With an ever expanding network here at Snack Media it is important for us to maintain the quality of our network for a number of reasons.
However, sometimes when editors start their websites it is seems an impossible goal to reach the high page views and keep your audience continually engaged – a clear sign of a successful website. So here are some guidelines in order to help make a website the best it can be:
Look and feel
I could go down the metaphor route and start talking about magpies and shiny things – but I won’t. It doesn’t take a genius to tell you that the look and feel of your site will affect your users. Essentially the design and creative of your site is your shop window and there are a number of ways you can entice your audience. Namely, does the web design serve the purpose of the site and is it clean, clear with an overall quality.
Content
There are a lot of websites out there so it is important to try and carve out some kind of niche that allows an audience to know what to expect when they visit a site. If there are different types of content such as viral, gallery, video then great. However, as long as the content is informed, fresh and up to date then the editor is on the right track. Furthermore, no one likes poor grammar so apologies if anyone spots mistakes within this blog.
Traffic
Insight into the metrics of sites is extremely important when accepting potential partners into the network. Analytics such as Google offer a clear understanding of a sites position in the market as well as their earning potential. They also act as a powerful editorial and revenue tool as they allow us to understand what type of content does well and where the traffic is coming from.
User experience
Like the other points on the list user experience can be a broad topic. Are we talking ease of use for those differently abled, site load speed or are we talking about the strength and quality of the brand. For us, user experience should be so good that it is something that we do not think about. A poor user experience is something that normally culminates in leaving either frustrated or irritated.
Social Media
Social Media is vitally important to the long term success of websites and it is key that there is a clear strategy in place. A strategy that engages your audience and amplifies the content that people spend time producing is an effective way of increasing page views and growing a loyal returning audience.
If sites have achieved all of the above then great, it’s fair to say that it is trusted and importantly credible. If a site doesn’t tick all five boxes, that’s not a problem. It means there is potential and room for the editor to grow alone or within a network – something that is very much at the heart of Snack Media’s ever increasing network.
