Web Site Promotion Tips

1. Put your URL on everything. Every time you communicate with the public in some way, you have an opportunity to tell people about your site. Make sure to include your URL (web site address) on every letter, form, brochure, business card and advertisement that leaves your office. Even your e-mail signature should include this information.

2. Register with search engines. It's essential to get listed on the major search engines and web directories. Many will allow you to submit your site for free, while others charge a fee. At the very least, try to get listed on Google, Open Directory and Altavista, which do not charge for basic listings.

3. Exchange links. One great way to make friends and boost your search engine rankings is by exchanging links with other relevant web sites. Just think about what other sites might be of interest to your customers -- excluding competitor sites, of course -- and send an e-mail to the person who maintains each of those sites, asking to trade links.

4. Tell people. It sounds obvious, but it's a tactic that's often overlooked. If you're speaking on the phone or in person with a potential customer, make sure to mention your site if the person is interested in learning more or doesn't fully understand what you're saying. Your web site can be a great sales and support tool, if you allow it to be.

5. Participate in discussion forums. By being an active participant in discussion forums and e-mail lists, you can meet new people, subtly promote your web site, and possibly get a few leads. Do not, however, post blatant advertisements to any discussion group; this will undoubtedly anger many and yield little. One good place to start is Google Groups.

6. Publish an e-mail newsletter. An e-mail newsletter is a great way to keep your company on the minds of your current and potential customers. It's a valuable resource for the recipient, and a free marketing tool for you. To generate a mailing list, do three things: 1) ask people if they want to receive the newsletter when you meet them, 2) send them to your existing business contacts, and 3) add a simple sign-up form to your web site. Be sure to give people a way to unsubscribe to your e-mails, and do not send e-mail to people you don't know who haven't requested it.

7. Sign up for web site awards. They might seem hokey -- and some of them are -- but by winning web site awards, you'll get new traffic to your site and maybe some added credibility.

8. Join web rings. A web ring is an affiliation of related sites, where each site has a link to the next. If you can find a webring that doesn't include your competitors, this can be a great way to generate traffic. To look for an existing web ring, try WebRing.com.

9. Advertise. If all else fails, you can always advertise. In fact, you should be advertising if your web site is your core business. Google offers an excellent program called AdWords where you can purchase targeted advertising on virtually any budget.

10. Provide value. A web site that people want to use is a lot easier to promote than a dull, uninteresting web site. One easy way to provide value is to add interactive features and valuable information to your site.