How Do I Get People to My Web Site?

If you build it, they will come. This phrase from the 1989 movie, Field of Dreams, addresses a popular misconception many web site owners have about their web sites. You may have a top-notch web site, but you must actively market your site to get the traffic you need to drive business.

Here are a few tips to keep in mind when developing a site that potential customers will want to visit:

Content is king with the search engines, so make sure your site is filled with the type of content that would appeal to your potential audience. Don't forget to update your content on a regular basis. You may be competing with blogs and the latest YouTube video for position within search results. Search engines prefer vibrant web sites.

Implement "best practice" search engine optimization strategies to make your site more likely to get listed on searches. Use appropriate page titles, header tags, link text, focus on getting relevant inbound links, include a site map, etc.

Actively use a web analytics program to collect data from your web site pertaining to the behavior of your site visitors. This provides a gold mine of information to put to use.

Consider whether to depend solely on organic searches or add a paid search strategy to get the word out about your product or services. If you want to investigate adding a pay-per-click campaign(s), the three largest pay-per-click providers are Google AdWords, Yahoo! Search Marketing, and Microsoft adCenter (MSN). Each allow you to set your budget and develop targeted campaigns.