The first step to quality content is to have something to say and give people value.

Before you begin to write, why not give some thought to the hundreds, thousands and possibly even millions of people who will eventually visit your site? If you could get them all together, what would you like to say to them ?

If those first few people who visit don't find much of substance, why would they rate your site highly? Why would they bother to tag it? Why would they blog your site as a sight to be seen? Why would they email, IM, sms (etc) their friends about it ?

See, if they DON'T do these things, then instead of seeing a stampede of traffic, and sales galore of whatever product or service you're marketing, you're going to be like the rocket that blew up on the launch pad. Looked the goods, went nowhere :(

As I'm sure you know, there's a saying in real estate that the three most important things about a property when it comes time to sell are (in order) location, location and location.

If we transpose that to websites which we want create a stampede of traffic towards, the three most important things are without doubt

1. content,

2. content and

3. content.

Now I'm not suggesting that this is the ONLY thing of any importance; that would be stupid. But it is the substance without which little else will matter.

Take a look at ANY of the high-traffic sites on the web (go and check on alexa.com if you need some help with that), and you'll find that without exception, they all deliver a product or a service which a large number of people deem to be important. They provide something which makes life (work, gambling, sex or whatever else is a high priority for lots of people) easier, better or more enjoyable in some way. They all deliver value, in the eyes of the marketplace.

Some of these sites are attractive-looking, some of them are just okay; others are downright ugly. But few regard their esthetics as being of the utmost importance. It's what's on there that matters. Here's what people are asking: Does this content answer my questions, wants or needs; does it reward my time and attention? Is my time well spent by going there? Could I safely recommend it to my friends, especially my online community friends, who trust my judgment - at least somewhat ?

But if you don't have anything valuable or moving or funny to tell the rest of us, something to lighten our load, or make our day better, and you say it anyway - if you cynically slap something together simply because you want to make money, the more the merrier, the faster the better, let the buyer beware - then there's going to be a price to pay. Not a reward to reap, not a fast buck; but a penalty for short-changing your fellow man and woman; for watering down the Coca Cola.

Talking about websites. Before you begin to write, why not give some thought to the hundreds, thousands and possibly even millions of people who will eventually visit your site? If you could get them all together, what would you like to say to them ?

Whether you start with a full website, or a blog, it hardly matters. Once you've got something of value to say, and you know what it is, then you can start to say it. In turn, people will recommend your site to others, often on their blogs. You'll find growing numbers of links to your blog, and perhaps even to your website....