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Countless numbers
of websites are vying for the attention of the people you want
to attract to yours. Most people are too busy to simply surf the
Net after they've found what they're seeking (except those Internet
junkies who converted from being couch potatoes to computer asparagus).
How do you grab onto the Internet traffic as it whizzes past and
keep them parked at your site and wanting to come back for more?
1:
Make love your aim
What
is the highest purpose of your website? To serve yourself (the
sponsoring organization) or to serve the needs of the website
visitors? Are you more interested in being heard or being a minister
to the people who visit your site? People will like your site
if they know you care and if what you offer will meet their needs.
You could build the most gorgeous site, and fill it with fascinating
material, and get lots of kudos for it, but if you're not doing
it out of love for the viewer, you are like a resounding gong
and a clanging symbol. Your site won't change many lives. It is
worthless.
2:
Address the true needs
What
do you think your website visitors need that you can
provide? That's your agenda! Now put yourself in the
shoes of someone who will see your site. Better yet, bring to
mind a few people you know who would be in the target audience.
What needs or desires are they already aware of,
which your site could provide? That's what to focus on if your
work is going to make a difference.
3:
Get visitors involved
An
interactive website is interesting, fun and satisfying. For example,
if you start with a photo of your church, invite visitors in by
make a link out of the church doors, rather than relying on a
boring "Enter Here" text link. Provide an outlet for
the concerns that your visitors have and a resource to end their
search for help. Make them feel important! Give them a chance
to be heard and to feel warmly connected with the people of your
organization. Computers can be so cold and inhuman.
4:
Freshen it often
What
can be added and changed on the website regularly? This would
give people reasons to return again and again. What kind of permanent
information would people want to come back for as their needs
change? Continually give the viewers what they want in new and
different ways. If they know they will benefit every time they
come to your site, you will have won them over. If what you build
is powerful enough to stick in their minds, they will remember
to return when they're looking for what you can give.
5:
Measure your success
The web-server company that hosts your site probably
can provide you with statistics about numbers of people per webpage.
Some host servers also provide hit counters. If yours doesn't, you
can get free counters such as this one:
To get one
for yourself, click on "BeSeen.com."
Another way
to measure success is to find out how many other websites have
links to yours. Use a search engine such as link Infoseek
or Altavista
-- type into the search engine box the word link: and then
type your URL (eg., link:http://gnwda.org). You'll get a list
of the different websites that have links to your home page. To
find out about links leading to other webpages, include it's name
in the URL (link:http://www.gnwda.org/page.htm).
The greatest
measure of success will not be indicated by how often people go
to your site; it'll be in the feedback you get from people
who are changed by your site. It'll be in the words
of our Lord, as He says to you, "I am pleased, my good and
faithful servant! What you've done to the least of my people,
you've done to Me.
Download
this tutorial as a printable Word Document.
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EXTRA TIPS
Which
of the following do people want from your website?
•
Inspiration?
• Information they would
normally get by phone?
• The uplifting of their
mood?
• Entertainment?
• Ideas for solving their
problems?
• A place to voice their
opinions?
• Answers for their questions?
Ways
to invite viewers to interact with you, your organization and
each other include:
•
Guest books
• Chat rooms
• Discussion forums
• Contests
• "Ask the Expert"
• Q&A page
• E-post cards
• Games and puzzles
• Viewers' comments about the site
• Viewers' poems, testimonies, and
prayer requests
• Surveys
Ways
to keep it fresh include:
•
Create new surveys and post results
for people to come back and see
• Give new topics for viewer input
• Offer a Quote of the Week
• Feature an Expert of the Month
• Highlight a different part of the
site each month
• Draw attention to new additions with
a new graphic
• Post a "NEW!" sign next
to links for new material that's been added
• List upcoming events
• Write an interesting monthly newsletter
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