If your web hosting is with acswebservices or acs-webhosting, then you have the ability to set up a blog on your website with Wordpress. If not already installed, you can log into your control panel, scroll down to Fantastico at the bottom of the screen and then install Wordpress from inside Fantastico - if you have a website, make sure you create a folder for your blog otherwise it will overwrite your website home page with the blog page. If in doubt, I can do it for you - all part of the service.

Many people wonder if they should have a newsletter or a blog - you can elect to do either or both. It really depends on what your aim is.

Fresh/new content on a website is what search engines need to keep your website higher in the listings - old/stale sites drop down the list. So, it’s a good idea to have at least monthly, new content to post onto your website and doing it via a newsletter or blog is ideal.

My personal preference are blogs and the reasons for this are:

• Blog posts are picked up by Google and other search engines within minutes (I have proven to myself that a new blog post is available via Google in less than 10 minutes) after being published.
• A blog post, when published, uses the subject heading for its url address - often these are keywords that people can search on, to find you.
• You can literally log in, write and publish - you don’t need html knowledge or a web publishing program.
• You can pre-write your articles to publish at planned dates so if you’re away for a period of time, they still publish.
• You can write to your blog anywhere around the world, even via a cafe internet - you don’t need to be at your own computer to do it.
• Blog posts don’t need to be lengthy articles - they can just be a para or two so you don’t have to worry about how much content or filling up a page or two.
• In the Wordpress dashboard you can see if others are linking to your site or writing about you with links - always good to know!

What a blog or newsletter on your website will do, apart from providing fresh content to your site, is establish you as the expert in your field. And let’s face it, that’s what you want to do, isn’t it? Become the ‘expert’ that others will seek out when they need your service or product.

You don’t have to be a fantastic writer, but if you are concerned about your writing ability, then engage the services of a Virtual Assistant (VA) to assist you with that. Most VAs have a good command of the English language and an ability to correct grammar, spelling and even write copy for you.

There are other things you can do for your website because it is your online presence and brochure and you want people to see what you do. So make sure your website address is listed on the following:

• Business cards
• Brochures
• Letterhead
• Any other stationery
• Printed advertising (like the Yellow Pages or in newsletter)
• Develop a signature block and include your website address for whenever you email people or participate in online forums
• On your car
• On your merchandise
• List your website with directories you come across - even local council web directories

Just because you have a website doesn’t mean it’s ’set and forget’. You need to continue marketing and networking as always - it’s just that the website is available 24/7 and people can look you up, or find you, providing you make it easy for them.

If you’re new to our web hosting services, make sure you visit our blog for more information on making the most of your website.

Cheers, Kathie