First of a series of "things to do" for you for your internet marketing pursuits. Hope to have all of them completed by the end of the year so we can start 2010 out on the right foot.
If you have others, post 'em as comments on www.scorenextlevel.blogspot.com
1. Unless you have a real compelling reason to have a Flash introduction on your web site, delete it. As one writer said, "If you don't agree, try this: Shove your head into a bucket of water. Stay in there, not breathing, for 10 seconds longer than is comfortable. That's what you're doing to your customers. Delete it, please." Also see http://googlewebmastercentral.blogspot.com/2008/06/improved-flash-indexing.html
2.Check the load speed of every page on your site. If any load in more than 10 seconds, fix it (2-6 seconds is far better). If your developer says they can't, and it's not your own network causing the problem, might be time for a new one. Go HERE Another article:
"Is load time killing conversions?"
3.Check your site for broken links. There are several free link checkers. Fix those links. Do not pass this step until you're done. If it takes your developer more than a week to do this step, again with the "new one" thing. http://validator.w3.org/checklink
4.Make sure you have a user-friendly 404 error page, not the generically nasty PAGE NOT FOUND message. http://www.codinghorror.com/blog/archives/000819.html
5. Make sure you have a user-friendly 500 error page, too. A 500 error happens when some bit of database code you wrote late at night decides it's had enough with this world, and takes your web site with it. That usually leads to something terribly informative like "500 Error Connection Timed Out". Maybe you can do something better?
6. Remove all inline javascript to a separate .js include file. That will speed up page load times and may help you with search rankings, too. Once again check with your developer
7. Set up Google Webmaster Tools, Yahoo! Site Explorer and Live.com Webmaster Tools. You'll see your site from the search engine's viewpoint, what folks use to find you, and whether there are any problems that might be hurting you in the search engines.
8. Set up an XML sitemap, too. Check out. Sitemaps.org for an overview. See HERE and HERE
9. If you're running an e-commerce site, hire a really good writer to rewrite all your product descriptions. Those descriptions matter more than you think. See Copywriting 101 by Copyblogger. Consider Guru.com and Elance.com as sources for copywriters. There are numerous freelancers around too.
10. Get analytics set up on your site. You can't do internet marketing without it. Actually, you can, but you'll suck at it. I recommend Google Analytics. If your developer says they can't install anything, well, you know...
For your reading Web Marketing for Dummies
Don't Make Me Think
Google Analytics in an Hour a Day
If you have others, post 'em as comments on www.scorenextlevel.blogspot.com
1. Unless you have a real compelling reason to have a Flash introduction on your web site, delete it. As one writer said, "If you don't agree, try this: Shove your head into a bucket of water. Stay in there, not breathing, for 10 seconds longer than is comfortable. That's what you're doing to your customers. Delete it, please." Also see http://googlewebmastercentral.blogspot.com/2008/06/improved-flash-indexing.html
2.Check the load speed of every page on your site. If any load in more than 10 seconds, fix it (2-6 seconds is far better). If your developer says they can't, and it's not your own network causing the problem, might be time for a new one. Go HERE Another article:
"Is load time killing conversions?"
3.Check your site for broken links. There are several free link checkers. Fix those links. Do not pass this step until you're done. If it takes your developer more than a week to do this step, again with the "new one" thing. http://validator.w3.org/checklink
4.Make sure you have a user-friendly 404 error page, not the generically nasty PAGE NOT FOUND message. http://www.codinghorror.com/blog/archives/000819.html
5. Make sure you have a user-friendly 500 error page, too. A 500 error happens when some bit of database code you wrote late at night decides it's had enough with this world, and takes your web site with it. That usually leads to something terribly informative like "500 Error Connection Timed Out". Maybe you can do something better?
6. Remove all inline javascript to a separate .js include file. That will speed up page load times and may help you with search rankings, too. Once again check with your developer
7. Set up Google Webmaster Tools, Yahoo! Site Explorer and Live.com Webmaster Tools. You'll see your site from the search engine's viewpoint, what folks use to find you, and whether there are any problems that might be hurting you in the search engines.
8. Set up an XML sitemap, too. Check out. Sitemaps.org for an overview. See HERE and HERE
9. If you're running an e-commerce site, hire a really good writer to rewrite all your product descriptions. Those descriptions matter more than you think. See Copywriting 101 by Copyblogger. Consider Guru.com and Elance.com as sources for copywriters. There are numerous freelancers around too.
10. Get analytics set up on your site. You can't do internet marketing without it. Actually, you can, but you'll suck at it. I recommend Google Analytics. If your developer says they can't install anything, well, you know...
For your reading Web Marketing for Dummies
Don't Make Me Think
Google Analytics in an Hour a Day
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