I feel reluctant to add more keystrokes to the 14 replies off topic about website user experience, but thought I'd share some professional observations...

Based on 15 years of interactive and web design experience in developing award winning websites for clients, CONTENT IS KING.

SEO is critical in increasing traffic to a site. BUT..., SEO in and of itself doesn't make a website successful simply because it shows up #1 in major search engines. If the site doesn't provide a good user experience, lacks relevant content, or fails to convert traffic into business (selling of products or services) what good is the SEO investment? A leading SEO expert once told me, "if you spend any amount of money on SEO/SEM to get a ton of traffic to a site and no one converts (to buy or to act in a desired way), what good is the investment?"

GlenEllynLife.com is experiencing an increasing trend of return visits as our readership increases. I think I can attribute this to three things: 1) we are posting interesting content, 2) the site is updated every 15 minutes with the latest Glen Ellyn news as it's published online across the Internet, and 3) we're not pushing commercial interests.

I met with Rachael shortly after the launch of her site. She is a very nice person who grew up in Glen Ellyn and has great intentions. She knows from our professional discussion that I question her tactics as it pertains to SEO and my knowledge of SEO, particularly the small amount of keyword searches that are used to find Glen Ellyn information (I know because I can track them). I was surprised to learn that Rachael doesn't have any web design experience (prompted by not finding her business website in advance of our meeting). I'm very cautious about the SEO claims being made in terms of conversion because of the limited keyword searches and limited web audience. If a site has compelling content, its pages will naturally propagate to the top of search engines.

For comparison purposes, the vast majority of articles posted on GlenEllynLife.com are typically listed in the top 5 results on Google using obvious keywords. To my surprise, one article that had coverage throughout Chicago media (the Ethan Ellis story) was listed #1 on Google just 10 minutes after we posted the story online (search: "Ethan Ellis Sox" - it's listed now #2 but before the Chicago Tribune article). Needless to say, that story is one of the most viewed articles on our site from readers throughout the Chicago area.

CONTENT IS KING, and GlenEllynLife.com will continue to post the latest news, events and stories about Glen Ellyn without using GEBB to solicit its readers in any way other than to post links to content that Glen Ellyn people may find of interest. If I am in any way abusing this function, please let me know. I will gladly refrain from future posts in respect to Ted and the GEBB audience that uses this site.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: GlenEllynLife,

Well, OK, just to reply to the original question -

Websites are fun. Content is king - I agree. However, as a resident of Glen Ellyn it's highly unlikely I'll spend much time searching all these Glen Ellyn-related websites. I go to location-related sites (such as those for other communities and towns) generally because I'm interested in visiting them and want to know more about them, not being a resident. Or, being a native of Indianapolis, sometimes I go looking at its various websites, just to see what's happening.

But I live here; I already know what restaurants are good and where to shop, and I spend enough time in the CBD to know when stores are having special events.

For my Glen Ellen-centric info, I come to this BB mainly to get the good gossip and because I enjoy, for the most part, the different characters' take on things. That's all, really; it's about the people, nothing more.

So I'd imagine that sites such as GlenEllynLife will be helpful to those who are interested in visiting or moving here, or perhaps to those who have once lived here and wonder, now and again, what's going on in the old home town. I can't imagine that they're really going to be visited a lot by current residents, though - but all I can speak from is my own inclination and experience.

I am responding to what erpelumin said about my lack of experience... My background is in broadcast production, specifically post-production. I have always designed- from film editing, broadcast graphics, print and web. I went from Leo Burnett's broadcast production department to work as a talent recruiter for a highly respected creative talent placement firm servicing all of the major Chicago ad agencies- Ogilvy & Mather, DDB, Leo Burnett, etc. and interactive agencies- Element 79, Kramer Crasselt, etc. My job was evaluating portfolios and a major part of that was knowing the latest design trends. My talent is recognizing good design. I produce the work but I have artists and developers who work with me. My specialty as a recruiter quickly became interactive and online talent from actionscript developers to high level SEO strategists. I then went on to sell blogging packages for a company in Seattle. I know what I am doing and I do what I say I can. All I am concerned about with my clients is conversion. With businesses that I work with on an individual basis it is easy to track conversion. www.GlenEllynite.com is my first community site and tracking conversion is more of a challenge but I am figuring it out- the current contests are one way to do it.

erpelumin, don't fear new ideas. Don't be a hater

I don't think anyone is giving much thought to social media and engagement in this conversation.

Scribbler- what you say makes sense
if the Glen Ellyn site is attempting to attract you with local news and goings on. But this is where engagement and social media come into play.

Example: A site raffles off free goods and services that are targeted to women. People like contests and winning things for free.

Next- get in touch with a member of a large, mostly female local organization that communicates via a yahoo users group.
She sent out an e-mail to sign up for the contests.

The raffle entry form on the site asks for phone number, name and e-mail address. The prizes are good and thus an incentive to register.

All of these contest entrants will also be introduced to the client’s brand, service or good.

Using google analytics you can track the location of the site user, how much time they spend on the site & how many return visits are generated.

I agree that Glen Ellyn residents are not going to surf the web to see and learn about Glen Ellyn but if you offer something appealing and relevant to GE residents, they will come and conversion from views to sales will happen.

Okay, enough is enough. I’m closing this thread because — although erpelumin started it to do a bit of simple market research — it degraded to blatant commercialism, self-promotion and amazingly unprofessional name-calling by others.

The first unwritten rule — do not annoy Ted — was not broken... it was smashed to smithereens on more than one occasion. So, I’ve closed the thread before somebody gets hurt. Let’s pretend it never happened, learn from our mistakes, and go back to complaining about high taxes.

Thanks to those who stayed on-topic with thoughtful responces. Sorry, Erik. Ya gave it a good try. —Ted E.

Personally, I'm social media-d out. I have to do it for my day job - Twitter, Facebook, blog, forums (and I admit, I let all that lapse from time to time because it's all so exhausting). So the last thing I'm going to do is look for even more ways to interact online. But again - I may well be an exception, since I have to do all these things on a daily basis.