Ways to Market Your Website (or business)
on the Internet and in the Real World

    Search engines, banner exchanges, paid for web advertising, print ads...
what's the best way to market your new Internet site? I'm not an expert
by any means, but here are a few tips I give to my clients to successfully
market their new (or existing) website. Marketing your website is not as
hard as you may think, but it does take effort on your part and a bit of
time.

We all know about Internet search engines, but, realistically speaking,
there are millions of businesses listed in these... by the time your
potential client is on, lets say, page 2 of the search findings, they've
either found what they're looking for or tired of going through all the
sites and will find another way to get the information or product they are
seeking. If youıre not listed within the first two pages, personally, I
think itıs as good as not being there. Search engines are wonderful, but
don't count on them as your best means of website advertisement.

The top marketing tactic is advertise it! Now I don't mean for you to take
out a print ad in your local newspaper at all; I think print ads are
wonderful for some businesses, but I don't think they get a real high
response rate for something such as this.

Instead, when I say advertise it, I mean to get your site out into the
public eye as much as possible... here's a few ways to do just that - in the
real world and on the Internet:

    Use Your Checks
     List your company url on both, your business and personal
checks. It doesn't cost any more and you just don't know who will
see your check and take an interest!

    Car Window Decal
    You don't have to order these in large quantities anymore! This
site has a variety to choose from, good prices and you can order as
many as you want, including one! People do take notice of these!
http://www.webdecal.com/t.cgi/106221

    All Company Material
    Letterhead, business cards, envelopes, newsletters, advertisements, notes, brochures... anything that you send out through  your business, make sure to have your company's url listed somewhere on it!

    All Personal Material
    You know all those nasty bills you send out every month? All  the
letters to relatives, friends, etc.? Include your url in the return address!

    Answering Machine
    Donıt forget this! It doesnıt take all that long to incorporate your
url in your outgoing message... " Don't forget to visit us on the Internet at www.maggiesworld.com "(for example)

    Yellow Pages
    For just a little more than your bill is now, most yellow pages will list your 
url right along side your business listing.

    Wearables
    Use your logo or have a design created especially for this project. 
Most discount department stores and business suppliers will have a variety of transfer papers available so you can make your own wearable advertisements 
with a computer, inkjet printer and an iron. If you're not skilled in design, 
have the design work professionally done and you do the ironing on.

   Not-for-Profit Contributions
    A lot of times if you contribute to a not-for-profit organization, either personally or through your company, the organization will list your name in some sort of material - maybe their newsletter, brochure, or special event flyer - ask that your url be listed as well as your telephone number.

   Create a College Scholarship
    Do you know just how little this can take? Call some area colleges and find out about this! You can create a scholarship for a student for as little as $100.00 in some places!! Your name will go out to thousands of people all year long in information
packages... great advertising at low cost!

    Targeted Newsletter Ads
    If you know of a newsletter that has the same target audience as
your market, take out an ad. Make sure to offer a special incentive to respond so youıll be able to track the response rate.

    Candy Promotion
    An office or storefront counter promotion... just get some bags of those little candy bars and create wrappers for them that have a special incentive reason to visit your website. If your not handy with the design work to set up a wrapper, this can be done by most graphic designers.

    of Your Web Designer
    Does your designer's include your projects? If not, ask them to please use the items they have designed for you in it! Think of all the people who will see it!

    Goodie Bag
    Do you keep in contact with your local Chamber of Commerce?  If
you don't, you should! Did you know that many times when conventions
come to town, Chamber members can donate items (including coupons) to
place into goodie bags for city visitors?
    Or how about making your own? You can easily stuff a few treats into a candy bag and staple on a topper distributing these to your target market... candies to youth groups, pens and other small office supplies to businesses... use your imagination with these! They can be great fun to do!!

    Chamber of Commerce
    If your business is not involved in Chamber activities, youıre missing out. Along with being listed in their directory, for a nominal fee, most Chambers will allow members to include a flyer within the information they send out to those who request it or as an insert in their newsletter.

    Web Card Mailing
    Send out a promotional postcard featuring your website! Make sure to choose a target audience and include a special incentive for responding to this mailing. Web cards are a wonderful way to let prospects know about your website and invite them to visit it.

    Sponsor Contests
    On or off line, if your company sponsors a contest, more than likely the contest coordinator will include your url in the contact/sponsors listing.

   Tips Sheets
    Offer free tip sheets that you can hand out, distribute over the Internet, have published in the paper or a newsletter on a subject you are knowledgeable in. If the publication is not yours, ask for your company's url to be listed in the byline.

    E-Mail Signature Line
    It's there, free for the using - so do it! Here's an example:
           
            MAJiC Graphix
            Stationary & notecards personalized by You!
           

    Even if it's only fun email to a friend, always use your signature line! 
If that funny joke or witty saying is passed along, so is your url!

    E-Mail Signature Line - Swap Them
    Have your friends and family list your url in their signature lines.
Also, find a business that compliments yours and ask to swap lines with them --- 
you list their url in your signature line, and in return, they list your url within theirs.

    Website Link Exchanges
    Donıt be too shy about your site! If you see another site out there that you feel comfortable promoting on your site, write to the owner/s and ask to exchange links with them! Keep the note short and simple, stating why you think this would be mutually benefiting to both sites. Make these notes personal though - no mass producing and blindly sending to any and all sites you go to... better known as
the O'dreaded  spam... make sure you're asking because you think their company site and your company site really do compliment the other in some way.

    Internet Message Boards
    Visit them and post regularly. Not ads for your business though!
Ads not only violate some site policies, a lot of people will not pay any attention to them due to the high rate of Internet scams  out there. Say something meaningful though, contributing to the thread of conversation, show your knowledge, and sign with your name and url.

   Write for E-Zines or Websites
    Though most of these do not have budgeted to actually pay for their writers, most will include a short bio of your business along  with your company's url after your article.

All in all, don't expect your site to gain world wide attention over night.
It takes time, patience, persistence and a commitment on your part as the owner to promote it in every way possible.

.

written by Sarah Babbitt and modified for inclusion on maggiesworld.com