Just 4 quick essential points to remember when running a website - fairly random but essential points for today! Part of a series looking at essential aspects of running a successful website.
1. Create lists - Email subscriber lists help you build your business, lists of people to rep about your business/promote too, lists of what you need to fix/create/re-design, lists of people/ip’s you don’t want on the site, spam artists!
for example we have had spam from 6 different IP’s in the last 5 days, but using .htaccess we can essentially block them for life:
deny from 209.47.94.52
deny from 211.172.225.137
deny from 211.174.63.148
deny from 24.166.249.218
deny from 76.214.29.123
deny from 218.234.21.33
Only problem is that they could be using pooled ip’s or dynamic ones at least - so its best to check them up before they go on your list!
2. Used good opensource software, add plugins - Its good to use opensource software to run a website, wordpress, phpbb, gallery2, oscommerce are all excellent examples of quality releases that will take all of the pain out of running a website. But almost as good as the software for a link is the contributions from the community’s that surround them. SEO mods are plentiful and you can get mods for wordpress that will turn your blog from a blog into almost anything!
3. Write your own additions, plugins, addons - Your opensource software is great - but there will surely be some improvement you can add, but make sure someone hasn’t already done it well as a release. Submitting additions to the community can only help move your website along.
4. Be outrageous - the loud, crazy, quirky all stand out online - ‘another business blog’ won’t attract half as many people as ‘Blogathon - why jesus wore dresses’ (or similar.)
That’s it -four random but essential tips to running a website/e business!