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Give them reasons to return!
Like myself, you other non-techies may not have heard of what a "sticky" Web site is(it is the stuff that lures visitors back again and again). We know we want that!
Forget getting to the top of the search engines. Let your Webmaster do that. Instead, try out some of these low-maintenance ways to bring 'em back to your Web site for more.
1. Upload new, original, and useful content often. Your Web site is not a brochure. Blatant ads such as banners turn visitors off. Give them information they can't find anywhere else-and give it free. People want and need how to's. Always think benefits when you post some new article. Helping your visitors get what they want will bring you respect and trust as an expert, and eventually, profit, from your book and other products.
2. Update your Web site content regularly and often, perhaps daily or weekly. If someone visits your site and finds nothing new, they will disappear into cyberspace and spend their time on other sites. If you don't want to write articles, place other people's articles up from ezines or Web sites, a list, or a short tip. Keep the pieces under 800 words. Common lengths are anywhere from 75-400 words, which could be excerpts from your book.
3. Publish your own ezine. Target it to your specific audience. Make it short and sweet. Start with a monthly, then see if you can do it bi-weekly. If you don't stay in regular touch with your possible buyers, they will forget you and your book's message. People want to know you better, so they can trust you and think of you as a savvy friend in their corner. Your free information, tips and resources will keep them as subscribers. If they like your eMag, they will recommend it to others. The opt-in eNewsletter tops all other ways to drive traffic to your site, and it can be mass mailed free, too. Check out www.topica.com.
4. Include a recommending service on your site. Your repeat visitors create new traffic. Check out www.Recommend-It.com. It's free, fast, and versatile. Each time someone recommends your site, they are entered in a contest to win a Palm V reading device.
5. Host a forum on your site where people can interact fully and you can share your knowledge and offer suggestions. It's a great way to help others and get these people visiting your site often because they want to know you as a real person. Without a chance to interact with you people lose interest. Allow your visitors to post a message or reply to other messages. They will check back every few days for new messages or replies. To find these services, do a search on "free webmaster resources. " Two specific ones: http://www.delphi.com and http://www.evryone.net. Check out this discussion group http://www.ablake.net/forum/
6. Remind your visitors to bookmark your site. Tell them you update information daily or weekly. Put reminders on all of your pages. If you omit this, you pass up a great opportunity to lure repeat, loyal visitors. You want more visitors, and you want them to spend more time on your site. The more time they spend on your site, the more likely they will check out your products or services pages
7. Serialize some of your content. If visitors get it all in one visit, what's to keep them coming back? Put one part of an article, home study course, special report, or excerpt from your book on your site each week or so. Let people know this through your eMagazine.
8. Post a monthly special only for your Web visitors. Call it "Discount of the month, " or "Freebie of the month. " Without incentives your audience will go elsewhere. Feature this opportunity in your ezine and provide a live link straight to it.
9. Enjoy the journey. Each day, you can learn something that will make your Web site more real, more YOU. Avoid being stiff-let your passion show! Add some personal information such as the personal column. 'The Coach's Corner' in the ezine, "The Book Coach Says, " mentions personal writing and marketing set backs, boo boos, along with a tip or so. Put this personal message on your site too.
10. Put "useful links" as a navigational bar on your home page.
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