Now, I know you are probably wondering how this is relevant to web design and blogging on the Isle of Wight, but I think the story of Susan Boyle is a great example of my favourite subject; content is king!
I’m sure you’ve all read the online or newspaper stories about this. That fateful evening on television when an innocent 47 year old woman stood before Simon Cowell, the other judges and the viewing audience to the sound and sight of giggles and snigger’s. I don’t watch these kinds of TV show, but I can imagine everyone was expecting it to be like a scene out of X-Factor-The Rejects. If you didn’t see it either then please feel free to click the following link which takes you to YouTube and Susan Boyle’s performance. Les Miserables by Susan Doyle.
But instead of needing ear-plugs and a stiff drink, the world was treated to a fine rendition of a beautiful song and history is made. The judges had no hesitation in putting her through to the next round and she became an instant worldwide superstar. The secret to her success was not classical beauty, fantastic make-up or iconic fashion, but the content of her talent which was quality of her voice and the song she chose to showcase it.
I already stated the lesson to be learnt for this story, and I will state it again; content is king. I’m always banging on about this to people, but it’s a message that is too often ignored. Most small businesses, community groups and individuals are never going to have the financial or manpower resources to challenge the big players for visual or technical superiority, but website owners should not use these reasons to surrender their fate or decide that their website is not worth any effort.
Website visitors are of course impressed by great looking websites with hi-tech features, but it’s not normally going to be the primary reason they stay on a website, bookmark it, sign-up to the news-feed and revisit it.
So, if you want to improve your website site today, jump on it now and add some content. Write some news, tell visitors something you found interesting, review a product/service that has been selling well, anything really just to add relevant content that helps build your website and your relationship with site visitors.
And if you can’t do any of these things because you have a static website and no ability to manage content, maybe it’s time you ask what your website has done for you recently!