Whether you are a long-time website owner, or just getting started on the internet with your own site, there are a lot of things you can do to make sure your site is working optimally for you, whether that means attracting the most customers for your e-commerce store, selling advertising space, or just making sure that the people who do come to your site are getting the online experience you want them to have.

The one thing I have noticed in my years as a website designer and developer is the tendency of website owners to get a site built, maybe add a few links, and then hope for the best. And all my explaining and cajoling can't seem to make them budge from the stance that they will put just this much into it, and no more. A good site is always in the process of evaluation and fine tuning, both to improve visitor experience and, most importantly, to improve Search Engine Ranking. How to explain that "good enough" is losing valuable visitors and, for any business site, leaving money (sometimes lots of money) on the table?

JT Dataworks does site optimization. This can run a gamut from a simple evaluation of a site and recommendations for improved optimization and ways to increase traffic, to an in-depth recommendation and long term service plan to get the site up in ranking and keep it there. Search Engines change their criteria for a well ranked site often, and so true optimization is a long term commitment, not a one time thing. After you optimize and learn to market your site effectively, a tune up once every year or so is also a good idea.

But not everyone has the budget, or the need, to hire an outside consultant to optimize their site. And not every consultant is on the up and up. Anyone who promises quick easy results, or instant top ranking is scamming you. Getting good ranking - in a way that won't get your site in trouble for questionable practices - takes time and effort. There are no shortcuts.

There is a lot of information on SEO available on the internet, and in print, if you are willing to look for it, and spend the time studying it. A little practical experience also goes a long way. However, for those of you out there who are do it yourselfers, I offer the following thoughts and ideas to help you on the way to optimizing your site, for search engines, by marketing to increase traffic, by adding those little extras that make a site more fun and interesting, and, when you have the traffic to warrant it, by monetizing your site where appropriate.

Starting out right. The most common mistake in web design and development is building a site to suit the site's owner. If you truly want a site that will draw your target audience, and have them respond to your site the way you hope, you must build the site for them. Park your ego, put on your thinking cap and be prepared to do your homework. Ungghhh I hear you say, but really, you gotta. Read more about starting out right.


If you need traffic now, and can't wait for the search engines to find you, the first place to start is Google Ads. Use Google Ads to gain targeted exposure and clicks to your site. The nice thing about this is that you only pay for an ad if someone clicks on it, no matter how many times the ad is displayed on Google, or another publisher's site. No click, no cost. The program is set up to help you get the most for your money, and you can choose the amount you want to pay for your clicks, and limit the total amount you are willing to pay overall, so you never have to find out you have passed your comfort zone. Though I think a site owner should work diligently to make sure they are well represented in search engines, and should take advantage of all types of site exposure, including print, radio, TV and other avenues (where appropriate and the budget is adequate), I really think Google AdWords is a marvelous tool for getting traffic, especially for keywords that the site may not be ranked as highly for as desired, or with a new site that is not yet well established with search engines and directories. The fact is you can have a brand new site that the search engines know nothing about, which can be frustrating for a new site owner - especially one who has an e-commerce site, and no customers - and with AdWords, have your account quickly set up, your site getting traffic almost immediately! Does Google AdWords sound like it is the answer to your marketing dilemma?

If you are ready to grow your site traffic the good old fashioned way read my page on About Links and Link building.