If you are wondering why your website users are not returning and linking to you as much as you want, try to get in their heads. Pretend you are a new visitor to your website.

What do you notice? As a new visitor, would you know what the topic and purpose of the website is? Would you be able to understand the navigation? Would the website seem helpful? Would it help you find the answers to your questions about the topic? Where does it draw your attention? Does it even grab your attention? Is it interesting or boring?

If you can understand what your visitors are probably thinking, then you can better customize the website to appeal to them.

You want a website that will grab their interest and keep them looking around. You want a website that provides a useful service or product that people want, so that they come to you for it and so that they tell their friends about it. If you have a content-based website (like this blog), then what you need to provide is information or entertainment. Most importantly, your visitors need to be made aware of what your website is providing.

If your promotion methods are not working well, then the most likely problem is on-site. Your website is probably not grabbing visitors’ interest and getting other webmasters to link to you.

What do you think?