It’s widely regarded that the first text in most website pages should be a summary of one or two sentences telling the viewer exactly what is the function of the page.

This starter-summary has several important functions.

• It is a quick way to tell the reader what your page is about.
• It helps you, the writer to sum up what your page is all about.
• It can double as the text seen in search engine results (after the page title)

How to write a summary:

* Get to the point quickly. Don’t waste time giving background info, this is the place for direct, specific information about your page, not the whole site.

* Write the summary so it makes sense when read as a stand-alone item.

* It must be useful in search results

* It should be not more than three sentences.

Here are two simple page summary examples:

1) Use this page to find out more about the coaching and training sessions at Glasgow Triathlon Club. There is also a link to the useful club forum.

2) If you’re looking for hill walking routes in the Aviemore area then this is the page for you. There is a range of graded routes from easy/beginner to expert/experienced.

A successful website needs good, quality content. If you don’t already know this, then now is the time to get clued up.

While you’ll need to get people to come to your website in the first place (so you’ll have to invest in some promotion and marketing), once they find your website they will only stick with you if they like what they read. Poor content equals a quick exit, rather like when you read the first page of a new novel. But if visitors are instantly attracted to good content then they are likely to spread the word. In the internet world, word is spread via “links”.

And it doesn’t stop here. Make sure that your website also has RSS feeds so visitors can easily share the word. This makes it simpler for people who like the content on your website to spread the word to others via Facebook, MySpace, Twitter and Digg etc. The more people who share your website around the more links you’ll get and the more your website will be read. It goes on and on.

But don’t let people bad mouth you. If your content stinks, or is inaccurate in any way, then visitors might well spread the word on your poor website. No website owner or on-line business wants a bad reputation. Remember it’s just as easy for visitors to spread a “bad’ word, as it is a “good” word. Creating good content gives you credibility.

So now you’re in the position to gain advertisers. Advertisers and sponsors like to know that websites have a good reputation and lots of visitors so once you’ve set up your good quality, reputable website there is more chance of making some money form advertising. It makes sense, doesn’t it?

That’s why content is king! Because it can pave the way to untold riches.