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Website Marketing: Selling Ads on Your Site

Wed, 21 Nov 2007 18:04:15 -0500

Once you�ve built your site and you begin to have significant numbers of visitors, you can consider selling advertising space on your web site. On the web, the best place for a company to advertise is on a site with good content, loyal return visitors, and high visibility.

Selling Advertising on Your Web Site:

Most sites will reach this potential within a year with consistent attention to detail, but in some cases, you may be able to start selling ads now.

The best example of a site that might sell advertising right away is a directory site in a specific region. You might also sell advertising if you are working with television and radio ads, referring people to visit your site. That is going to create traffic, and it makes sense for others to �piggyback� on your marketing efforts and buy ads from you.

If you have an interest in selling advertising, talk with your webmaster about this revenue stream, and get some help getting creative on possible advertising campaigns you can make available on your web site.

Over time, your web site will begin to generate large numbers of visitors if you are following all of the steps in this e-book. A site a year or more older will naturally attract advertisers, and you will begin to get email inquiries from others, asking for your rates.

It�s a good idea to plan early, decide on some ad rates so you�ll be ready, and implement a banner ad management system with your webmaster.

Excerpt from "Web Rookie to Web Success Ebook," a getting-started guide for web site owners. Get a FREE copy when you request a FREE web design quote from us.

Press Releases... Often Overlooked Free Marketing

Thu, 15 Nov 2007 19:47:34 -0500

One of the most overlooked tools in advertising is the press release. Whether your business is conducted only online or in a "real world" business, you can gain massive exposure by submitting press releases to the media on a regular basis.

Studies show that consumers maintain a skeptical approach to content that they perceive as "advertising," yet respond with avid attention to articles they read, product reviews, human interest stories and first-person testimonials. It is more effective, and less expensive, to reach your potential customer by using the media to your advantage than it is to barrage him with "sales copy."

On the internet, advertising is even more difficult. Internet users are overwhelmed by information, and tend to "research and compare" before they buy. Given a choice between a flashy banner ad on a web site and a well-written article about your product or service, the typical internet user is far more likely to respond to a helpful article, a product review, or a customer's story about his experience with your company.

You can use free press release services to market your company, or you can add an RSS feed to your own web site. The RSS feed essentially accomplishes the same thing, drawing incoming links to your sites as news media picks up the syndicated content across the web.

For a great free press release service, visit www.prweb.com

Anne Pierson, Editor

Website Marketing: Partners With Your Web Site

Thu, 15 Nov 2007 18:02:34 -0500

Unlike the �real world,� the online world is a collaboration and partnership between many web sites. Sure, there is competition, but web site owners realize more than others that they can grow faster and gain visitor loyalty by reaching out to other web sites, and sharing resources and advertising.

Partnering with Other Web Sites:

Beginning with the concept of �linking,� it is obvious that to be successful on the web, web site owners need each other. While two car dealerships in the same town may fear each other and view each other as �enemies,� two web site owners selling sports trading cards may view things differently.

On the web, your competition is only a click away. There are no traffic jams, bad parts of town, or better looking showrooms on the web, and nothing can stop your visitor, once he has seen enough, from clicking the most interesting link or banner on your site to move on, or returning to Google to find something else.

Your goal may be to close a sale. If so, then your best bet is to have a prominent newsletter sign-up form so that even if your visitor leaves your site, he will at least be on your mailing list so you can �visit� with him later via email, or send a follow-up note a day later. Still, if he clicks away, you want to try to have some input into where he goes.

Where do you want him to go?

If you�re a completely online company or blog, you want him to click on one of your ads, and hopefully you will be paid for his click, or he will buy something from an affiliate site, so that you will be paid.

One of your best friends can be another web site that�s on the same topic as yours.

By working with similar web sites, you stand a good chance of earning commissions on a sale (if they have an affiliate program), or, at least sending your visitor to someone you know, and hoping they can make a sale. Likewise, if they try to do the same, at least the two of you are working together against other competitors.

Consider trading ads with other site owners, or, working with other sites to allow them to provide an experience you do not offer, or vice versa.

Let�s say, for example, that you are running an online real estate company. Your visitor is searching for a certain house, and you do not have such a listing. Why not work with a few other agents, having banners that say, �Didn�t find what you wanted? Click here.� A banner ad sends your visitor to a friend.

If your friend does the same, neither of you will lose this visitor to other competitors, and you�ve just expanded your inventory, helped your visitor find what he wanted, and created a good experience for everyone. This also sends a message to visitors that you care about helping them find what they want � even if you don�t have it! That builds trust, so that when the right prospect comes along, he won�t hesitate to buy from you.

Membership sites and blogs refer to each other all the time. A good site is not afraid to send someone elsewhere for more information. Your visitor will appreciate the point in the right direction, and your site will be noted as an excellent resource.

Excerpt from "Web Rookie to Web Success Ebook," a getting-started guide for web site owners. Get a FREE copy when you request a FREE web design quote from us.

Website Marketing: Building Your Email List

Sat, 10 Nov 2007 18:01:10 -0500

Once you have a basic web site set up, you should seriously consider taking it to the next level with an online �member� or �customer� feature which allows you to collect email addresses and gives your customers (or potential customers) a reason to remember you.

Building a Customer List:

One of my favorite things about having a web site is that I can keep in touch with my customers with the click of a button. Gone are the days of folding reams of paper, stuffing envelopes, paying printers for brochures, and cringing every time the post office increases rates. Today, I simply use my web sites to keep in touch with my customers, and to keep in touch with potential customers before they make a decision to buy from me.

If your business is offline, and you are trying to create a good information source about your company, there are many ways to make your web site work for you.

As an example, a construction company might create a �Monthly Home improvement ideas� newsletter, in which you would outline some of your latest projects, encourage your web members to get an online quote, or just keep your name in front of potential customers who may not yet be ready to take on a home improvement or building project. You may not get their business today, but give them a reason to think of you first when their next project comes up.

Not only does a newsletter serve as a reminder, it can also help you build trust before you ask for your web visitor�s business. You could include such information as �10 Things to Ask Your Contractor Before Adding a New Room� or �How to Spot a Bad Plumbing Job� or �Does Your Contractor Offer a Warranty on His Work?� This type information isn�t asking for anything. You are giving helpful information for free, and building trust in your clients, even before they hire you.

Excerpt from "Web Rookie to Web Success Ebook," a getting-started guide for web site owners. Get a FREE copy when you request a FREE web design quote from us.

Website Marketing: Helping Your Website Grow

Sat, 03 Nov 2007 17:59:14 -0400

...But just like your �real world� business, your web site needs a plan for progress, and a schedule for ongoing improvement....

Making a Plan for Consistent Progress:

It�s easy to get caught up in building a web site. It is a rewarding and fun adventure, with quickly measurable results. It can even become addictive!

But just like your �real world� business, your web site needs a plan for progress, and a schedule for ongoing improvement.

If your web site supports an offline business, you will measure your site�s success by the number of sales leads or job quotes or orders you are taking. You will want to set some goals, set a budget, and keep improving your site to attract as much business as possible. The key to your site is to get people to CALL or ACT, and to create offline business.

The early stages of owning a web site to bring in business for a store or service can feel slow, but investing time and money in your web site guarantees a long-term edge over your competitors, and one of the least expensive means of advertising around.

Develop a good relationship with your webmaster, talk about your goals and concerns, and work together with your web designer to improve your income. If your web company does not seem to �get� your business, or seems disinterested in your success offline, you have the wrong company. EVERY business can generate more revenue by having a strong online presence.

If your web site is a business in itself; such as, an online store, an information site or blog, or a social network or forum, your job is to look carefully at every opportunity to monetize your pages and create visitor loyalty.

Keep in touch with your mailing list (more on this later), and get to know the wants and needs of your customers online. Take polls and have contests to get to know your visitors. Do your best to provide a great experience every time your customer visits your site. Even if you�re not selling an actual product, repeat visits mean more clicks on your ads, higher visitor rates to help you sell ads to others, and will add up to more affiliate sales.

There are many tools to help you create a loyal base of customers who refer others to your site, and your webmaster can help you implement them. Some of these are free email accounts, a personal calendar, and a community forum. On my free email accounts, I add a �tag-line� to the bottom of the email template, so that every email my customers send out contains an invitation to visit my site. A significant number of visitors come from my site members� emails.

It is most crucial that you spend a little time each month creating new content or writing a newsletter to your site visitors. This keeps them coming back, and gives you more opportunities to make sales or increase ad revenues.

Excerpt from "Web Rookie to Web Success Ebook," a getting-started guide for web site owners. Get a FREE copy when you request a FREE web design quote from us.

Website Marketing: Using Your Web Stats

Sun, 28 Oct 2007 17:57:25 -0400

Learning About Stats: Google Analytics

Before you get too far along building your web site, sign up for Google�s Analytics program. It is free, and gives you crucial information about how many people are visiting your web site, where they came from, how long they stay, on average, and how many pages they view before leaving your site. Simply log into your Google account, then go to �more services.� Once you have an Analytics account, have your webmaster add the code to your web site, so you can begin managing your marketing with good information.

There are many stats programs available, but Google is a great place to start and gives you vital information you will need. You want to know which of your marketing efforts are working best, which are a waste of time, and so on. There are some easy-to-read charts for a quick overview, and more detailed information as your knowledge progresses.

Knowing your web stats is like creating a budget and keeping books on your business. It is simply one of the most basic things you should do as a web site owner, so that you can watch and chart your progress for continued success.

Excerpt from "Web Rookie to Web Success Ebook," a getting-started guide for web site owners. Get a FREE copy when you request a FREE web design quote from us.

Website Marketing: Quality Content

Fri, 19 Oct 2007 17:55:43 -0400

So how do you get quality content without becoming a slave to your web site? You�ll have to be creative, but here are a few things I do, which have been successful � and fun:

Rounding Up Some Help:

The internet is a dog-eat-dog place to do business. Because it is inexpensive, new web sites go up every day. The best way to ensure that YOUR web site is successful is to fill it with the very best content you can produce, and do it often. Create loyalty among your visitors by providing great information, and reasons for them to visit frequently.

Search engines look for new pages, updates to existing pages, and �activity� on your site, to determine whether your site is a great resource that is constantly updated. If it appears that your site just �sits there,� it will be difficult to get traffic from search engines.

So how do you get quality content without becoming a slave to your web site? You�ll have to be creative, but here are a few things I do, which have been successful � and fun:

1. Use lots of pictures. You can create interesting pages that are pleasing to the eye by using lots of pictures. This not only grabs reader interest and entices them to read your material, it also fills some of the space, so that you don�t have to fill the entire page with top quality writing. Less is more on the web. Grab attention, and keep your writing short, vivid and to the point.

2. Once you have some �regular� customers visiting your web site (if it�s a �club-type� or blog site), ask one or two of them if they would like to help as a �contributing editor.� Often, your new editor will be so pleased to be asked, he or she will write many more articles than you could ever hope to produce alone. Blog sites are especially conducive to contributors. On each of my blogs, I have a group of �contributing authors,� and this only makes it necessary for me to post about once a week.

3. If your site is selling a product, ask for product reviews, stories and testimonials from your customers. You can even ask them to send you a picture of the product, or of themselves, which makes a great �testimonials� area for your site. Testimonials are extremely effective selling features, and when visitors see pictures of real people using your product or service, your sales will skyrocket.

4. Work with complementary web sites. An example of this would be if you were a building contractor. You could show many pictures of your completed projects, and you could share �how-to� or �do-it-yourself� articles for home improvement. Your local hardware store might also have a web site, and you could work together with each other, trading articles to send each other business. This works in nearly any business �even if your business only exists online. Think about it� who would make a good partner with your web site?

5. Chances are, if you are hosting a web site, you have a passion for your topic, and you know many others who share that passion. If you are a golfer hosting a golf web site, ask friends you golf with to share their �top 10� tips. If you are a blogger writing about dating, have friends share �worst date ever,� or �tips for blind dates.� These collaborations can be lots of fun for your visitors, and again, this gives you more content without having to write it yourself!

Excerpt from "Web Rookie to Web Success Ebook," a getting-started guide for web site owners. Get a FREE copy when you request a FREE web design quote from us.

Website Marketing: The Art of the Press Release

Sun, 14 Oct 2007 17:52:24 -0400

A press release is a simple �Who, What, When, Where and Why� story about your new site, a special event at your site, or a new feature you are making available, or a new product in your inventory.

Marketing Your Site with Press Releases:

One of the most overlooked ways to get visitors to your website is to submit a press release to a magazine, newspaper or online news source. A press release is a simple �Who, What, When, Where and Why� story about your new site, a special event at your site, or a new feature you are making available, or a new product in your inventory.

Write a to-the-point release about your web site, and submit it to all the media you can find. The media are hungry for stories, so it�s not hard for your story to get �picked up� and published all over the web, if you make it easy to read, exciting, and offer something unique.

There are millions of media outlets, and one of my favorite ways to submit a press release to as many as possible is to place my release on www.prweb.com Professional journalists check this huge outlet all the time for new stories, and many of them are notified daily about new stories in their area of expertise.

Create a free account at PrWeb and submit a release any time you add a new feature, have a special event, or think of a �new twist� about what you are doing, as opposed to what everyone else in your topic is doing.

There are even helpful �how-tos� at PRWeb to teach you how to write the most effective press release possible.

The beauty of an article on PrWeb is that it is widely read, distributed often, and does not disappear after one day, like a newspaper article. It will appear online for a very long time.

Excerpt from "Web Rookie to Web Success Ebook," a getting-started guide for web site owners. Get a FREE copy when you request a FREE web design quote from us.

Website Marketing: Free Classified Advertising

Fri, 05 Oct 2007 16:52:35 -0400

Another no-cost way to market your website is through the many free classified ads sites on the web. Some of the largest are:

Marketing Your Site with Free Classifieds:

Another no-cost way to market your website is through the many free classified ads sites on the web. Some of the largest are:

www.usfreeads.com

www.classifiedsforfree.com

www.freeclassifiedads.com

These are all web-based classified ads, but you can also do searches within your topic, and perhaps you can also put free classifieds on other sites pertaining to your subject matter.

For instance, I have several web sites about recreational vehicles. I do searches for RV clubs and RV free classifieds. Many sites are just for buying and selling the vehicles themselves, but many of them also have link directories and free listings for RV business, and I submit my links to those.

If your site has a �local� aspect; such as, crafts and hobbies that you sell in your area, you can also check for free classified ads in local print media. Newspapers sometimes offer free areas for advertisements and announcements. You could announce the opening of your site, or a special event. Be creative � the point is to get visitors to your site, and there are many opportunities that don�t cost a dime.

Excerpt from "Web Rookie to Web Success Ebook," a getting-started guide for web site owners. Get a FREE copy when you request a FREE web design quote from us.

Website Marketing: Using Forums for Links

Mon, 01 Oct 2007 16:51:04 -0400

A great way to create incoming links is to use forums. Forums are discussion groups, and nearly every website topic has user forums where people meet and discuss the topic.

Marketing Your Site on Forums:

As stated in the Linking section, the more incoming links you can get to your site, the more your site will appear in searches. Posting to online forums helps you in two ways:

Incoming links help search engines determine your importance in your topic.

Incoming links can be clicked by people interested in your site, so not only do you get search engine visitors, you also get visitors from the forum who are interested in your subject matter, who click these links and visit your sites.

A great way to create incoming links is to use forums. Forums are discussion groups, and nearly every website topic has user forums where people meet and discuss the topic. If your topic is �cars,� you can do a search for �car forums� or �car chat� or �car bulleting boards� in Google.

Obviously, the first 10 or 20 sites that come up in your search are the ones that Google sees as the most important, and probably get the most visitors. As you have time, join some of these forums as a member, and get involved a few times a week in the conversations.

You can create a profile about yourself and a �signature� for each forum. You should put your web address in your �signature,� and each time you post a reply, people who are interested in your response may be prompted to click on your signature to visit your site. You get � links coming into your site � AND � visitors interested in your subject.

** A word of caution: Do not participate in forums unless you intend to provide helpful information, or offer something (even questions) to other members. It is considered in very poor taste to join a forum only to promote your own site. You can even be banned from the forum for doing so.

If you participate occasionally in a meaningful way, you build trust, and encourage people to visit your site to see what ELSE you have to say on the topic.

Excerpt from "Web Rookie to Web Success Ebook," a getting-started guide for web site owners. Get a FREE copy when you request a FREE web design quote from us.