Promote Your Website!

Now that you have a website presence, the world will beat a path to see it. "NOT"

With so many websites now available, it is impossible to be noticed unless you promote your site.

Word of mouth advertising is by far the most effective method of being found. So tell everybody you know to visit you on your website. Be sure to print your web address on all of your stationery, business cards, and existing advertising channels.

If you also have a storefront (brick and mortar), be sure to have some sort of hand-out that includes your website address. Remember, any existing customer is also your best prospect for future business.

Search engines (and some directory services) represent the webs most important source for new business. And, key words (words or phrases that describe your business) are the key to using the search engines.

This is where Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and Search Engine Marketing (SEM) come to play. These structured processes maximize your key words within your web pages and submit them to the major search engines and directory services.

In addition to these activities, you should also explore purchasing advertising in selected search engines and directory services. They offer a variety of methods.

A word about the directory services: If it serves a niche market that you feel you want to reach, then that is a good target for your advertising dollar. If, however, it is either too broad or does not serve your target audience, stay away.

Trade links with other websites, if their audience is similar to yours and they are not in the same business as you.

Check your vendors, see if they have any offers that can help you (like co-op money or credit). They might even have a place on their website that points to you as an outlet for their goods.

Contests, giveaways, newsletters, and more are also effective. If you can build a list of interested people, then you have a way to send them your weekly special. Which will keep your name (website name) in front of them and then they'll remember you when they want something that you offer.

More Information
Check out our SEO/SEM tools