Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

I saw Todd`s comment about keeping a site fresh. What does keep a site fresh, if your products don`t change often? I.  We do run promotions/specials and have regular customer contact. Is that keeping it fresh?

What type of content should be written about products, beside what the buyer needs to know to make a purchase.?

Thanks!

Keeping a site fresh means different things for different websites depending upon the site`s purpose.

If a site`s purpose is to provide information, then adding or changing content to be current is important. This can be accomplished by using RSS - to add news feeds or feeds from yourown or other blogs.  Articles/blogs can also augment ecommerce type websites.

For ecommerce sites - first know what your target customer wants. Then respond to or even anticipate those needs by offering special promotions/pricing... like www.houseofjerky.net does with monthly, holiday, and unique specials posted on the site (an automatic feature of most ecommerce programs).

Keep in regular contact with your customers - send a newsletter/email announcing your specials, pointing out an up coming event, or just to say "thank you".

Keeping a site fresh also has two purposes: (1) for your customers and potential customers - as noted above, and (2) for search engines. It is important to have some periodic changes especially additions to your site.

Change you existing content carefully. Especially, if the content is relevant to your targeted keywords/phrases. It that case, if it "ain`t broke, don`t fix it"....add to but do not change content that works. Always monitor the impact on your search engine results of any content change.

~Roland

I`d like to say thanks to both of you for answering. I think most or us, with websites would like to know how we can make changes, or what does need to be changed, and how often..

Nikole rotating pictures sounds simple enough to change the look. And I Love the idea of the santa hat and bunny ears.  How about that, I won`t even need a site pal if I could get that jerky guy talking soon. I guess I`d have to work with a graphic artist getting different drawings of him.  We do insert different images for the holidays etc.

Roland, I guess that answered my question about content. Slight changes to my content would be okay, if it doesnt involve changing my keywords. But I know we do make changes of keywords at times too, making different ones more important at times..   

So, to sum it up.  Change is good if done properly, by someone that knows what they`re doing!. 

Thanks Craig. I guess I was just beginning to wonder about all the... "keeping it fresh" look. I never thought long ramblings about jerky would be that interesting either.  I do believe we have enough choices for them, and enough content written in our reviews.  And as Roland said, "If it ain`t broke, don`t fix it. ". And that`s a very good reason not to change, Craig. I wouldn`t want them to have difficulty finding the buttons!

Maybe beef jerky can change the world

You`re correct Craig, changing the navigation of a site is a no no, unless the change makes the site easier for viewers to use. Navigation must be intuitive, not a mystery.

~Roland