Use Your Site Search to Create Free Ezine Content!
Have you included a site search facility and a visitors
feedback form on your web site? They make the site easier
for visitors to use, and more professional in appearance -
but they can also provide you with free content for your
ezine.
How? When people complete the feedback form on your page,
take the time to see what topics they want your site to
cover. When you get your weekly and monthly site search
statistics, check what their most frequent search requests
have been.
Now, it's time to create the next issue of your ezine - and
you have a ready-made column or article. I call mine Reader
Feedback, and include two sections - *What you've searched
for this month* and *Topics you want included on the FSB
site*.
This makes visitors and readers feel that they are part of
the site community, that they can interact with the person
running the site, and that I'm not some vague, far-off
corporation who's ignoring their requests. Including the
word *you* in the title re-inforces that feeling of
community and involvement.
The trick, of course, is to make sure that you DO take
notice of their requests. Add relevant items that people are
searching for, even if it's just a short paragraph followed
by links to more information. If you plan to add the topic
in the future, or want to research it before adding it, say
so in your article.
Be sure your ezine article includes the web address (URL) of
the page where you've added the
Didn't Find What You Were Looking For?
Try a Specialized Search HERE
information - this will
encourage readers to visit or re-visit, and add to the
*stickyness* of your site.
If you haven't got a feedback form or a site search facility
on your site yet, they can be added quite easily. I didn't
want to create my own feedback form, so I've signed up for
Freedback's free service at http://Freedback.com/ . I also
use a free site search utility, from FreeFind at
http://www.freefind.com , which can *spider* your site on
request.
You'll find several free feedback and site search providers
if you search the web. Once you've added them to your site,
you'll not only be able to make it more attractive to
visitors, but you'll be able to add unique free content to
your ezine as well!
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Dianne Reuby is co-author of the e-book "First Website
Builder", http://newbieclub.com/builder/?pramclub
Dianne created and runs the Free Site Builder web site and
ezine, dedicated to helping newbies create web sites with
free tools, services and resources.
Visit FSB at http://freesitebuilder.co.uk/
Send for a complete list of free articles and lessons by e-
mail : mailto:fsb-lessons@getresponse.com
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