Just because you have a website doesn't mean people will see it!
I couldn't count how many times people think that just because they have a website that people will automatically find it. No, it's not because I'm dumb and can't count that high, it is just a ton of people! So lets say that you spent $2,000 to develop a new basic website for your company - you write the check, the site is developed and you now have a new website! You sit and wait anxiously, just waiting for the first person to stumble upon your website. Hours pass, soon days and even months with not a single visitor besides yourself and others you told directly. Is your website broken? No, it is just that the internet has grown to be so competitive that it is very rare that people will find your website organically through search engines.
Build it and they will come
This old adage couldn't be further from the truth when it comes to websites. Build it and people WILL NOT come unless you take the right steps to properly promote your website! When I say promote, you think money; and no, you CAN successfully promote your site with no money. You can put down your checkbook already.
Promoting a website has more forms than the Wonder Twins. Some methods will require some money, particularly when you start up a traditional online advertising campaign. But, when money is not of the essence, other methods of promotion are in order.
Guerrilla Marketing
I had previously wrote an article about Guerrilla Marketing and some simple methods you can use to promote just about anything. This article will target websites specifically.
Promote on Business cards and stationary: If you don't have business cards, stop reading, and go make some business cards! Networking is HUGE and nothing is more effective than a good traditional business card that states what you do, contact information and your website! When you meet somebody, you have no clue who THEY know, or how they could possibly benefit your companies' efforts. Often times when you pass out your business card you will find whoever you gave it to say "I could use this *service/product*", "My good friend could use this *product/service*", "My cousin does *this*, I'm sure he could help". Basically, the potential is limitless! With your company website prominently listed on your card, that individual can easily, quickly and effectively share it with others. In the end, that 10 cent card could help you more than you could imagine!
Search Engine Optimization (SEO): SEO is the most effective way to advertise on the web and the best part is that this advertising is FREE! Yes, FREE - SEO will generate 24/7 exposure on the web, for a very long time. Search Engine Optimization is based upon many different factors that determine your ranking (Position in the results of certain keywords) in major search engines. Score a quality keyword that people search often and you will find more traffic than you could shake a stick at. All kidding aside, proper and effective SEO efforts will be best achieved by using a qualified SEO firm such as Revived Media. SEO work can be relatively cheap or it can be brutally expensive, it will all depend on how extensive you want your SEO efforts and what firm you go through.
Blogs Blogs Blogs: Blogs, I don't know where to start! The power of blogs is incredible and they are simple enough that any Joe Schmoe with hardly any computer experience can use! So, how can blogs help you promote your business? Simple! Create a company blog and within this blog you will want to continually write about your business such as company news, articles related to your industry, special offers, new products, services, you name it! Just write! By writing in your blog often, more pages and content will be created surrounding your company. The more pages and content, the more people will stumble upon them, the more visitors means more people to comment and use your articles, the more articles people use, the more backlinks your website will have, the more backlinks means better search engine rankings, better search engine rankings will mean more traffic to your website and more traffic to your website means more revenue! This sounds easy and extremely blatantly put, but to have a blog requires a lot of time and dedication, not a checkbook!
Hey check out my website: Viral marketing is still an extremely effective marketing tactic, particularly in certain industries. Anybody who may have the slightest bit of interest in your company needs to know your website address! So tell them! Tell everybody to go to your website! Uncle, Grandma, your son's Dad? Why not! It can't hurt and only takes a second, you never know when your next largest client is standing right next to you!
Signatures: If you have gotten thus far, you likely spend a bit of time on the computer, and during that time you may send a lot of e-mails or post on forums or blogs. Each one of those communication mediums has signatures! It is never a bad idea to put your website in those signatures, you will be surprised by how many people will actually click them! Blog comments and forums also gives you very valuable backlinks which assists in your search engine rankings!
So there you have it, several simple and effective methods to promote your site with no cash! But, when you want to see the best results and don't mind spending some money, quality online marketing firms can help!
Build it and they will come
This old adage couldn't be further from the truth when it comes to websites. Build it and people WILL NOT come unless you take the right steps to properly promote your website! When I say promote, you think money; and no, you CAN successfully promote your site with no money. You can put down your checkbook already.
Promoting a website has more forms than the Wonder Twins. Some methods will require some money, particularly when you start up a traditional online advertising campaign. But, when money is not of the essence, other methods of promotion are in order.
Guerrilla Marketing
I had previously wrote an article about Guerrilla Marketing and some simple methods you can use to promote just about anything. This article will target websites specifically.
Promote on Business cards and stationary: If you don't have business cards, stop reading, and go make some business cards! Networking is HUGE and nothing is more effective than a good traditional business card that states what you do, contact information and your website! When you meet somebody, you have no clue who THEY know, or how they could possibly benefit your companies' efforts. Often times when you pass out your business card you will find whoever you gave it to say "I could use this *service/product*", "My good friend could use this *product/service*", "My cousin does *this*, I'm sure he could help". Basically, the potential is limitless! With your company website prominently listed on your card, that individual can easily, quickly and effectively share it with others. In the end, that 10 cent card could help you more than you could imagine!
Search Engine Optimization (SEO): SEO is the most effective way to advertise on the web and the best part is that this advertising is FREE! Yes, FREE - SEO will generate 24/7 exposure on the web, for a very long time. Search Engine Optimization is based upon many different factors that determine your ranking (Position in the results of certain keywords) in major search engines. Score a quality keyword that people search often and you will find more traffic than you could shake a stick at. All kidding aside, proper and effective SEO efforts will be best achieved by using a qualified SEO firm such as Revived Media. SEO work can be relatively cheap or it can be brutally expensive, it will all depend on how extensive you want your SEO efforts and what firm you go through.
Blogs Blogs Blogs: Blogs, I don't know where to start! The power of blogs is incredible and they are simple enough that any Joe Schmoe with hardly any computer experience can use! So, how can blogs help you promote your business? Simple! Create a company blog and within this blog you will want to continually write about your business such as company news, articles related to your industry, special offers, new products, services, you name it! Just write! By writing in your blog often, more pages and content will be created surrounding your company. The more pages and content, the more people will stumble upon them, the more visitors means more people to comment and use your articles, the more articles people use, the more backlinks your website will have, the more backlinks means better search engine rankings, better search engine rankings will mean more traffic to your website and more traffic to your website means more revenue! This sounds easy and extremely blatantly put, but to have a blog requires a lot of time and dedication, not a checkbook!
Hey check out my website: Viral marketing is still an extremely effective marketing tactic, particularly in certain industries. Anybody who may have the slightest bit of interest in your company needs to know your website address! So tell them! Tell everybody to go to your website! Uncle, Grandma, your son's Dad? Why not! It can't hurt and only takes a second, you never know when your next largest client is standing right next to you!
Signatures: If you have gotten thus far, you likely spend a bit of time on the computer, and during that time you may send a lot of e-mails or post on forums or blogs. Each one of those communication mediums has signatures! It is never a bad idea to put your website in those signatures, you will be surprised by how many people will actually click them! Blog comments and forums also gives you very valuable backlinks which assists in your search engine rankings!
So there you have it, several simple and effective methods to promote your site with no cash! But, when you want to see the best results and don't mind spending some money, quality online marketing firms can help!
Labels: guerrilla marketing tactics, online marketing, SEO, website promotion
