By Karl Moore
See also The Three Rules of Banner Ad Success, Your Guide to Internet Success : The Best Advice Ever, Analyze Your Web Statistics, The Traffic Generating Secret.
There are an amazing number of nitty-gritty details that go into producing a successful website. A powerful site search engine. An easy-to-use navigational interface. A short but snappy URL. A quick loading front-page without too many graphics, but many complimentary colours. And as if all that wasn't enough, you need to promote your site! It's a sad fact of Web-life, but Netizens and potential customers won't come running to you - you have to pull them to your site. And once you have them, you need to keep them. In a recent study it was shown that the average web-surfer only clicks on your website once. So, if your site hasn't got that 'oomph', it's not going anywhere.
Subtitle: Get to the Point
OK, I'll stop rambling and get to the top five ways to promote your site:
Allow me to elucidate...
I'm not just talking a link on Johnny's homepage here, I mean the larger sites - ones that make it their job to list websites on particular topics.
Search engine links also come under this category - use a mass search engine submission service, like the one at our site which automatically sends your details to 150 sites.
Be careful not to confuse this with spam! If you're running a site that focuses on mystery, then every other week send a message to the newsgroup rec.arts.mystery - and tell them what you can find on the site and any new happenings.
Our own site, ITGossip.net, focuses on Net news and computer scandal. So, I'll probably post a message to alt.net.scandal or alt.life.internet.
But a word of warning - make sure your posts are relevant to the newsgroup you're sending it to! Or else...
If you're after a few thousand more hits, submit your site to one of the award sites - such as the Top Ten area on WhatsOn.com.
We were recently voted 7th after submitting our own site for consideration.
In essence, it's great because (a) the fact that you were voted a top ten website encourages advertisers, (b) you'll gain an average of 5,000 extra hits per reward and (c) we can tell all our friends we beat the Financial Times in the Net's Top Ten list!
Starting your own award service is a pretty straightforward process. People send you details about their site, you visit their site, if you like it - give them an "award" which usually consists of a small image to place on their website. The image should link back to your homepage, generating more traffic. You usually list their site on an "Award Winners" page.
That's simply it. If you join the Award-It crew you'll find it's much easier to attract traffic. Users can automatically submit details to your site - but expect in excess of 100 e-mails per day.
I know that number 5 is a little general, but that something else needs to be a unique or special service, preferably free of charge!
Until my next article, folks. Bye!
Read more articles on marketing by Karl at our features area.
Brought to you by: World Wide Information Outlet - http://certificate.net/wwio/, your source of FREEWare Content online.
Karl Moore is a technology journalist working in the UK. In addition to his regular Micro Mart newspaper column and BBC Radio Internet slot, he also writes for WinPlanet, VB-World and InternetDay. Find out more on Moore at http://www.karlmoore.com
Disclaimer - Copyright - Contact
Online: buildfreedom.org - terrorcrat.com - mind-trek.com