Protecting
Last month we talked about the free parental control software called K9 Web Protection (www.k9webprotection.com). If you have kids, this is an essential tool to have. It is worth the ten minutes it will take to download and set up. Even if you have 100% trust in your kids, much of the inappropriate content shows up unwittingly.
Connecting
As a website owner, you also want to think about how to best connect with youth and provide content that they find interesting and compelling. Here is a short list of things you can do to create interest on your website, especially among the younger demographic.
- Use services like YouTube.com. YouTube provides a simple method to upload video clips and embed them directly into your website. Clips of your recent event or a "how-to" video make excellent content. Keep in mind that it doesn’t need to be professionally polished to be interesting. Sometimes raw content can grab people’s attention more quickly than a slick, 30-second clip.
- Use blogging websites and tools. Create a conversation around your products or services. People love to see their words on the Web, and everyone loves to talk about horses. Check out Blogger.com and see how it all works.
- Take advantage of social networking sites like MySpace.com. Users on MySpace create networks within their niche area. My friend will tell their friends and so on. Your MySpace page can link back to your current website or you can simply create new and unique content.
Any of these suggestions will help you create compelling and new content for your website. Most importantly, it will keep people coming back to your website for more.
