Knowledge: Increasing Your Footprint Online
Are Your Alpaca Web Site's URLs Fit
for the Search Engines?
You've got a beautiful alpaca web site. You've dreamed up wonderful graphics and carefully planned what you want to say on each page. But chances are you haven't given thought to some structural considerations that can make a big difference in how easily people can find your web site.
One of those behind-the-scenes things is the URL structure of the pages on your site. Especially if your alpaca website uses a content management system, you'll want to pay attention to the URLs of your pages.
URLs are what you see in the browser's address bar for any given web page. Some content systems create a URL or web address structure that prevents Google from indexing site pages easily, meaning those pages will be unlikely to show up when people search on words that may be relevant to your herd or farm.
Pull up your alpaca web site now and click through the pages, looking at what shows in the browser address bar as you go. Pay particular attention to deep pages, such as those for each individual alpaca for sale. Read more...
Featured Marketing Resources
Free Sales & Marketing Tips from Julie Wassom
Julie has been involved with alpacas since 1994, and she has since helped many alpaca farmers build successful marketing and sales plans. You can find her free alpaca marketing tips and also order some of her publications on alpaca marketing from her website at www.juliewassom.com.
Q&A from Readers
Question: I have an alpaca web site... But how can I get more business from it?
Answer: While just having a web site is a big step in the right direction, it takes continuing effort to market your alpaca business and use your web site effectively.
It's tempting to think you can launch your web site and suddenly you'll be inundated with inquiries from people who want to buy your alpacas. However, it rarely works like that. Ensuring your web site is optimized for the search engines does give it a leg up by showing in search results more visibly when customers search online. But this is just the beginning, and only one aspect of a solid marketing plan.
To help your web site show up when people search in Google on keywords that are important for your farm ("alpacas for sale" + your state, for example), you'll first want to ensure you're starting with an optimized structure, then add keyword-rich content regularly, and also build high-quality incoming links.
Once you've got these basics covered, you'll want to tackle all your other marketing activities. You need to have a marketing plan beyond just "showing up".
Figure out what's unique about your farm, and match that up with what potential customers are looking for. Explore other places to reach out to the industry. Try networking online: start a blog and comment actively on others' blogs, join Twitter.com, build "friends" at StumbleUpon.com and send them your content to get reviews and more exposure... social media marketing opens up all kinds of new ways that alpaca farms are building reputation and awareness for their web sites.
Incorporate traditional avenues for networking, such as attending shows and auctions. Promote newsletter signups everywhere you go to build your list. Use PR to get media coverage for your farm's events. And be sure to post all this on your web site, too, updating it often and engaging those who find you through any of your marketing activities.
One thing's for certain, it takes a lot of effort to market your farm and your web site. So be sure to start with a solid foundation for your web site and budget time each week to implement all your marketing activities.
What's New at SEOAlpaca
Free Optimization with any Alpaca
Site Design/Redesign
All web site designs at SEO Alpaca naturally include SEO (search engine optimization). This goes above and beyond what your typical web designer can offer, incorporating elements that help your web site show up in searches better. Our site optimization is included at no additional charge now - a value of $2195! Find out more about our SEO services here.
Content Management System
Now Available from SEOAlpaca
If you want to add and remove text easily on your web site, we've got a new feature for you! Available for new and existing web sites, our content management system now lets you update text on any page. Unlike other content management systems, ours keeps search engine friendly elements intact (see this month's feature article above for an example of how a CMS can impact your site.) Contact us here to find out more about doing edits yourself.
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