Ways Admins Can Increase Traffic to Their Websites
“Build it and they will come” is a line from the movie “Field of Dreams” where the protagonist hears voices in his head telling him to construct a baseball field in the middle of his family corn field. Of course, since it was a movie, he builds it, the ghosts show up, play a few games, he meets his dead father, and then at the end of the movie, we see lines of cars heading towards the haunted baseball field. He built it, they came.
If only life were that easy for an administrator that has something to say on his or her website. “Write a blog” people tell you. It’s easy! Just start writing. Well, maybe the writing part is easy, but the “getting people to read it” might not be so easy. Just because you built it, doesn’t mean that they are going to come.
Here are a few tips for driving traffic to your blog or website. Some may be more successful than others, but all of them should drive a few people to your blog.
Simple Way #1: Signature Line
Add the address of your website to your signature line in your email.
That way, every email you send out is a little advertisement for your blog.
Tim Holt
Read my blog at: http://holtthink.tumblr.com
Simple Way #2: Only One Place to Go
Create a blog that requires your faculty to respond to it. Staff surveys, asking for suggestions, allowing the faculty and staff to give you feedback is a great way to get traffic to your site.
“Block Schedule or Not?” “
“Ways to increase parental involvement our campus”
“What can we do to improve discipline?”
“What are your thoughts on keeping the school open after hours for parents?”
This type of blog entry elicits responses. Let your faculty know that you are taking their input but ONLY on the blog site.
Simple Way #3: Be Passive Aggressive
Stephanie Sandifer, author or “Wikis for School Leaders” has a passive aggressive method of getting people to participate in website conversations: If you make something available on the blog or website, don’t make it available anywhere else.
“I have posted the handouts for the next staff meeting, with comments, on my website. There will be no paper versions available for handout. Please make sure you visit my blog at http://thehappyprincipalcamper.blog.com to get these important papers, and leave a comment on the issues we will be discussing.
Simple Way #4: Advertise on other Social Networking Sites
If you are a member of Facebook, why not leave a mention in your profile about your blog? Almost any site that you join nowadays has a blank left for “website.” Go ahead, fill that in. Fill in once, advertise forever. Easy. And let your Facebook friends know you are now blogging! Ask them to “check my blog out.” You would be surprised how many will visit and leave comments.
This also works for ANY website that you have to leave information about yourself on.
As you join other social networking sites, like PLURK or Twitter, make sure to always add your blog or website to your personal data.
Simple Way #5: Business Cards
Put your blog address on your business card.
Every time you hand someone your business card, you are advertising ways to get a hold of you: Office phone, email, fax. Add your website as another way to get ahold of you.
Simple Way #6: Parent Letters
When you send a letter home to parents, let them know that you have a website or a blog. This is GREAT advertising for you and your campus. It makes you look like you are up to date with the technology, and it makes parents feel that the school is “21st Century” (even though blogs are more last century, but that is our secret!). If you use your website or blog to tout the good things happening at your campus, or as a newsletter about the school, the community will start to gravitate to it for information. This also works with PTA meetings, and any other PAPER that comes from you that goes to parents.
Simple Way #7: Other Web Sites
If your school has an “official website” (sometimes run at the district level) have the people that run the website put a link to your website. Make it prominent! People that are looking Again, this is one of those “do once, last forever” type things. Anyone going to the school website has a link to your site now!
Simple Way #8: Your School Sign
Most schools have some kind of signage out in front, whether it is a digital sign or an old fashioned block letter sign. For those weeks where you have nothing to put up there, why not invite parents and the community to come “Visit the Principal on the Web” and post your blog URL? It’s okay to toot your own horn! I promise.
Try doing these simple tips and see if traffic to your website starts to increase! I bet it will!
Got another tip? Tell me in the comment section!