5 fresh web site content ideas

We are about to begin the redesign of our own website. The current site has been in place for a few years and has served us well. Its main focus was always to be a showcase of our work. As we have begun blogging and focusing on content more over the past year, we have outgrown it and are looking forward to a shiny new toy at the beginning of 2010.

I encourage you to take a look at your site as well, and ask yourself if your site is in need of an update. Here are 5 key components I think a modern web site should have. Obviously these tips are regardless of the type of product or service you provide, your core site needs can vary, but in the end, everyone should have these basic fundamental pieces of information on their site.

1. A blog
   That’s right. In 2010, content will remain king. Even if the core pages of your site have remained the same since 1999, you must add fresh content. You don’t have to blog every day, or every week, but just take a small amount of time when you can to let your web site visitors know that you’re still there.
2. A way to connect
   From a simple email address to a link to your new Facebook account, please make sure visitors can connect with you, and make sure that contact method is as visible as possible. A standard contact link within your site footer or header that displays on every page of your site is a great feature.
3. A homepage that actually says something
   We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again, content is king. To connect to your visitors and add a boost for your site’s position on the search engines, please overhaul your homepage to include as much text as is appropriate. The era of nonscrolling homepages is over. A page that doesn’t extend the height of a browser window appears shallow and unneccessary.
4. Truly informative information on what you do
   Our current web site is guilty of this. Nowhere on the site do we actually say that we’re a marketing and advertising agency. We always took for granted that people would know what the heck Point to Point is. Guess what? Sometimes they don’t. Your site must include a basic statement of who you are and what you do.
5. Something memorable
   Ah, this is always the tough one. Once your web site has been filled with content, and a way to connect with you, you must make the visit memorable. The question is no longer should you have a web presence, everybody has a web presence. In fact, back in 2008, Google found there were over one trillion web pages on the entire interwebs. How will you stand out from the competition?? The answer is key: provide not just a web site, but a memorable web site experience. By including video, audio, animation or even some extraordinary pdfs to download, you must connect and engage your web site visitors to stand out.

For more information, visit our interactive web design capabilities page.