| "When
you publish a web site, you must promote it
to drive in business..."
Increase
Your Website Traffic
You've
developed a new web site. Congratulations! How
exciting! Now all you have to do is sit back
and watch the business roll in, right? Not really.
Web sites, unlike other marketing tools, have
to be publicized. When you write a radio commercial,
you pay a radio station to run the ad. When
you design a brochure, you give it away. But
when you publish a web site, you must promote
it to drive in business.
The
best way to lead people to your site is to use
a specialist. But, even if you hire a search
engine positioning specialist to help place
you among the Top 10 on Yahoo, there are still
many ways you can promote your site... and they're
effective and free!
Links
A study by the Georgia Institute of Technology
(GIT) gives us proof. On one site they observed,
84% of visitors came in via links from other
sites. Be sure you trade links with as many
people as you can. You might consider a "Helpful
Links" page on your site devoted to just his
purpose.
Testimonials
Another effective idea to incorporate links
into your site is a "Testimonials" page. We
all love to receive "praise letters" on our
email. We usually asked permission to use these
as testimonials. We should be just as liberal
with our praises. When you appreciate a product
or service, be sure to write a note of thanks.
Mention in the letter that the person (or company)
is free to use your kind words as a testimonial
if they will simply include your name and web
address.
Signatures
Another site observed by the GIT indicated 35%
of visitors were brought to the site via signature
files on email messages they received. Often
times this feature is overlooked due to lack
of knowledge. A signature file is a feature
most email programs (even free ones) offer.
You may type in a message and that statement
will be added at the bottom of every email you
send. This saves you the time of having to type
in the message repeatedly. Usually this feature
is found under the heading of "Options" in the
email program. One note: be sure to include
the "http://" before the web address so a link
will be created for people who receive plain
text emails as well as html.
Publicity
In
one instance, 62% of visitors came to a site
through articles in newspapers and magazines.
When sending out your press releases be sure
to include your web address along with other
contact information. The same applies for interviews
on the radio or public addresses/seminars you
may offer.
Other Ways
The most simple of all ways is to tell people.
Mention it in conversation. Bring it up when
others discuss web sites they have visited.
Include your web address on all your business
cards. Make it bold. If your business derives
most of its revenue from sales made on the web
site, be sure the web address is on the front
of the card. When printing letterhead,
include your web address. Most web addresses
don't take up much space and can be easily incorporated
along with the company's physical address and
phone number. Don't forget to mention your web
site in all your advertising efforts.
Whether it be a promotional video, television
commercial or brochure, make it a point to position
your web address where it is visible. For radio
commercials, include it in the copy. A great
way to work it in is when providing other ordering
information. For example: "...visit us at 1234
Oak Street or log onto www.attractandkeepcustomers.com."
Be creative! Always remember to include your
web site information in everything you do and
soon the hits will just keep on comin'!
Free
Ways To Drive Traffic To Your Web Site Written
by: Karon Thackston
Web Site: KT & Associates, Date Submitted: 11/08/2000
© Karon Thackston 2000 KT & Associates www.attractandkeepcustomers.com
Karon is Owner and President of KT & Associates
who offers targeted copywriting, copy editing
& ghostwriting services. Subscribe to KT & Associates'
Ezine "Business Essentials" at BusinessEssentials-subscribe@topica.com
or visit her site at http://www.attractandkeepcustomers.com
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Additional Reading:
Finding a Niche Target
Market
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Keeping New Website Customers
Increasing
Your Website Traffic
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