Guest post by Sylviane Nuccio
You are building a store, and while the floor tiles still need to be installed and the lighting hasn’t been installed yet, you’ve decide that you are going to have your grand opening anyway!
No way, you are saying, right? How in the world am I going to have a grand opening with my store not even finished yet!
Rule Number One – Make Sure Your Site is Finished
It’s interesting how our thinking works sometimes. While no one would never even think about having a grand opening day for their physical store while it’s still under construction, or even while the store is not completely ready; many people are expecting to see traffic to their site, while the site is not ready yet or with very little content available.
The golden rule for a website is pretty much the same as a physical store, because your website IS your online store. Therefore, you need to treat it as such.
Do not start your grand opening day (your site promotion) if your site is not complete or still pretty much empty. You will give a bad impression to your visitors and they may never come again. You know the saying “you’ve got only one chance to make a first impression”. This is true for your website as well.
While you might be in a hurry to bring in some traffic to your website to start making money, you need to go through the work process of completing it first. This doesn’t mean that you cannot update and make it better over time, but first thing first, make sure it’s 100% presentable before you start promoting it.
Give Life to Your Website With Regular Fresh Content
If you have just built your website, that’s great, but there are two important things you need to make sure that your website includes.
1. A Blog
The public as well as Google like regular fresh content and the best known platform for regular fresh content is a blog.
If your site is a blog, you don’t have to worry, just make sure that you create a nice article post at least once a week and you will bring in visitors and Google crawlers to your site fairly quickly. If your site is a website, however, you need to create a blog and add that blog to your site, so your website will show fresh new content on a regular basis.
There is no doubt that this will create extra work for you, but it’s part of the business. Just like most retail stores have extra services to please and attract more customers, your blog will be part of your customer service, helping you to attract more visitors and please Google at the same time due to the regular new content flow which Google loves.
2. Service your visitors (potential customers)
There are many different ways that you can use to be of good service to your visitors who are also your potential customers.
If you have ever been at the grand opening day of a physical store, you have noticed that sales associates, managers or even the store owner has approached you asking you if you needed any help. Of course, their ultimate goal is to sell you something, they are hoping to make a customer out of you, but their first approach is still to try to help you by answering your questions or finding what you are looking for.
You need to do the same thing with your website. Here are 3 simple ways that will help you service your online visitors well and encourage them to come back to you site (store).
• A very good way to help your visitors would be to make sure they understand what your site is all about by creating a well written and detailed “about” page. I have sometimes landed on sites where I wasn’t one hundred percent sure about their services. In such case, I go to the “about” page to make sure that the site is what I am looking for. A clear, detailed and yet easy to read “about” page is a must for your new visitors.
• Create a FAQs page where you can gather all the questions and answers you ever have ran into regarding your niche. If you don’t have any FAQ on the top of your head, you can always browse forums of your niche and see what type of questions people are asking on a regular basis. Create a page or two with basic and frequent questions and answers about your niche or product.
• Write articles that answer basic questions or give tips, and link those articles to your site. Try to create a pool of articles that would help your visitors by giving them insight about your niche and link your site to your article pool. It could be an article directory or even a PDF. It’s up to you and what you want to accomplish with such tool.
Getting ready for your grand opening
Now that you have made sure that your website is 100% completed with added fresh content and a good customer service in place, you are ready for your grand opening.
Now, it’s time to gather about a dozen article directories, all your social media logins, join forums, comment on other blogs of the same niche as yours, and all the promotion avenues you can think of to bring some new visitors to you brand new site.
While doing this you can make all the necessary final needed touch-ups to your website and keep updating your blog regularly with new fresh content.
If you follow all the above instructions you will be ready to start bringing in many visitors to your new website, while ensuring that many of them will actually come back and become your regular customers.
Sylviane Nuccio is a freelance writer/internet marketer and a life coach who loves to teach people about writing better to promote their online business. You can learn more writing tips at http://persuasivearticlemarketing.com.
About Guest Author
This is basic and essential points. You have mentioned them very nicely. As per my opinion every webmaster learns from various experiences. I have taken guidance and feedbacks from senious on same points. Thanks for your valuable inputs.
A regular update is surely needed in any website. I enjoyed reading this blog!
The FAQ is great…also have an autoresponder send back FAQs can help minimize support issues
Kurtis Beckham recently posted..Jamorama
i have same question at Gian i’ll be back for check your answer tomorrow thanks.
sinddy recently posted..how to select hooded parka for black friday
Hi Sylviane, I have a blog and I think the design is ready to go. How many post should be in there before I start promoting it? I want to give readers a good impression about it, first impression lasts.
Thanks for the great article about “How To Make Sure That Your Site Is ready For Traffic Before You Promote It”
It is true. How can one expect people to come back if your site is not even ready and not much contents for people to come back for. Also, what are the interesting things that you are trying to convey to the readers if all you have is blank page.
Great share,
sam recently posted..Iraqi Dinar Revaluation
It is a true fact that if website doesnt look attractive and complete yuou will loose prospects that were building up already with other factos…
Ashish recently posted..How not to get Pregnant??
Wow, thanks Sylviane for the tips. Its help me a lot, because I just build my new website and I hope I walk on the right tracks.
Thanks again
Harry recently posted..Diet Spots
Twitter: sylviane101
says:
I’m glad it helped Harry :) Happy blogging!
Sylviane Nuccio recently posted..Authentic Writing – Can You Define Yourself As An Authentic Writer?
Very informative tips to me since I am just started to build a blog of mine. Hopefully I can have a blog like yours soon. Thanks
KiKI recently posted..Natural Cures
Twitter: sylviane101
says:
I am sure you will enjoy it!
Sylviane Nuccio recently posted..Internet Marketer, But Not A Writer? What Is The Solution?
This post is helpful for the new ones who wants a good start to their work…..completion of the website with fresh content is the most important thing….. Tips are really useful..
Hi..I completely agree with your post. Keep Fresh content on the website is vey imporatnt factor. We should keep uniqe content on our site or update content regularly coz google crwler can easily index fresh, new content.
SEO Consultant India recently posted..Christine Appleby
Very cool tips! i wish I read this before “launching” my blog. However, I’m still in the initial phase, so it does bring me a lot of value-added. Thanks!
Erica
Erica recently posted..How To Choose Good Baby Bouncers
Hi Sylviane,
These tips are very useful. In fact, I’m going to take notes, as I’m part of a team that’s working hard to make a Grand Opening Day Splash! ;)
Cheers,
Mitch
Mitchell Allen recently posted..The Tribe the Jungle and the Terrifying Idea
Hey Mitch . . maybe we should talk. I’m probably making the same notes you are.
Thanks Sylviane. Onward, Crimson Soapbox!
Anthony Smits recently posted..Ready, Set, Blog!
Twitter: sylviane101
says:
Thanks to both of you guys. Crimson Soapbox blog looks great!
Sylviane Nuccio recently posted..Why Is It Important To Use Your Own Experience In Your Writing?
Great points! Way back then, I’ve focused on on-site optimization first. Content and design was crucial but there are people who laid suggestions and I’m thankful for their opinions. On-site focus first before marketing off-page.
Personally I think it’s important to write a few good articles before starting to promote your blog. Make sure you establish this way as a serious author and give people a way to see what your expertise is really about.
Pointing links towards an empty site will heart you in the long term
Twitter: sylviane101
says:
Yes, I agree. I think that promoting an empty site is a mistake.
Sylviane Nuccio recently posted..Why Is It Important To Use Your Own Experience In Your Writing?
Great! As far as I remember the topic hasn’t been discussed here at all. I think that as soon as you start a site, you should make up a plan about the site creation and grand opening and just follow it step by step and. You will see at the ned that it will be a great pleasure.
Twitter: sylviane101
says:
That’s right, planning for the site is very important.
Sylviane Nuccio recently posted..Why Is It Important To Use Your Own Experience In Your Writing?
I agree. If you start good, your journey will be enjoyable. I agree that we should open our blog with a bang.
Twitter: sylviane101
says:
A good start is best!
Sylviane Nuccio recently posted..Why Is It Important To Use Your Own Experience In Your Writing?
Fresh contents are very important to search and give life to your web and without finishing a website it is must to not open for traffic. Thanks Nuccio for sharing this info.
Twitter: sylviane101
says:
ahahahh my name is Sylviane! Nuccio is my last name. Fresh content is a must to insure a good quality blog, indeed.
Sylviane Nuccio recently posted..Why Is It Important To Use Your Own Experience In Your Writing?
One way to go about driving traffic to unfinished site is by getting a squeeze page ready (page that captures leads) this way, some traffic is coming in, traffic that you can later convert into paying customers
Twitter: sylviane101
says:
Very good idea the squeeze page. Yes, that works.
Sylviane Nuccio recently posted..Why Is It Important To Use Your Own Experience In Your Writing?
Great article, Sylviane! A regular update to your site will definitely attract more visitors, you could also put pages for fun (random games, post, etc) to create interaction between you and the visitors. :) This would be a good start-up idea, especially I plan to start my own blog/site. Thanks for sharing!
Twitter: sylviane101
says:
Glad you liked it Steve!
Sylviane Nuccio recently posted..Why Is It Important To Use Your Own Experience In Your Writing?
great article. Yes fresh content is the main thing on blog we should have.
Eric Murphy recently posted..Sony Ericsson W300i Black Reconditioned (Unlocked) GSM Cell Phone
Twitter: sylviane101
says:
Yes, indeed!
Sylviane Nuccio recently posted..Commentluv Premium Is Here But, Hurry!
nice tips, i also use some of them. i like your metaphore with the physical and online store. after reading you article and comments, i have to revision the state of my business. i guess im not ready for “opening the store”.
Klara recently posted..Ohrenkorrektur
Twitter: sylviane101
says:
This is just why this article was written. Glad it helped you that way, Klara. Thanks for your comment.
Sylviane Nuccio recently posted..Why Is It Important To Use Your Own Experience In Your Writing?
Twitter: SuccessBB
says:
I agree that you want to at least make your site presentable before launching. It doesn’t have to be perfect, and you don’t have to have all the content available, but you do want at least enough content, and enough of the design in place so that the site does not look empty.
These are some great tips for anyone wanting to start a site. Thanks for sharing!
Grady Pruitt recently posted..Finally! The Secret to Reaching Your Goals Revealed!
Hey nice post. I broadly agree with “Rule Number One – Make Sure Your Site is Finished”. However, I think too many people try to get things perfect before launching and they don’t need to be.
You could phase the launch and that will help you tinker things in the process. Sure, you need to have the basics there but I don’t think everything needs to be in place. That’s the purpose of phases like beta and where split testing really comes in handy.
However, it also depends on the type of site. If it’s a casual blog I’d say release content as soon as you have it. If it’s a product launch then yes you need everything to be in place and tested through and through. If it’s an online technical service, that’s where ‘beta’ comes in handy.
Sorry for jumping from point to point, but I think (hope) you get the gist :)
Sandip recently posted..Legit Payday Loans
Twitter: sylviane101
says:
Yes, Sandip. I do agree it depends what kind of site you have going. However, even beta sites are usually pretty much presentable though, even at that state. My article was more talking about sites that really have nothing much yet and really look unfinished.
Sylviane Nuccio recently posted..Why Is It Important To Use Your Own Experience In Your Writing?
In my experience, it’s not uncommon for websites to have an “about” page that is filled with a generic marketing message, rather than specific information about the background of the business and its owners. It’s a bit of a letdown when the ‘about’ page doesn’t say anything concrete about the owner or the business behind the website. Websites need to have a little personality, and an ‘about us’ page can be one way to do that.
Twitter: sylviane101
says:
Joel, I couldn’t agree more. Lots of about pages just say nothing, so to speak, and are certainly not inviting the visitors to trust and come back, unless they are really interested in the product alone, but more often than not it’s just not the case.
Sylviane Nuccio recently posted..Why Is It Important To Use Your Own Experience In Your Writing?
Twitter: erydave
says:
Hi Sylviane
You are right. Fresh content and regular update make the website always get visitors more and more. It’s happened to my website. More content means more visitors and means big opportunity for business.
Thanks for sharing
ery
ery recently posted..House Decorating Ideas You Should Know
Twitter: sylviane101
says:
Yes, it definitely does attract visitors if we publish fresh content on a regular basis. Thanks for your comment, Ery.
Sylviane Nuccio recently posted..Why Is It Important To Use Your Own Experience In Your Writing?
Good points from Sylviane. I like the FAQ idea as it is one of the most used features by me. On the other hand publishing regular fresh content is vital too, it makes your site look more professional.
Anna recently posted..Is it wise of me to have my wisdom teeth removed?
Twitter: sylviane101
says:
Yes, regular fresh content is the blood stream of any blog. Thanks for you comment Anna.
Sylviane Nuccio recently posted..Why Is It Important To Use Your Own Experience In Your Writing?
Hi, Kiesha!
Website is really an online store, so one should treat it as he/she would treat any physical store out there. I also noticed that many bloggers hope for success and great traffic while their website is still undergoing construction and make up effects. That is because people want to get rich overnight. Of course, nobody can do it, so having a business plan is of essential importance to help out with goal settling.
Kristina L. recently posted..Reeds Coupon Code
Twitter: sylviane101
says:
Wanting to make money fast is definitely a huge factor to trying to get a website out there when it’s really not quite ready for it. This can defintely kick you in the back.
Sylviane Nuccio recently posted..Why Is It Important To Use Your Own Experience In Your Writing?
Hey Sylviane!
I really admire and appreciate your firm and well fabricated tips,first impression is always a last impression in any case.This is really considerable for any web owner to confirm first about all the necessities fulfillment for any blog or website before promotion task.Visitors land on any web page with the hope of getting solutions which they need,and if they don’t found it there,then they never go back on that website.FAQ pages really work,i do agree on this.And one thing which i have liked the most is,write an articles that answer basic questions or give tips,I have noticed many times that mostly visitors have very basic queries and when they search for there easy solutions,they get pushed into the pool of huge content,where they get lost with there small queries.I have enjoyed reading a lot your this article,i have learned some great things from here.Thank you for sharing such a great,valuable,considerable and interesting content with us.
Good Luck and God Bless!!
With Regards!
Samuel Joshua
Samuel Joshua recently posted..Stained Glass Suncatchers Kits
I am so glad you enjoyed it Joshua!
You are so right. Isn’t it annoying when all you are trying to find is a simple answer to a simple question, and what you get is TOO much content where you are just getting lost. You are so right and that has happened to all of us.
Kiesha,
Simple post yet a must read! It’s funny when people are eager to gain traffic and their website isn’t finished. This important rule should not be overlooked. If you start working on driving traffic with unfinished website, you will make your visitors (potential customers) disappointed in you and will eventually forget you.
Yes, Jarrod that’s right. Unfinished sites never get visited again. Not by that one visitor anyway!
Sylviane Nuccio recently posted..Commentluv Premium Is Here But, Hurry!
Twitter: Janis167
says:
Rarely you are able to start with a bang, usually you must fight for first regular visitor! :) But it would be great anyway :)
Of course, there is a first for everying, but we need to make sure we are prepared the best we possibly can.
Sylviane Nuccio recently posted..Commentluv Premium Is Here But, Hurry!
Creating a FAQ pages in the site is quite interesting idea to service the visitors. I suggest to have some case studies and white papers regarding the niche of the site.
Great suggestion, Tessa!
Sylviane Nuccio recently posted..Commentluv Premium Is Here But, Hurry!
I agree. If you start good, your journey will be enjoyable. I agree that we should open our blog with a bang. Make an impact on community and maintain the standard.
Ritesh recently posted..The Million Dollar Homepage – What an idea!
You are right on, Ritesh :)
Sylviane Nuccio recently posted..Commentluv Premium Is Here But, Hurry!
Twitter: garyriding
says:
You are so right. I started a blog months ago, because I read that it was a good idea. It had very little content or direction; I didn’t really enjoy the site, so why on Earth would anyone else? This fact was quickly reflected in the lack of traffic and interaction.
Recently, I started again with a sense of purpose and a genuine desire. The result, in my opinion, has been a 1000 times more useful and enjoyable.
Thanks for the post.
Gary Riding recently posted..| Gary Riding’s Internet Marketing Blog
Twitter: sylviane101
says:
Yes, Gary, Exactly. If you don’t enjoy it yourself, no one will. This should be our compas to make things better on our blog.
Sylviane Nuccio recently posted..Why Is It Important To Use Your Own Experience In Your Writing?