What You Should Never Do When You Build a Website
When you build a website, you automatically acquire certain rights. For example, you have the right to plaster the URL address of the website on your SUV or escalade and hope the person behind sees it and visits your website. You also have the right to post pictures of your family, pets and the last vacation you took. This is your right and you can exercise it at free will. Another right that you have towards your website is to make your website successful. You may not have thought of it as a right, but once you build a website, you have control as a webmaster and in fact an obligation to make it successful and profitable. A lot has been said about creating successful websites. However, little has been written, in comparison, to what to avoid that would ruin a website.
One thing to avoid once you build a website is cluttering it. What is your first impression when you walk into a room with clutter? That is exactly how your visitors will feel once they enter your online room. What is worse, imagine they are looking for something on your website. Avoid lots of pictures and banners and pop-ups. If you are creating a MySpace page, well that is fine, but with a professional website, you cannot afford to distract your visitors.
Most people have a website and if not, setting up one these days is as easy as ordering a pizza and having it delivered to your door. However, that is not the end of the story. You cannot just set up a website and rest and expect that 6 months from now, it is still ok. You need to update your website regularly. In fact, search engines thrive on websites that are regularly updated and they will reward for regularly updating your website with high page rankings. Yes, that is right, high page rankings. Regularly updated sites tell visitors that you care about your website and they should too. Believe it or not, they will care if you care.
Another way to build a website and destroy it is to never respond to visitor comments and questions. Replying to emails and questions is considered courteous and businesslike. If you do not reply, you do not come off that way and that is not good. Take time to go through all the user comments and questions and respond promptly. If the above points do not work, trust me, nothing will.