Getting traffic to your site
(9/19/2006)
In addition to search engines there are many other methods of site promotion that you can use to get your site noticed. It’s a good idea to diversify your marketing campaign so that you don’t rely to heavily on a single method of marketing.
Search Engines
Search engines account for almost 90% of all traffic sent to sites and can be a great method of getting visitors but unless you know how search engines it work it can be very difficult to get listed. Also search engines sometimes take a while to find your site and as such its sometimes a good idea to try other marketing methods in the meantime.
Get Listed in Directories
There are many directories of links that focus on a particular topic or service. Search for directories that focus on your area of expertise and contact the webmaster and ask them to add your link. Some will request that you add a link to them first.
Exchange Links
Contact the owners of other sites that are complimentary to yours and ask them to link to your site in exchange for you to link to their site. These links not only generate traffic but will help out your search engine rankings as well.
Pay Per Click Search Engines
Pay per click search engines like Overture and Google Adwords are a good way to get initial traffic to your website. Search engines can take months to list your site in their normal search engine results but these pay per click engines will list your site immediately.
Free Giveaways
Everyone wants something free and having a free giveaway is a great way to get visitors to your site. Tell visitors that if they make a purchase they will be entered into a free drawing. Giving away free advice in a newsletter is a great way to get new subscribers.
Create a Newsletter
Newsletters are a great way to stay in constant contact with previous customers. Some visitors need to hear from you up to 2-3 times before they will actually buy anything. Make sure your newsletter has original and useful content or your subscribers will not stick around long.
Include your site URL in all emails
Include your URL in all correspondence both online and offline. This will ensure that your current customers and friends who don’t know about your store will find out.
Write Articles
Newsletter publishers are always looking for original content to publish. By sending out informative content you are assured on getting at least a few links back to your site. And in addition you might get many potential customers who will see you as an expert in your field.
Forums
Offer to help out people in forums and include a link to your site in any responses given. Not only will this boost your popularity it will also make you a trusted resource in your field. The more free advice you are able to give, the more a customer will trust you.
Affiliate Program
Affiliates are independent marketers who are only paid for performance. Affiliates will link to your site, which will boost your link popularity, and they will also send you highly targeted leads. The best thing about an affiliate program is that unlike other forms of advertising you only have to pay an affiliate when an actual sale is made. This pay per sale form of advertising is very effective. In general a very small percentage of your affiliates will be good sources of revenue. Make sure you take care of these affiliates.
Offline Marketing
Not all of your potential customers will be online. You can market offline by including your URL in stationary and business cards. Place ads in newspapers, trade publications, send out postcards and fliers and get involved locally by becoming a guest speaker at events.
Search Engines
Search engines account for almost 90% of all traffic sent to sites and can be a great method of getting visitors but unless you know how search engines it work it can be very difficult to get listed. Also search engines sometimes take a while to find your site and as such its sometimes a good idea to try other marketing methods in the meantime.
Get Listed in Directories
There are many directories of links that focus on a particular topic or service. Search for directories that focus on your area of expertise and contact the webmaster and ask them to add your link. Some will request that you add a link to them first.
Exchange Links
Contact the owners of other sites that are complimentary to yours and ask them to link to your site in exchange for you to link to their site. These links not only generate traffic but will help out your search engine rankings as well.
Pay Per Click Search Engines
Pay per click search engines like Overture and Google Adwords are a good way to get initial traffic to your website. Search engines can take months to list your site in their normal search engine results but these pay per click engines will list your site immediately.
Free Giveaways
Everyone wants something free and having a free giveaway is a great way to get visitors to your site. Tell visitors that if they make a purchase they will be entered into a free drawing. Giving away free advice in a newsletter is a great way to get new subscribers.
Create a Newsletter
Newsletters are a great way to stay in constant contact with previous customers. Some visitors need to hear from you up to 2-3 times before they will actually buy anything. Make sure your newsletter has original and useful content or your subscribers will not stick around long.
Include your site URL in all emails
Include your URL in all correspondence both online and offline. This will ensure that your current customers and friends who don’t know about your store will find out.
Write Articles
Newsletter publishers are always looking for original content to publish. By sending out informative content you are assured on getting at least a few links back to your site. And in addition you might get many potential customers who will see you as an expert in your field.
Forums
Offer to help out people in forums and include a link to your site in any responses given. Not only will this boost your popularity it will also make you a trusted resource in your field. The more free advice you are able to give, the more a customer will trust you.
Affiliate Program
Affiliates are independent marketers who are only paid for performance. Affiliates will link to your site, which will boost your link popularity, and they will also send you highly targeted leads. The best thing about an affiliate program is that unlike other forms of advertising you only have to pay an affiliate when an actual sale is made. This pay per sale form of advertising is very effective. In general a very small percentage of your affiliates will be good sources of revenue. Make sure you take care of these affiliates.
Offline Marketing
Not all of your potential customers will be online. You can market offline by including your URL in stationary and business cards. Place ads in newspapers, trade publications, send out postcards and fliers and get involved locally by becoming a guest speaker at events.
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