From the Editor

Websites can be powerful marketing tools for any business or nonprofit if used wisely. But they do take some ongoing work and maintenance. I’ve seen people who put a lot of time, money, and effort into planning a successful website, only to let it go and then be disappointed by the results.

In this issue, I’ve provided a summary of some important tasks (with links to more information) to make your website more successful. Email subscribers to this newsletter can also win a free book on best SEO practices (a $29.99 value) to add to your website plan. Just scroll down for the details.

As always, please forward this newsletter to a friend who might find it useful. You can also find me on LinkedIn and follow Dream Seed on Twitter and Facebook for more tips, tools, and special offers!

All the best,

Adam J. Barkafski

Website Marketing Eight smart tips for a successful website

It’s all too often that people think that websites are magic bullets to bring them money and publicity. When it doesn’t happen right away (or even at all), some people get upset and think something is flawed with their website. What they fail to realize is that a successful website rarely just happens. It is the result of smart, methodical work on the part of the website owner…

Boost your website’s success…

Insightful Tip Don’t forget:
SEO isn’t everything

We’ve talked a lot about search engine optimization in this and past newsletters for good reason: It’s an important factor in your website’s success. But remember that it’s not the only factor.

Don’t get sucked into “professional” SEO that sounds too good to be true…because it probably is. SEO is not the end-all, be-all of your website. First and foremost, you must remember that your website is about meeting customers’ needs and wants, not about being #1 in search engines. If you focus your energy on your customers, trying to attract your target audience, and tried-and-true SEO methods (and there’s a lot of snake oil out there, so be careful!), you’re well on your way to an excellent website! (And if you’re debating hiring SEO services, check this out first to know what to look for.