The Content Process…
Adding content to your site
This is the part where we get to do a lot of interacting. Generally we ask that you give us copy-ready content for your website pages. Most people don’t have a problem with this as they usually have a lot to say about their business but some folks struggle with getting enough content to “flesh” a page out or have content that may be a bit bland or lacks keywords.
If you are not used to writing a lot or you are otherwise busy, it may be worth biting the bullet and paying someone to do it for you. This will save you a lot of time and the content will probably be better than you could produce yourself. If this is a service you think you need, we can recommend an excellent content writer.
In some cases Equine Online Design will revise, rewrite & add keywords to Main Navigation page content as part of our contract as long as the bulk of the writing is already done.
However, if you are planning on doing your content yourself and feel a bit stuck, there are lots of great resources online to help inspire you. Remember, this is about you and your business – it’s not a time to be shy or humble, it is an opportunity for you to let people know how great your business is and why they should choose you!
Here are some tips to keep in mind:
- One Page per “Business Concept”
Write a dedicated page for each of your products or services. The ‘Home Page’ is best used as an overview of your products or services. Each page should have enough detail to adequately inform your visitors. - Good content is Useful & Unique
What does your content say about you and how is your content useful to the viewer (educational, informative, entertainment, etc…) - Page Structure
Structure each page with a Title, Description and Sub-headings. - Write in the second person
Write as though you’re talking to a friend or neighbor. - Write for Your Visitors
Write for your visitors, customers and target audience NOT for search engines. - Stay Focused
Keep focused on the main subject of your page and try not to deviate into other areas or concepts. - Presentation and Layout
You only have a second or two to make an initial impression when someone lands on one of your webpages. Make those seconds count by having a layout and presentation that quickly leads visitors to the content they’re looking for. This means descriptive titles and subtitles, main keywords placed at the beginning of content sections, content arranged logically and important links visible. - The Importance of Keywords
Think about the key words that describe your business, services and/or products and use these in your content. Place the most important keyword information into the Title, Description and first paragraph of each web page. - Write in Plain English
Write in plain English and avoid technical jargon and acronyms (if possible). Keep it simple, concise, to the point, accurate and easy to read. Write so that your text can be understood by all age groups. - Extract the Essence
Describe how your product or service can help your customer. What makes your service or product better than the other guys? - Regional Considerations
Make sure you mention any regional considerations within your page content such as “Are your services/products available regionally, nationally or globally?” - Check Spelling
Good spelling and grammar indicate attention to detail and professionalism!
Once your content is in place on the appropriate page, we make sure your sidebars have all the necessary sub-navigation, links, images, calendar content, advertisements, and other special and specific features key to making your business enticing to a visitor!
After a thorough review of all the components of your website and the “okay” from you, we move your site from the development folder to the root folder of your hosting.
At this point, you are live and “out there” for the entire world to see and your website is complete. For some contracts there will still be additional work to do – tutoring with WordPress use, activating hidden pages as things become available and so forth. Essentially though, our time together is over and the remainder of your estimate is due. However this doesn’t have to mean we’re gone from your life – we are always a phone call or email away and we do offer maintenance services on an “as needed” basis.