How to Speak Scuba - Online

Every day I spend a few minutes looking at dive center websites. It's fun to see the different ways dive business are promoted online.

I have to confess - when you see a new feature on the PADI Northwest Newswire, odds are I gleaned it from someone else's page and adapted it for this one.

Unfortunately, most of the websites I come across are very static. They have basic information such as classes and store location - and not much else. You can tell the site isn't updated regularly and, to me, this conveys a lack of passion from the business owner.

The websites that do keep their content fresh really stand out. Keeping an up-to-date class schedule and dive trip calendar says, "we do a lot of cool things around here and we want you to join us." Images of local diving - sea life and smiling divers - are also important. As a customer, this tells me I'm going to have a fun time and see some cool things.

If you've got a couple minutes, here's a fun exercise:

Go to searchme.com and type in something like: scuba diving hawaii. Scroll through the results and see which websites really "speak" to you.

Pretend you're a non-diver interested in lessons, does the website give you all the info you need? Or maybe you're certified and you're researching a dive trip. Does the website do a good job of selling why their operation is better than the one down the street?

If you see something you like, copy the web address or add to your favorites. When it's time to update your business' website, refer back to the ones you like or send the links to your webmaster.