How to Implement a Site Search

Wouldn't it be nice for people to search your entire site with minimal effort on your end? You might be thinking this would require a substantial amount of time or money, or maybe even both. I assure you this is not the case. Maybe you already have a search feature for your site, but you are unhappy with the results that come up. Whatever the case may be, if you are looking for a reliable search tool I would suggest you check out Google Custom Search.

Google Custom Search is...

1. Easy to add to your site
2. Customizable for advanced users
3. Free

Rather than me boring you by telling you how it works, try it out for yourself by using this blog's custom search feature (in the right column towards top).



You can implement a search tool just like this on your own site without writing a single line of code. Google will generate it all for you, and you can get set up in just a couple of minutes. If you need help adding search or other tools to your site, just drop us a line at support (at) cws (dot) net.

End of the year maintenance

It's the end of the year, and do you know where your web site is? Is some of your content outdated, or worse, not showing up at all? Making an annual assessment of your site is a great idea, and here are a few suggestions on what to look for.

1. Is your "About Us" page updated?
Have you been in business for 8 years for the last 3 years? Check on how current this page is. Update any time sensitive items and any services you may or may no longer provide.

2. Are your contact forms working properly?
Make sure that when a customer wants to contact you, messages get to the correct person. Be sure that a form, whose recipient may not always be obvious, is sending messages to your current sales person and not the one who left six months ago.

3. If you have other email addresses or contact information on your web site, are they correct?
Review all your published contact information. Nothing can turn a potential customer away faster than not being able to contact you.

4. Do all your links work -- both within your site and especially those that link off site?
When you're linking to content that you don't control, it's critical to review those links regularly to make sure they're still valid. Check all links, even the ones within your site, to make sure that your customers are getting to the correct place. There is a free online tool to check them here.

5. Check your WHOIS record.
This record is used by your registrar to contact you in case your domain (web site address) is about to expire, or for other important notices. Check yours at Network Solutions.

6. Do an overall review of your web site.
Check photos and see if they're still current and representative of your business. Are any graphics dated? Should you update any content? Do your pages load fast enough or are they slow?

This sort of review should be done yearly at a minimum. Some items can be checked quickly, and others may take some time, depending on the scale of your site. But in the long run, the advantages of a well-maintained website make it worth your time and effort.

Is Your Website Confusing?

When planning for a new website your design team should spend considerable effort in analyzing the navigation structure. A common mistake is to organize the website into general categories instead of your customer's needs.

For example, most navigation structures are organized in ways that seem logical to you and your company - by "products," "services," "solutions," etc. But if your prospect doesn't already know what your product or service names mean, they're not likely to find what they need. Guide your readers by using rubrics based on customer challenges, pains or desires, such as "Planning for Retirement" and "Reducing Taxes," for a financial planner. In short, think like a customer.

A good example of end-user navigation can be found on the Bigelow Homes website where we categorized the navigation based on homebuyer needs (finding a lot, floor plan options, etc). If you're not sure you "have it right", show your navigation structure to someone unfamiliar with your business. Based on their reactions, you'll be able to tell right away if they are confused about where to go.

Source: www.marketingprofs.com