Microsites are Baaack
Published on April 15th, 2010.
Is it me or do internet tactics go on a periodic cycle just like the fashion trends?
Sign-ups for creating several microsites have surged and this trend is catchy that everyone is bound to hitch on the band wagon on an experimental level. Before today’s take on on microsites, it is but right to have a bit of a flashback on it.
Microsites have been with us since early 2004 when power copywriting meant writing content for a long webpage that have several calls to action and sign-up buttons interspersed with special offers and ‘value-off’ on the products being sold..
By 2006 , microsites are mini-sites that draw in traffic to a main website. In several web marketing advice, companies with several different products qualify for a microsite. Around this time microsites are also a literal translation of the term itself. Pages are less than 20, minimal links, front page in 2-scroll downs.
The year now is 2010 and we have Google and other search engines to thank for optimization and marketing techniques that are sure-fire answers to getting traffic and conversions. But with a great deal of competition for keywords and behavioral programs can make reaching potential buyers more difficult than ever. One of the most frustrating things about trying to rank for a keyword is, registering a domain that is far from the keywords you would want to rank for.
Just like the 60′s mini skirt revival- the style comes back but with revisions that makes it more current. Microsites today are still sites that are supportive of the main website. The difference lies in several elements:
Domain name – in order to rank for the popular search term that is within your websites’ niche, buy a domain name for the phrase or word you want to rank in (it has to be sensible though).
ie. chiccousa.com can have chiccobabytoysale, chiccousasale or chiccosale as a domain name for their micro site.
Keywords- both main website and micro website will have a better chance at ranking with the use of the common keywords.
Website structure- before it used to be the longer the better. Today, website structure is equated to a fold: services, prices and features are all involves proper positioning and layout of logo, company name and navigation hyperlinks. A proper site structure is one that makes site navigation stress free.
Shopping cart integration- even if a sale is not imminent, installation of a shopping cart is useful for analytics, customer behavior and customer tracking. Today a microsite can have several of products that are being sold in the main site. Each Learn More or Buy Now button connects the micro to the main.
Then again it is just the beginning of 2010, there may be more changes to come and new trends to follow and innovate.
Filled under SEO & SEM.