come. When it doesn’t, they blame the economy and/or decide websites work better for other industries. Before accepting this unlikely conclusion, be sure you haven’t ignored the obvious ways to help your website help your business:
 

1. Promote! Include your website URL on everything: letters, envelopes, business cards, ads, faxes, recorded messages, signage, etc.
2. Personalize! Pay special attention to your email signature (if you aren’t using one, you should be). This is especially important for professionals who have a website but use a generic mail service (MSN, Yahoo, Gmail, Comcast, and others)
3. Publish! Put quality content on your site and ask for appropriate inbound links from vendors, clients, business partners, and anyone else who has customers that would appreciate the information you’re posting.
4. Participate! Find the on-line communities relevant to your business and contribute: answer questions, initiate or join discussions, offer suggestions. (Be sure to include your email signature).
5. Populate! Have you established a presence in social media? Become familiar with Bebo, Facebook, LinkedIn, MySpace, Orkut, Hi5, for example. While exploring this fairly new arena don’t overlook blogging (add a blog to your website) and micro-blogging (e.g. Twitter). For additional information, visit http://www.ehow.com/how_5060167_increase-website-traffic-social-networking.html or http://ezinearticles.com/?Using-Social-Bookmarking-to-Increase-Web-Traffic&id=2316901

Computer Ps and Qs

Want to increase your profitability? Use your tools more efficiently—and that includes your computer. No matter what you do you’re probably taking too long to accomplish your, goal according to one expert. Learn shortcuts that will save you time: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/126449 (if you’re on a MAC, try http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1343)

Need help implementing these ideas? Send an email or give us a call: kelly@kobwebdesigns.com | 508-202-7570 | 800-948-8608

We’d love to hear from you!