1. Create Your Web Plan and Marketing Content

   Before building or renovating your web site, you should identify how your web site fits into your marketing strategy. Clarify and delineate the actions you want visitors to take and how to structure your site to get prospects to contact you and buy your products and services.

   Organize site content and pages to mirror prospects' decision-making process, moving them step-by-step towards a sale. Write content that motivates prospects to continue reading and browsing your site and includes appropriate use of keywords to help boost your search engine rankings.

2. Hire the Marketing Monsters

   Once you have a plan and the supporting marketing copy ready, let SMK Advertising put these elements together to create an easy-to-navigate site whose overall look and feel supports your positioning objectives. SMK can also do the programming required to create forms, manage databases, email or online shopping cart systems.

3. Market Your Web Site

   Most people make the mistake of waiting until their site is built to think about marketing it. If you started with the previously defined web plan, you will have avoided this money-losing blunder. But don't assume that people will find your web site on their own. Use free promotional activities such as distributing your articles to get attention. Send out eNotes to your enitre email list announcing your new site or a current special. Print your web address on everything. Consider advertising in newsletters and/or using pay-per-click advertising.

4. Maintain Your Web Site

   A web site needs regular upkeep and updating. Allocate the time and money to see that the site is well maintained, whether you learn to update text yourself, have someone in your company do it, or give the job to the marketing monsters. Your web site should create the marketing context to help you get prospects' attention, build relationships, and generate leads and sales.

Use the four steps above to build or renovate your web site and you'll have a web site that will help grow your business!