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Your Web Site: Don't Attract The Wrong Attention!

© Shira

Women in the U.S. have known since girlhood that we always need to be careful with our personal safety. Those of us who become involved in belly dancing take on additional risks due to additional contact with the public and our choice of an activity that triggers sexual fantasies in some people.

The Internet has arisen as a highly effective tool for marketing our dance classes and availability as performers. But it also makes it easier for predators to target us and harass us.

The vast majority of people who visit your web site will be normal folk who just want to hire a dancer, take a class, or learn a little more about the dance. But there's also that tiny minority of potential criminals who may be looking for a victim. Your challenge is to provide appropriate information to the legitimate visitors, without attracting the wrong kind of attention from the predators. Here are some thoughts on how to design a web site that will market you as a dancer without exposing you to excessive risk.

Set An Appropriate Mood

The types of photographs you select and the accompanying text set a mood. What kind of mood do you want to encourage? What kind of person do you hope will contact you as a result of visiting your site?

Consider these moods that I've seen used on various dancers' sites, and think about what kind of person is likely to respond to each:

• Hiring a dancer is a great way to make a party more fun for everyone.
• The dance is a great way to get exercise and lose weight.
• The dance is seductive and sexual.
• Learning this dance will lead to a better understanding of Middle Eastern culture.
• The dance offers a way to explore your inner self.

And so on. A photo of you standing in a leotard and tights with a scarf tied around your hips will send a very different message compared to one of you performing a deep backbend in a skimpy bra that emphasizes your cleavage.

The mood you set on your top page is going to trigger a reaction in the people who visit your site. If you emphasize the sensual/sexual side of the dance, you're more likely to get the attention of the pornography crowd. In contrast, if you emphasize the exercise aspect, your site will attract people who are interested in fitness. And so on.

As you plan the contents of your home page, think about what basic message you want to convey about belly dancing to first-time visitors, and what kind of people you hope will respond to that message. Then choose text and photos to match.