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weByoU provides
web design services for Acton, Caledon, Erin, Fergus, Georgetown,
Guelph, Orangeville, Milton, Mississauga, Ontario and the
Rest of the World!
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Website Marketing
Very
often web sites are being designed and left alone.
Imagine you set up a business and don't tell anyone
about it. No-one will know your business exists. The
same principle applies to web sites Unless you promote
your web presence, people surfing the Internet will
not be able to find you.We break web promotion into
two basic categories: Online marketing... and off-line.
The key to effective web site promotion and marketing
is to achieve a fine blend of these two areas.
Online Promotion and Marketing
Online
marketing means promoting your web site on the Internet.
Seven methods to market your web site online follow.
- Register
your web site with search engines and directories.
Search engines are a great source of highly targeted
traffic. Submit all the important pages of your web
site to all the major search engines, and any of
the smaller ones which specialize in your business
or locality. Directories put your web site into a
category, usually in alphabetic order, and sometimes
give an option of searching as well. They rely on
the information you provide when you submit your
web site, rather than actually visiting it, so you
don't have to design your web site with them in mind.
- Submit
an advertisement to Free Classified Ads web sites
Classified Ad web sites are created to boost traffic
of their host web site by offering free promotion
of other peoples' web sites
- Add
a custom links page to your site. Exchange links
with web sites containing content related to yours.
This is a great source of free targeted web site
traffic. It will also improve your search engine
rankings. When visitors see a link on their favorite
web site, they tend to believe it is there because
the company or webmaster liked that web site more
than all its competitors. They are more likely to
visit it, and more likely to buy from it, than a
visitor who found your web site in another way.
- Capture
visitor e-mail addresses and request permission to
send news letters. On your web site's response form,
include a check box where the visitor can give you
permission to e-mail updates about products or services.
This way your e-mail to visitors are not considered "spam" (unsolicited
e-mail) because you are responding to their request
for more information.
- Install
a "Signature" in your e-mail program. Most
e-mail programs allow you to designate a "signature" to
appear at the end of each message you send. Limit
it to 6 to 8 lines: Company name, address, phone
number, URL, e-mail address, and a one-phrase description
of your business offerings.
- Include
a link on your web site which allows visitors to
recommend it to a friend.
- Promote
your web site in newsgroups and discussion lists.
It can take a lot preparatory research, but it's
often worth the time. Be sure to post only to groups
with related content which are frequented by the
sort of people you want to visit your web site and
who accept advertising.
- Begin
checking in at the various bulletin boards, newsgroups,
and chatrooms out there in cyberspace where your
customers are likely to visit. Discreetly mention
your URL whenever the opportunity to do so naturally
arises. Be as NON-commercial as possible... try to
phrase your wording in a helpful way, e.g., in response
to a question that someone else has posted.
Off-line Promotion & Marketing
Traditional
off-line. marketing and public relations campaigns
can also provide excellent opportunities to promote
your Web site. Try some of the following off-line.
marketing techniques.
- Prominently
add your URL to EVERY piece of your business literature
- your business cards, stationary, brochures, signs,
promotional gifts etc. If you are not ready to have
new printing done yet, then attach inexpensive labels
to everything.
- Consider
sponsoring a sports team and supply them with sports
shirts and hats that have your company logo and web
address on them.
- Send
press releases about your web site to local publications
and magazines with content related to your web site
Include something newsworthy about your web site
and a benefit to the publications' readers with contact
information.
- Advertise
in magazines they can provide you with targeted traffic.
It is worth trying to get the writers of magazines
you are advertising in to write a word in favor of
your product, service or web site (perhaps in exchange
for a plug in your newsletter). Readers trust the
editors of their favorite magazines. If you are already
placing ads for your business in magazines, remember
to include your URL.
- Send
announcements of your new web site or a major change
in your existing web site to current, potential and
past clients. Encourage them to visit your web site
by telling them how they will benefit by visiting.
- Put
magnetic signs on the side of your vehicle or a sign
in your vehicle window. If your company name or logo
is already painted on your vehicle have your URL
added.
- Place
a sign in your business window.
- Consider
advertising on a local television station.
Don't
overlook the benefits of online and off-line marketing.
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