The document discusses how a website should be treated as the central hub and home base for a business's online presence. It emphasizes that a website is fully controlled by the business owner, unlike social media platforms which can change or disappear. The document recommends using the website to provide great content and tell the business's unique story, while also using email marketing, social media, and offline networking to drive people back to the website. It stresses the importance of a responsive design for mobile users and measuring website usage with analytics.

1. Make Your Website the
Center of Your Online Universe
WordCamp Wilmington 2017
Presented by Jeremy LeRay

2. Are Websites Still Necessary?
“I’ve got a Facebook page for my business.
Do I really need a website too? Facebook
is FREE.”

3. You Own Your Website
Your website is your piece of real estate on the
web.
Since you own your website, doesn’t it make
sense to put most of your efforts there? It’s the
only thing you have real control over online.

4. Treat Your Website as Home Base

5. Social Media
Social Networks can come and go. Many stars
from the past are not what they used to be
(MySpace) and others are just gone or have been
“re-purposed” (Google+, not dead yet).
Don’t build a community in only one place.

6. Email Marketing / Content Marketing
Content marketing is used to build trust,
authority, and ultimately drive visitors back
to your website and engage them with your
call to action for conversion now or some
time in the near future.

7. Offline - The Real Facebook
When we meet others in person for coffee,
at conferences, or networking events we
share our story and discuss business back
and forth. Your website serves as a place
for them to follow up and learn more after
meeting you.

8. What makes a great website?
• Clean, responsive design.
• Providing great content and value for
your audience.
• Showing how your business is unique.
(Tell your story)
• Measuring success using analytics.

9. Responsive Web Design
Last year, mobile web browsing overtook
desktop browsing for the first time. If your
site isn’t easily viewed on mobile devices,
you risk being ignored by the majority of
mobile users. In addition, Google is now
giving an advantage to those sites deemed
“mobile friendly”.

10. Provide Great Content and Value
Do you know your audience?
Create your content based on what your
audience finds value in. Become an
authority on your subject and build
community through being helpful and
adding value to others.

11. Tell Your Story
Your story is unique to you. Use it to show
how you are different from others in your
market or field. Talk about your business
process and what customers can expect
when doing business with you.

12. Analytics - Measure it!
There are too many tools to cover, but
you should at least be using Google
Analytics. Measuring and interpreting
your website usage is the only way to
know if your efforts are making a
difference.

13. Your Business’ Front Door
You have a 24 / 7 sales person at your
disposal, don’t forget that.

14. Questions?

15. Jeremy LeRay
New Bern Web Design, LLC
315 Metcalf Street
New Bern, NC 28562
newbernwebdesign.com
jeremy @newbernwebdeisgn.com