"If you build it, they will come" is not necessarily true on the Web. Putting a website up is one thing, but getting visitors to come to your site is another. The process becomes even more difficult if you have limited resources to market your business.
You can try pay per click programs such as Google Adwords http://www.google.com/adwords or Yahoo Search Marketing http://searchmarketing.yahoo.com – though the key is to carefully track your ROI and which keywords actually perform well
Here are some shoestring marketing ideas that can help you get the visitors you need at the least cost possible:
1. Create the best content you can with the best products you can possibly offer. Your content is your best advertisement - if visitors love your content, then they will go back and spread the word to others.
2. Make it easy for users to recommend your site. Viral marketing is very important -- and easy to tap on the Web. But give your users the tools. Get a Recommend this Site script from websites such as cgiscripts.com and similar directories of scripts. Some even go as far as giving incentives to those who recommend the site to their friends. If only 10 people go to your site, but these 10 people invite 10 more - that's additional traffic that you get for FREE!
Recommend Site Scripts (various) http://php.resourceindex.com/Complete_Scripts/Website_Promotion/Recommend_Site/
Big Nose Bird Recommend this Site http://bignosebird.com/carchive/birdcast.shtml
CGI Resource Index http://cgi.resourceindex.com/Programs_and_Scripts/Perl/Website_Promotion/Recommend_Site/
Hostscripts http://www.hotscripts.com/PHP/Scripts_and_Programs/Site_Recommendation/index.html
3. Rank well in the search engines (organic search results, not the pay per click). SEs can be a big source of traffic. The key is to create the best content in your niche. If you have good content, other websites will gladly link to you and offer your site as a resource to their audience. Check the on-page factors and be sure to get linked from authority sites in your topic area.
If you are going to read only one piece on search engine optimization, I suggest you read Brett Tabke of WebmasterWorld.com's "Successful Site in 12 Months with Google Alone: 26 steps to 15k a day." http://www.webmasterworld.com/forum3/2010.htm
4. Send out press releases. While outfits charge as much as $650 per release, there are free press release submission places on the Web. Press releases allow you to (a) attract media attention; (b) get more back links to your website without sending each website an email request; and (c) get more visibility especially if your press release gets in Google News or Yahoo News.
http://www.prleap.com/sign_up.html
http://i-newswire.com/
http://www.24-7pressrelease.com/
http://www.pressbox.co.uk/cgi-bin/links/add.cgi
http://www.pr.com/press-releases
http://www.prfree.com/
http://www.clickpress.com/releases/index.shtml
http://www.theopenpress.com/
http://www.przoom.com/
http://www.prweb.com
http://www.newswiretoday.com/
http://www.free-press-release.com/
5. Submit articles. Write articles and submit them to websites accepting author submissions. You get exposure for your business; establishes you as an authority in your field, and allows you to get backlinks for your website. If 50 websites publish your article and it contains a link back to your website, then you easily get 50 links from a single article. The more links you have, the greater your chances for increasing your search engine rankings.
Here is a comprehensive list of where to submit your articles http://answers.yahoo.com/question/;_ylt=AhzreGmnCUicOoyedqypscUjzKIX?qid=1006022407481
6. Post a link to your site for free where it is allowed (always read the Terms of Use). Examples are:
Craigslist http://www.craigslist.com
Google Base http://base.google.com
Classifieds for Free http://www.classifiedsforfree.com/...
Text Link Exchange http://www.txtswap.com/
Recycler.com http://www.recycler.com/
Yahoo Classifieds http://classifieds.yahoo.com/
US Free Ads http://www.usfreeads.com/
2006-11-06 08:27:58
·
answer #1
·
answered by imisidro 7
·
1⤊
0⤋
There are many, many ways to promote your website (as revealed in previous answer). The thing to do is use one of these methods until it works for you, until it delivers reliable sources of free traffic, and then do something else. Do not do all of the suggested strategies, because you will do them poorly and be in the same boat one year later. Either follow one of the tips in the previous answer or re-visit those sites you're familar with, and pick one - I recommend article marketing - and just do that really well. Really, really well. Then next strategy. This will work. Chasing lots of strategies will leave you with no energy left and still no visitors to your website
2006-11-06 08:49:16
·
answer #2
·
answered by Ego Fatigo 5
·
0⤊
0⤋
Hello Eric,
imisidro had some really good pointers for you and I agree that writing articles and submitting them are a great way to get your website noticed.
Another way is to set up a blog and start writing. Have your blog able to accept subscribers so that when you have people visit your blog, they can revisit and interact with you.
Good luck!
2006-11-08 08:45:45
·
answer #3
·
answered by Hawaii Surfer 1
·
0⤊
0⤋
Unfortunately, free pointers are usually old and outdated. Mr SE offers a free podcast that teaches SEO. I spoke with people at SEMPO and seems they will be launching an online course, but it won't be free.
2006-11-06 10:41:22
·
answer #4
·
answered by linkme2mrseo 3
·
0⤊
0⤋
my friend i have the perfect website for you. it includes over 1000 links to free advertising websites including free directories, free search engine submissions, free viral marketing, free top keywords and much much more
http://www.freeaddsgalore.me.uk
investing in the big daddy search engine and program hoppers will prove very profitable
2006-11-07 07:35:39
·
answer #5
·
answered by Anonymous
·
0⤊
0⤋