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ou’ve decided to create a Web site(eg, blog, online resume, profes-sional networking profile) to show-

ase your knowledge of dietetics andutrition and launch yourself onto theorld Wide Web, the blogosphere, and/

r the online networking scene.But how do you get noticed? How do

ou draw readers, subscribers, or con-acts?

Here are some tips on how to drawttention to your Web site.

ENERATING THE RIGHT CONTENThen choosing a topic or focus for youreb site or blog, remember to target

our audience, be unique, create con-ent that can’t be duplicated, and inter-ct with your audience (1).Being unique and targeting your

udience go hand in hand. You wanto choose a topic that is not beingone by many others. There are a lotf Web sites and blogs about nutri-ion, but if you specialize and be morepecific you are likely to draw moreraffic. Find that niche and be rele-ant. For example, instead of a Webite or blog about nutrition, focus onomething that interests you in youreld or you are an expert on, such asutrition for older individuals withiabetes.Create original content. Many blogs

ust cut and paste or link to contentound on other sites and then add aittle commentary. But if you can re-earch and compile original content, itill go a long way in solidifying your

eadership. Also, post content as oftens possible. Keep the readers comingack regularly and keep the search en-ines indexing your site, which willenerate more search engine hits.Finally, interact with your audi-

nce. Allow comments to your postshen relevant. You’ll get a good idea

This article was written by JasonT. Switt, journal editor for ADAin Chicago, IL.

0 Journal of the AMERICAN DIETETIC ASSOCIATION

f what your audience thinks abouthe content you are providing andhey can give you additional ideas foruture content.

ERDING TRAFFICou’ve got outstanding content, butnly a few readers. You want to beble to type your site’s name into aearch engine and see it in the re-ults. You want traffic.Here are several ways to help get

our Web site or blog noticed.

Register with search engines:All the major search engines (eg,Google, Yahoo!, MSN) allow you toregister your Web site with theirservice, which will help search en-gines find and direct readers toyour content.Trade links: Find a complemen-tary Web site to your own or site of acolleague or business association andprovide links to each other’s Websites. The more links exchanged ortraded, the more traffic your siteswill generate. Also, if you have con-tent that may be of interest to otherWeb sites, send them a link to thatspecific content and maybe they willpost that link to their Web site.Ping your Web site: Services likePing-O-Matic (http://pingomatic.com)inform search engines that you haveupdated your content.Provide Web address on offlinematerial and in correspondence:Remember to include your Webaddress on business cards, letter-heads, e-mail signatures, etc.

rom One Food and Nutrition Professionalo Anotherccording to Dawn Jackson-Blatner,D, ADA spokesperson, member ofeveral dietetic practice groups, andwner of www.dawnjacksonblatner.com,If you’ve got it, flaunt it . . . every-here!” Jackson-Blatner offers five

ips for getting the word out aboutour Web site.

. Get the most of your member-

© 2008

contact info (Web sites and bloginformation) on ADA’s NationalNutrition Network.” Check outthe brochure at www.eatright.org/ada/files/NNN_brochure.pdf.

. Presentations (law firms, gyms,preschool parents, Parent TeacherAssociation events, “the sky is thelimit”). “Share your nutritionknowledge during the presenta-tion and tell the audience to go toyour Web site/blog THREE times(at the beginning, somewhere inthe middle, and at the end of thepresentation).”

. Become an author. “Write articles(Journal or ADA Times articles,dietetic practice group newsletterarticles, your employer’s newsletter,etc) and provide your name and con-tact information at the end of thearticle.”

. Top of mind. “Have an option onyour Web site or blog for inter-ested visitors to sign up for anewsletter you send out everymonth or so. Sending even a smallnewsletter helps keep your Website/blog on their mind. Don’t beafraid to ask your mailing list toforward the newsletter to others!”

. Socialize to publicize. “Tell yourfriends, family, patients, hairdress-ers, manicurists, coworkers, yourspouse’s coworkers, kids’ teachers(anyone you have contact with)about your Web site/blog. Try to1) verbally tell them about it, and2) physically give them a contact(business) card with the Web site/blog info written out. You neverknow who they will tell or share theinfo with.”

Getting noticed and competing withther Web sites is a tough game. But ifou’re persistent and keep offering qual-ty, unique content, you’ll start generat-ng buzz and lots of traffic in no time.

eference. Imel R. If your blog disappeared, who would

miss it? Copyblogger Web site. http://www.

by the American Dietetic Association