A prospective client recently came to me with a problem: his new website, which looks great, isn’t performing at all on search for his keywords.

This is a problem I see very frequently. Most of the time I can assist by simply providing some advice about improving onsite Search Engine Optimisation factors and acquiring backlinks as well as writing new and unique content; but on this occasion the issue was a lot deeper.

The whole site is a collection of images. The designer who built the site did not place any searchable content on the page!!! What’s more he/she charged quiet a lot for the site.

This is a warning: A website that cannot be searched is as useful as a rained on catalog stuffed in a random mailbox. No. It’s worse!

When you are planning to launch a new website, or to refresh your existing site, make sure that the designer/developer knows how to make the site searchable. Ask him/her lots of questions. If you don’t understand his/her answers ask them to explain.

The worst thing that can happen is you spend a few thousand dollars on a new site and no one ever finds it!

If you need advice on your particular project a business consultant can assist.