An important connection

You have decided to go on a trip to Cairns. How are you going to find a place to stay?

Approximately 90% of people would look on the internet as a first step. They would log on to their favourite search engine, most likely Google (250 million searches are done on Google per day*1) and type in "accommodation Cairns". They will be presented with a list of matching results that hopefully includes some places available to stay. From here they will either pick up the phone and call some of the places or alternatively send an email or fill out a contact form for the accommodation operator to call them back or supply them with more information.

What does that mean to you?

Here you have placed yourself as a visitor who has achieved value from using a website. The first website, Google, was useful because it showed us a list of sites. The second website actually provided us with the information regarding the sites.

Your business can use this natural process to get potential clients to your website. It takes 4 easy steps:

1) Put yourself in the shoes of your potential clients. Ask yourself what search words they would use to find your types of services. If you are a manufacturer of plastics in Sydney, type "plastic manufacturers Sydney". If you are a graduate recruitment consultantcy, type "graduate jobs " etc. Do a quick assessment of your online target audience.

2) Get listed in the top search engines - If you do a search right now in Google.com, will your company's website come up in the Top 10 sites returned? If it doesn't, talk to Freestylemedia to get some simple search engine positioning done. Alternatively read about the 10 tips to getting better search engine positioning (Link to freestyle site).

3) Ensure that when people get to your website that they can find what you offer easily and quickly. Make sure you are giving them ample access to contact you via:

1. A valid and regularly checked email address
2. A valid and working phone number
3. A contact form that sends an email directly to an email address that is regularly checked.

4) If someone does contact you through your website, reply to their email query immediately. If you do not reply immediately, you will give the impression that their attempted contact with you has drifted off into cyberspace. Thank them for their contact and get back to them within the next 24 hours or whatever is appropriate.

Never forget that your website is your company's ultimate marketing tool. It is an unparalleled opportunity for your business to significantly increase sales, and the source of rapid growth.