How to use the Web to Direct Customers to your Business: Making your Web Site Visible
A Web site isn't a money maker until customers see it, browse it, and ultimately spend money on it. Just because your Web site is gorgeous and loaded with flash, doesn't mean anyone's going to actually see it. Here's how to bring your Web site out of obscurity and into the limelight:
TIP #1: Networking applies to Internet sales too.
“I'm a novelist and comic book writer, and my site is largely promotional—but promoting the Web site is all about communication,” says Jeff Mariotte, who lives in Arizona and is using the Web to promote his most recent book, Missing White Girl, published in June by Penguin/Berkley. “I try to be actively involved in message boards, forums, and online organizations that pertain to the things I write. My blog's URL is also in my signature lines, and both of those link to one another. The idea is that anything I say that might be considered intelligent, pithy, witty, or even hopelessly stupid (although I try to avoid the latter) might drive people who are already in one of my target audiences to my Web site.”
TIP #2: Buy “keywords” from Search Engines.
Search engines such as Google, Yahoo!, Ask.com and MSN.com are what people use to find Web sites. These search engines deliver a list of Web sites based on the key words the user types in the search bar. So, it stands to reason that if you buy and use frequently used key words, your Web site will show up more often and closer to the top of the list. This is called SEO or search engine optimization.
Most Web hosting services like GoDaddy.com, IX Web Hosting, iPowerWeb, Register.com, among hundreds of others offer a key word service, usually for a fee but sometimes it's included in the hosting package. Yahoo! and Google also have keyword programs you can buy direct from them.
TIP #3: Consider buying pay-per-click ads,
Even if your budget is small. A few hsundred dollars can go a long way with Internet ads. For example, Constant Click now offers these ervices for as little as $99 per month.
“Based on the databases of the pay-per-click service, you'll get a good sense of what keywords people are actively using,” says Adam Warshaw, president of DataVelocity
TIP #4: Cross-market through content.
“Include pictures and videos which can be hosted on YouTube and flickr, and posted on your website,” advises Constant Click CEO Jean-Pierre Khoueiri in Florida. “This has several effects. Your hosting material for free on both sites; your adding material to your site to keep the visitor engaged; and, both flickr and YouTube gets tons of traffic and a little of that traffic can spill over to your site.
Ultimately, you want to start small and work your way up to bigger and better marketing strategies.
“Think 'KISS', keep it simple silly! Don't get all complicated when you're just starting out,” advises Khoueiri.
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