A new "virus" is sweeping
the Internet. It strikes by stealth at a websites profits
and it could be crippling yours. It's called"Invisible
Website Syndrome" (or IWS) and renders it's victims
practically invisible on the world wide web.The rise
of IWS is attributed to the shear volume of webpages
available online - now well over 2 Billion. Once, website
visibility was not an issue - now it's a major headache.
There are 5 steps to dealing with IWS:
1. Recognise the symptoms
2. Test for it
3. Recognise you are a sufferer
4. Take the medicine & commit to recover
5. Immunise against future outbreaks
1.Recognise the symptoms Lack of "hits"
and lacklustre profits are the most common symptoms.
These are caused by the website appearing to be invisible
to anyone searching for it's products, services or content,
due to disastrous search engine rankings. Consequently,potential
customers are lost to the competition.
2. Test for it If you think you have
the symptoms, then confirm by testing.Go from search
engine to search engine, carrying out searches using
keywords or phrases that your potential customers would
use. Use those words or phrases that identify your products,
services or subject matter - but not your company or
website name itself. If you are well down the rankings,
with many competitors "weighing in" above
you, then your website is a sufferer. If you don't have
the time, a quick check method is to use a free visibility
testing service (such as our own free visibility report
- see below)
3. Recognise you have it If the diagnosis confirms
your website as a sufferer, then face up to it. Acceptance
is the first step towards recovery!
4. Take the medicine and commit wholeheartedly
to recovery Resolve to take the medicine, however unpleasant
the taste.There are two options: Do it yourself and
you'll need to study the search engines inside out.
A potentially daunting task, but it may suit you if
you've got more time than money. Alternatively, enlist
the help of a search engine specialist who can undertake
& administer the whole process of recovery to full
visibility.(Special note: Don't be tempted to cut corners
by using automated software without proper research.
You could do more harm than good.)
5. Immunise against future outbreaks
Once on the road to recovery (it can be a long process),
you'll want to make certain IWS never strikes your site
again. Constant attention will prevent further outbreaks.
As the search engines change, so to does IWS. There
is no "magic pill" cure - it can strike again
at any time, unless you remain vigilant. So, keep on
top of how it's evolving as a result of search engine
changes and act accordingly. A monthly maintenance programme
to keep your website visible should be your goal.
Don't ignore Invisible Website Syndrome.
It's the internet equivalent of a wasting disease, slowly
taking hold on your website, eroding your profits while
your competitors grow stronger. With the huge amount
of webpages online, it can only get worse.
About the author:
Robin Porter See if your website suffers from "Invisible
Website
Syndrome" - get a free visibility report for your
site at
http://www.rpasystems.com
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