A few years ago that might have a been a rude-sounding question, but now many people are online sharing their views on all sorts of topics.  A client told me recently that a potential customer rang them and said he contacted them because as he said 'you blog'.

Blogging is a way of showing where your expertise lies and that you are still active in your field.  No-one wants to waste time looking at a website only to find out that it is out of date, or worse, that the business doesn't exist any more.  A blog encourages potential clients to appreciate your products and services and get in touch.

Having blog articles that are integrated into your website attracts the attention of search engines which index blog content and can significantly increase the amount of traffic your website receives.  The articles on your blog should be written in such a way to include as many keywords as possible that clients might use to find your business, but they should still be interesting and comprehensible.

Why not just use additional webpages, you might ask?  You can, but if you use specific blog pages in your website, you can set up keywords and categories (see the list at the side of this article) that provide even more fuel for search engines.

What can you blog about:

We can help set up blog pages in your website and help you write interesting blog articles about areas of your business that you would like to highlight to your clients.

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When is your quiet time of year in your business? January is a quiet month for some businesses, for others it can be August.  Why not give your website a healthcheck if you have a spare hour?

Take a critical look at your website as if you were visiting it for the first time:

• Does it still reflect what your business does and how it does it?
• Has your customer base changed and would the website still appeal to them?
• Have your products and prices changed?
• Is the information on your website still relevant?
• Are all the links to other sites still working?  Are there any that you should be adding now?
• Are the colours and design dated?  Can you update them quickly yourself?

Perhaps there are some features you could add now:

• How about a blog to tell your clients about your expertise or knowledge in a particular product or service?  Read our blog about blogging
• Is it time to set up an on-line shop? Or a search facility?

Or does all this involve too much staring at the computer?  If you would like to chat to us about how your business has evolved and whether any changes to your website are appropriate, we would be delighted to check it and write you a report of suggested changes, hints and tips tailored to your needs.

Get in touch!

When should you add customer testimonials to your website? Straight away!

Customer testimonials are a very valuable addition to a website; they help to bring out the actual qualities of your products and services, and your own personal qualities if you are a sole trader.  How better to inspire confidence in your potential clients?

Sometimes a positive comment comes in unexpectedly through your mailbox, others may come from a feedback form or email or online survey that you send out.

You can also ask for a recommendation from a Linkedin contact you have worked with, which will be displayed on your Linkedin profile and can then be copied to your website.

Remember though, that if you work confidentially with your clients, you may need their permission to display their name, or you could just use their initials.

So don't delay, update your website whenever your receive a positive review. 

We make websites that are quick and easy for you to update yourself or we can make changes for you if you prefer not to stare at a computer screen. 

And here's an extra tip for those with B2B clients - if you mention your client's business don't forget to actually link to their website, it can make your website rank higher and improves its credibility.