For most moms, working from home is a dream come true. You can keep your foot in the corporate world and earn money for your family while forbearing the daily, heart-wrenching separations that often accompany daycare. You can usually set your own schedule, working around play dates at the park and trips to the library. Basically, you get the best of both worlds.
Nowadays, a vast number of women are opting for online home businesses – and they don’t even have to be experts with computers. Using a few key basics, a stay-at-home mom can set up a website that will send clientele banging on her cyber “door” and demanding her products or services. Here are a few tips to help you get started.
Tips to Get Started With a Traffic-Generating Website
1. Begin with excellent content.
This step not only presents a professional image of your company (no one likes to read an error-riddled web page), it is essential if you want to list your site with a search engine like Google. Websites are ranked according to certain criteria which determine where they fall on the listings for particular searches. For example, if someone types in, “Anti-wrinkle creams” or “Breast pump”, you want your site to show up on the first page, not the twenty-third. Don’t overdo it, however. Sites that over-optimize are penalize and actually lost their positioning.
2. Keep things simple.
Contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to get flashy with your website in order to attract customers. Website clutter is unprofessional and hinders navigation. Start with basic functionality like button and search bar location, and expand into design and aesthetics (without going overboard).
3. Network, network, network.
This is not like mingling at a corporate party; this is a strategic move to get a boost from the online community. Sign up for industry forums and get to know bloggers by leaving comments. Try writing guest posts for their sites. Get on social media lines and link to your website. Send a large smattering of pebbles if you want far-reaching ripples.
4. Get familiar with Search Engine Optimization.
SEO is a tricky business that is often left up to the pros, but if you have a tight budget, it is an area you can learn on your own. Find simple tutorials like “SEO for Dummies” and move on to more complex texts as you go. It may be a long road, but optimization is a crucial step if you want to compete in the online arena.
5. Hire a professional.
True, many work-at-home moms don’t make enough money to hire major web marketing firms, but there are a number of sites like KexWorks Web Design that offer services to small businesses like yours. When it comes to proper web design and SEO, a small investment comes with substantial return.
