Free Website Promotion & Internet Marketing Tips

1) List your site in the big search engines and directories
We have a list of those here.

2) Make sure your Web site is optimized for the search engines
There are certain design practices that will increase your listing if done correctly. Your page can also be thrown out of search engines for bad design, bad practices and spamming. Search engines require research on a daily basis as the methods used are constantly changing.
Search Engine Showdown
Search Engine Watch
Hire us to optimize your site for the search engines!

3) Send out E-Mail Newsletters
This is a great way to share your knowledge with your existing customers and prospect. Newsletters can be used to promote your business as well. Always send out a test newsletter to yourself and friends before mailing it out for real. Use the BCC (blind carbon copy) feature. This insures that everyone on the list does not see the other E-mail addresses on your list. No one wants their E-mail address publicized all over the net. Be current, keep fun content as well as content about what you're trying to promote.
How to Publish an E-Mail Newsletter
The Handbook of Ezine Publishing
Publishing Your Own Newsletter

4) E-Mail Discussion Groups, Forums, and Chat Rooms
Join an online community and get involved! A great way to establish (and share) your expertise and/or products is participating in the many communities you will find online. From Usenet news groups to discussion forums, from mailing lists to chat rooms, you can find an area with your particular interests and needs. Yahoo! groups is a great place to start. Simply find a subject you're interested in and join in!
Yahoo Groups
Participate in Online Communities
Google Groups

5) Put Your URL Everywhere
Your Web address (i.e., URL) should be as visible and as widely available as your phone number. Make sure it is prominently displayed on your E-mail correspondence, your paper letterhead, your business cards, your invoices, your print ads, your radio and TV ads, your Yellow Pages ad, your delivery vans, your answering machine message, your cat, your dog and any place else of which you can think of! Your URL isn't going away so use it!
5 Strategies for Effective Online Branding
Branding

6) Signature Files
Most E-mail programs have an area where you can create a signature file (.sig file) that is appended to the bottom of your outgoing messages. Anyone who reads your E-mail will see your sig file, so it offers a great opportunity to promote your business. It shouldn't be too long (no more than four or five lines), but it should include at least your name, your E-mail address, your Web site URL, and other contact information. Some people even have catchy phrases about their business.
Signature File Definition

7) Exchanging Links & Link Swapping
Reciprocal links (where your site links to someone else's and they link back to you) are the life-blood of the Internet. They are the most cost-effective way to build up long-term consistent traffic to your Web site.
Link Swapping Article
How to exchange links correctly

8) News/Press Releases
Letting the media know about your business can result in tons of free publicity. The Internet News Bureau's media relations tips page can help you get a press release together and start your media campaign.

9) FREE STUFF!
People love free stuff... give away a Web Site Template or host a "design a logo" contest. Creating a contest or sweepstakes might make sense for your business. Giveaway programs of any kind are sure to attract attention.

10) Reward Existing Customer
Send them 10% coupons via E-mail and/or in orders that you ship out. They DO work! Another idea is to send out *tell a friend and receive X% off next order* coupons. As you can see, the possibilities are endless.

11) Know your Visitors
Monitor who your visitors are with traffic analyzing software. Find out what pages they visit most and what they do not visit. Concentrate on what visitors are looking at on your site. Study the keywords used to find your site.

12) Update Content/Products
You know how grocery stores are constantly moving products? Especially around the checkout area? This is also a great idea for your virtual store/site as well! Keep your site looking fresh by rotating your products and/or content. Make a featured sale or offer area on your homepage to contain a featured item constantly. Studies have shown that if you lead buyers to your products, they'll buy! Especially if presented as a sale.

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last updated september 9, 2006