What Works Online?
Feeding the Beast.

To keep viewers coming back to their sites, Guild members have found that keeping content fresh has become a part of their online equation. Oakland, Calif., illustrator Michael Wertz started his now-celebrated dog blog as a way to keep himself busy in a slow stretch. He set out to make and post 100 drawings in 100 days at wertzateria.com. Whether the art was finished or not, the daily update communicated an immediacy and pacing that a static site wouldn't have.

The self-directed nature of the work was an attraction for Wertz and his audience. "I've found that keeping things personal is nice, since clients are hiring a person, not a Web site." Wertz was commissioned to do dog-related assignments before the effort ended, including a new regular spot in Alternative Health magazine.

Atlanta illustrator Jay Montgomery is also concerned with keeping his Web site fresh. "I update my site, jaymontgomery.com, weekly, on average. I have a javascript that changes the main image each time you reload or come back to the site. I keep that list of images up to date with new work."

San Francisco illustrator Barbara Pollak keeps clients returning to her happypix.com site with e-cards, e-mailed greetings featuring her artwork that anyone can attach a message to and send. "I try to change it seasonally," she says, laughing. "I guess it's time to update it."

Next: Linking Up >

What Works Online?
Contents:

Introduction

Building Relationships

Feeding the Beast

Linking Up

Skip Intro, Please!

Chapters Help Drive Traffic