The first impression of your website can make or break your online presence. A professional-looking site with useful features can attract and retain visitors. This article introduces seven free tools that can enhance your website's functionality and appearance, making it more appealing to your audience.
A search utility not only makes your site look more professional but also provides a useful service that encourages visitors to return. FreeFind is a tool that spiders your site on request or by schedule, sending an email report of search terms that your visitors have used. It also allows you to create a "What's New" link and page, with an icon if you prefer. You can set member-only pages not to be spidered.
Visitor feedback is crucial for understanding your audience's needs and preferences. If creating your own form seems daunting, FreedBack is a ready-made feedback form provider. After choosing your options, the form is generated online. You then copy-and-paste the code into your web page.
Bravenet is a rich source of free webmaster tools. It offers guest books, forums, polls, feedback forms, site counters, and more. You can sign up for as many free tools as you need, all fully explained to help you install and customize them to match your site.
A site counter is essential for understanding your site's traffic. SiteMeter is a tool that emails weekly stats, and by logging on to the site, you can find out who, when, where, what with, how long, and of course predictions for the future!
If you offer freebies such as e-books or demo programs, it's useful to know how many times they are downloaded. LinkCounter is a tool that allows you to track this. Sign up, enter the URL of your download file, then copy the generated link code, and paste it into your web page to replace your direct link.
Starting an ezine or newsletter? Topica is a tool for managing your mailing list. They supply the sign-up code for your web page, although you can adapt this, or use your own, if you prefer. They also provide online archives.
Auto-responders can be used to send out information to anyone who requests it. OttoResponder and GetResponse are two such tools that can automate the delivery of your articles, "lessons by e-mail", and sample ezine.
In conclusion, these seven free tools can significantly enhance your website's functionality and appearance, making it more appealing to your audience. For more free software, check out these sites:
Finding reciprocal links for your site
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I want a website, but I don't want spam!
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Do your images slow down your site?
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