It seems that everyone is caught up in the idea of Search Engine Optimization (the practice of improving your website so that it ranks highly in search engines). While improving your search engine positioning is important, it is one of many things that you can do to improve your sales and boost your level of traffic on the internet. While no one can guarantee success on the internet, doing the 10 things listed below will bring you a lot closer.

1.Write and Publish good content on your website. You can have a beautiful site with lots of pretty pictures, but today’s web surfers are looking for information. Whether you have a site selling dog supplies, or a purely informational website, information is the key to continued success on the internet. Make it a habit of writing at least one new article (250-300 words) for your website each and every week and publishing it on your website. This gives your visitors a reason to return to your website every week, and gives you an opportunity to sell more items to them when they return.

2.Capture the email address of every visitor to your website and use it to communicate with them on a regular basis. Studies have shown that customers need to hear or see a message up to 7 times before they buy a product. Having a weekly or monthly newsletter allows you to continually communicate with your customers, and opens a dialog which sets you up as an expert in your industry.

3.Get your content published on other websites. One of the most beneficial things that you can do is to get your content (articles and graphics) posted on other websites. There are a number of webmasters who, for whatever reason, do not wish to write their own content. There are also a number of websites which specialize in making your content available for these webmasters to place on their own sites (with a link to your site of course). By making a habit of placing your content on other websites, you generate hundreds, or even thousands of new doorways into your web page, bringing you untold numbers of new customers on a daily basis.

4.Design (or redesign) your website with the customer in mind. Take a fresh look at your website, pretending that you’ve never been there before. Can you tell at a glance what the website is about? Would you be able to place an order if you’d never been to that site before? Is it easy to find contact information if you have questions? Keeping your customers in mind is a sure-fire way to increase your sales.

5.Publish your web address on every piece of advertising you have. Most people think to place their web address on their business cards, but how about your stationary, your newspaper ads, or even in your phone message system? It does not cost any extra to add an extra line of text, but reminds your customers that you have a website where they can get more information.

6.Give away a free report on your website. A great way to capture the email address of you web visitors is to offer a free report. Simply “hide" it behind a newsletter sign up form, and your newsletter subscriptions will almost instantly rise. If the report has high enough value, visitors will have no problems giving you their email address to receive it.

7.Exchange links with similar websites. Perhaps you have a site selling country western clothing. You could have a great joint venture with a site selling farming equipment. You have the similar target markets, and have the opportunity to mutually benefit from the sales and promotions of that other site. Form partnerships with other sites that are not competitors and see how quickly you both can benefit from working together.

8.Add a “Tell A Friend" Script. While not appropriate for all websites, allowing your visitors a convenient way to tell their friends about your website can be a great tool to bring new visitors to your site. A recommendation from a friend is a virtual guarantee of a sale, as people trust their friends to give them good information.

9.Start a Contest. Properly promoted, giving away something for free on your site, whether through an online drawing, or offline promotion, can give you some fantastic free publicity. Be sure to send out a press release to all the local media informing them of your contest. They might even want to join in, if the prize is right.

10.Focus on the Basics. No one likes to take the time to write new content every week, or submit their websites to search engines, but, just like taking out the trash, it’s a chore that we must do. Set aside time to attend to the basics, like adding fresh content to your site, and your visitors and future customers will thank you.

Remember that success on the internet, just like offline success, takes time. We often get so busy with the day to day tasks of running our businesses, that we forget to do the little things that make our websites better. Using the tips above, however, you can grow a fantastic website that continually generates more and more customers as time goes by.

Continually monitor your success, and if something isn’t working, figure out why, and change it right away. Eventually, you’ll find just the right mix of actions and promotions for your business.

Remember that you don’t have to do it alone. There are experts whose job it is to help you. Don’t be afraid to call upon their advice when you need help. Sometimes, spending a few dollars having an expert do something for you can save you many more dollars, and a lot of heartache by doing things yourself.