Over 75% of web users skim the text on a website instead of reading the content word for word.
How can you optimize your text for web readers?

• Write small chunks of text or make lists.
• Create headings and subheadings.
• Write about 50% less than you would on printed material, such as a brochure.
• Italicize or bold key words or ideas.
• Each page on your website needs to serve a specific purpose and have specific content. Don’t clutter your content.

Statistics say web users spend as much as 80% of the time “above the fold.”
First things first!

• Put the most important and keyword-rich information first. This isn’t an essay that needs an introduction before getting to the “meat” of the content.
• Avoid incredibly long pages of content. Most people are not going to read it!

Search engines need to know what your business is all about!
What good is your website if no one can find it?

• Anticipate what customers and potential customers will search to find you!
• Use geographic key terms as well as traditional key terms about your business.
• Make a keyword list before writing your web content.
• Extra tip: Update your content frequently! Search engines wants to know your business is still around!

The web is an active medium! Keep your user engaged!
Web users are fickle. They go from web page to web page and usually have something specific they are looking for.

• Predict what your customer will want to get from your website and be precise in providing that information to them.
• Write actionable content. That is, content that allows for action to be taken.
• Use contextual links. These are links within your content that link to other pages on your website or blog. Whenever you write “contact us,” link to the contact page.

Keep an appropriate tone and use effective language!
Don’t eliminate potential customers.

• Keep in mind that most of your website visitors aren’t experts in your field; try not to use too much technical jargon.
• Use simple language and short sentences.
• Avoid cliches, sarcasm, or sayings as it may confuse some.
• Use active verbs.
• Be personal and direct. Keep a conversational tone rather than a formal one.
• Extra tip: Remember to check your site content for spelling and grammatical errors. This will give you less credibility!

If you need help writing effective, search engine friendly content for your website, contact us on our site or give us a call at 478-390-6770!

We are pleased to announce the recent launch of the redesigned website for Diamond Directors. Because their previous website was out of date and difficult to update, they needed a custom solution with a CMS, or content management system. This system allows them to easily make updates and create news items that link to external websites.

Diamond Directors is responsible for training pro athletes like Jason Heyward of the Atlanta Braves. Their methods are innovative and their website reflects that. With video tips, a blog, and online video instruction and analysis, the new website is truly an extention of their business.

Milledgeville Cares is part of our campaign to provide free web design for Milledgeville non-profit organizations this year. As a fairly new organization, they wanted to get their name out there and the web is a great place to start! Milledgeville Cares is an initiative to help those in need in our community. They work closely with other organizations in Milledgeville like churches, soup kitchens, and homeless shelters to provide the best help for all of those who need it.

Check them out at www.milledgevillecares.com!

This post was inspired by a panel I was a part of earlier this year at Digital Bridges to evaluate the effectiveness of local business owners’ websites in Milledgeville, GA.

Here are some of the things we looked for that can help you evaluate the effectiveness of your own website:

• Usability
  Your site needs to be easy for your customers and potential customers to use. They should be able to find the information they are looking for quickly and navigate throughout your website will ease. Links need to be labeled well and generally, users shouldn’t have more than 2 clicks before reaching the content they need. Every page of your site needs to have a “Call to Action” so the user knows what to do next. Your site should also be cross-browser friendly and load quickly, which are things your web designer should ensure.
• Design
  As most of you know, your website should be aesthetically pleasing; you need a consistent color scheme that suits the “personality” of your business and the field you are in. For example, it wouldn’t be effective to have a black and gray color scheme for a daycare’s website. However, that same color scheme may work for a fashion website. Your font(s) need to be easily read and an appropriate size as well.
• Effective content
  Your website’s content should consist of concise but informative text. It should be broken up into small paragraphs and headings and subheadings should be used and clearly labeled. Most web users don’t want to come to your business’s website and read a lot of information. They want to get the information they are looking for quickly. Your content should also include keywords about your business and field to help search engines and users know what the site is about. Include relevant contextual links to help search engines and users understand how different pages relate to each other. Last but not least, make sure to regularly update the content on your site!
• Easily found
  As we always say– What good is your website if no one can find it? You could have a great looking site with excellent usability and good content, but it needs to be easily found by your target audience in search engines. Although some of the things I have mentioned thus far should help with this, here are some other tips. Make sure to make your title tags, description tags, and H1 tags relevant to search terms your target audience will use to find you. If this sounds like foreign language to you, this is something a web developer can help you with. Make sure to include a site map with links to all of your pages listed in a logical way. It is definitely important to make sure your website is indexing in Google, Yahoo, and Bing. Visit these search engines and type in your URL to see what pages are and are not indexing on your site.

For a one-on-one consultation on your website’s effectiveness, contact us via our contact form or give me a call at 478-390-6770!