Name of your website?The Truth About Diets and Fitness
Your name?
Dave Soucy
Your Location (city, etc)
Manchester
When did you start your website and why?
I started this site to help people understand the realities of fitness and exercise, and that fads, gimmicks, and magic pills will not help you lose weight and get fit.
Please give us a short summary of your website, business model, etc
My main business is my personal training studio in Manchester, NH where I conduct fitness seminars, 1-on-1 personal training, fitness bootcamps, and fitness classes. In addition to TheTruthAboutDiets.com, I have several other sites including PerfectFitOnline.com, CavemanFitnessGuide.com, and MyFitnessBusiness.com.
What has been the most difficult part of creating and running your website?
Honestly it is just finding the time to keep it looking fresh. Technology has made it so easy to have a professional looking site now, everyone should do it.
What has been the easist part of operating your website?
See the above. Technology can now let anyone design a web site that a couple of years ago you would have needed a professional designer to create.
What was your biggest mistake?
Not understanding enough about SEO early on, and the very simple things that one can do to make their web sites found more easily by your target market.
Who maintains your website and why?
I do all of my websites myself. I guess I'm a control freak when it comes to my sites. Also, why pay someone to do something I can easily do?
Tell us how your business has benefitted from your website?
The vast majority of my clients find me either through referrals, or through my web site. Also, by being able to include complete info about me, my services, and my rates on my site, I don't have to waste a lot of time on the phone with tire kickers.
What are your views on ecommerce and the future of the internet?
My opinion is it is only going to become a bigger and bigger part of my business. Right now I generate close to 50% of my revenue online, and hope to drive that number even higher.
What are your views on Search Engine Optimization (SEO)?
I wish I knew more about it earlier than I did...:) That way I wouldn't have to go back and fix all of the simple mistakes I made when I originally started putting my websites together. I still think you need to design your sites with your target market in mind first, but there are simple things that can be done to keep the search engines happy at the same time.
What are your views on Search Engines? Have they helped or hindered your website?
Absolutely they have helped. Most of my business finds me through the search engines.
What method has been most successful for promoting your website?
Initially it was Google Adwords, but lately natural search has begun to generate almost as much traffic for me. Also, as a fitness expert, I've had several articles published on various sites on the net which helps to drive traffic my way.
What is your website address?
The Truth About Diets and Fitness
