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Web
Content Basics
Why do you need content
on your web site?
Many sites are looking to increase
traffic from search engines. Search engines scan the content on your
site for the amount of content, the quality of your content and the
uniqueness of your content. If you are purchasing pre-written articles
or using articles from free directories, then chances are, web sites
that are in the same industry as you have the same information. This
can actually hurt your chances of moving up in search engine
placement. When search engines scan your content, you want it to be
unique and free from grammar errors.
Web content keeps your visitors on
your site longer. If you have nothing to offer visitors, they have no
reason to stay. Can they read about your products? Can they find out
what you do? Can they find out about your industry? Can they find
general information that might be of interest. For example, if you
have a site to sell camping equipment, can your visitors find out
about where they best camping sites are, what type of equipment a
first time camper might need, or how to buy a tent?
In addition, you can have articles that rate various camp sites
or about traveling around the county.
Visitors will stay if they have interesting articles to read.
This increases the chances that they will buy from you. In addition,
if visitors are able to get the information they are looking for,
trust is built between you and your customer. Again, you have
increased the chances of them buying from you.
What type of content do you
need?
In writing circles, the type of
content you are looking for would be called “evergreen articles.”
This means that the content is good today, will be good next year and
will still attract customers five years from now. Content that is too
specific to today will not attract customers long-term. This type of
content needs to be reviewed and updated on a regular basis.
When deciding what type of content
you want to include on your site, take some time to search the
internet for sites similar to yours. What type of content are they
offering? Think about
your customers and what type of questions they ask. This should give
you a good idea on the type of information your customers are seeking.
Additionally, you will want to
decide what you want to teach your customers. Do you want how-to
articles that outline a specific way of doing something? Do you want
to provide general information, tips or would you like reviews of
products, services or books?
It is important to keep in mind
that web content is different than content written for magazines.
People read differently when they are surfing the web. Knowing and
understanding the difference can mean the difference between sending
your potential customers away or keeping them on your site.
Some sites will provide a few
articles to start and then continue updating their sites on a weekly
or monthly basis with new and interesting articles. Other companies
will choose to fill their sites with a great deal of information in
the beginning and then not worry about adding more articles.
Whatever your needs, Eileen
Bailey’s extensive knowledge of writing for websites can help you.
She has been writing for web sites for over 10 years. Currently,
Eileen currently writes for Health
Central’s ADHD site, Suite
101 and previous to that, Eileen wrote for About.com
(A division of the New York Times.) Let Eileen’s experience and
expertise help you.
Check
out Eileen's articles on Health Central:
ADHD
at Healthcentral.com
Check
out Eileen's latest articles on Suite 101:
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