Five
Ways to Promote A New Web Site
By Karen Kalis
Did you just finish designing the perfect web
site? Regardless of how great it looks, it won't
help your business unless people know it is available
on the web. Here are five tips to promote your
web site to potential customers.
If you haven't done so, make sure your URL is
easy to remember, spell and is descriptive of
your industry or business. No matter how good
the content is, few will visit if they can't remember
or spell the name. Choose a URL that is representative
of your company's name, an abbreviation of your
company's name, or a description of your product
or service. People who use the web frequently
seem to favor short, to the point descriptions.
Keep that in mind when registering for your URL.
Next, add your web site information to as many
search engines as possible to allow your web site
address to come up during category and subject
searches. Most search engines have instructions
for submitting your URL, but if you can't find
them, use the "help" feature. Submission
services such as "Add Me!", (www.addme.com)
make listing your web site a snap by automatically
sending information to the search engines with
a few clicks of the mouse. Most of these are free
or have a nominal charge. Remember though, that
a lot of search engines do not immediately update
their files, so you may have to wait from a few
hours to several weeks to have your web site added
to their lists. Once you have added your URL to
the search engines, make sure to check your email
regularly to see if there are any follow-up instructions.
Several search engines require a confirmation
from you or they won't list your web address.
Another way to help people find your web site
is to add your web site address to all of your
promotional materials including business cards,
letterhead, brochures and marketing materials.
In this day of immediate information, people want
to know more about you NOW. Make it easier for
them by adding a signature line to your email
with your company's name, tag line and web site
address. It's a terrific marketing technique!
One quick click and people have access to your
site. Finally, don't forget your print, TV or
radio ads. Consumers can quickly access more information
about you and your services if you remember to
add your web site address.
Fourth, make sure that your current clients know
about your web site. Send out a specially designed
direct mail piece, a postcard for instance, announcing
your web site and offering a brief overview of
the contents and features. Current customers can
be a great source of referrals and may even be
willing to add a link to your site on their own
web site if they are impressed with your services.
Make sure to ask your clients to recommend your
web site, and therefore your services, to others.
Incentives are not a bad idea either. If you get
a call based on your web site, and a current client
made the referral, don't forget to send a thank
you in the form of a discount on services or small
gift. These personal recommendations can be powerful
and extremely profitable.
Finally, if you are part of an industry that is
represented by an association, professional or
trade group, find out if they host a "circle".
A circle is a group of web sites comprised of
common subjects that are linked together. Being
part of a circle is a great way to attract customers
searching in a particular category or subject
area. Potential clients may discover that you
have just the service they are looking for! In
addition, you may be able to partner your services
with another company who needs your skill and
expertise.
Promoting a new web site is not easy. It requires
a lot of hard work, hours on the computer and
ingenuity to attract potential customers. Be creative,
because this is the age of the Internet. The rewards
can be enormous if you do your homework.
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