Remember the line, “If you build it, they will come,” from the Field of Dreams movie? Sadly, too many of Boomers have that same mantra about their website. Build a website and the visitors will flow through the door. Not so much.
Building a website is step one to getting found online. Without a website, you have nowhere to send customers or prospects to learn more about your products and services.
Having a website does not mean prospects are going to find you. You have to build roads leading to your website. Create paths that give people opportunities to stumble across you when they are searching for exactly what you have to offer.
Here are 7 ways to build paths that lead to your website so you can stop playing hide and seek.
- Put the URL address of your website on all printed materials like your business card and pamphlets.
- Place the address in your email signature so anyone you email automatically has the URL. This is especially important if your email address is Gmail, AOL, Verizon or similar.
- Social media profiles all have a place to highlight the URL address of your website. These links create big roads to your website as compared to the paths described above. Caution: do not open social media profiles and not use them. Unused profiles make a worse impression than not having profiles at all.
- Google My Business is the search engine giants program for local business owners to get found. It involves having a Google Plus Local business directory page. This option can only be used if you have a physical address and local phone number, brick and mortar, location where you do business. It can be your home, but it has to physically exist.
- Blogging is a long-term strategy to build a literal web of opportunities to be found. Imagine every blog post as another entry in the card catalog at the library. Each blog post you author is another piece of content for a search engine to index. Though it takes time, blogging builds permanent inroads.
- Article directories like Ezine Articles are a good way to post blog articles when you do not have a blog. Accounts are free and article directories only accept unique content. An “About the Author” box beneath each article highlights you, the author. This is where you can place a link to your website.
- Business pages on social media are another opportunity. If you use one particular social networking site like LinkedIn, consider creating a business page. This is another location to share articles and build roads to your website.
Building a website is literally step one. No one knows your website exists if you do not find opportunities to tell them. Stop playing hide and seek with Google and build your business.