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How to promote your web site

So your web site is done, up and running! Great, but how to make visitors to come? Here are some tips on how to promote your web site without spending a fortune.

Start from your own web site
Web promotion
Traditional promotion

Start from your own web site.

Make sure your web site is accessible, easy to use, to download and to be found by search engines by taking the following steps:

Build your web site according to web standards.
Avoid frames, Flash or table based layout, design with HTML and CSS.
Please, read “Why to care about web standards?” for more information.
Make sure your site portrays a professional look and feel, add contacts and make sure they are easy to find.
Make sure your site is easy to navigate and navigation is consistent throughout your site.
Add a descriptive title (not more then 66 characters).
Add Meta tags with your keywords and site description (not more then 250 characters).
Incorporate keywords in the text of every page, navigation and Alt tags (image description tag), but do not overdo it (optimum is about 5% of the content).
Add a Favicon icon (little icon associated with your site, which appears in address line and in the Favourites/ Bookmarks menu).
Add breadcrumbs (inner links which usually show the visitor where they are within the site hierarchy) and site map.
Add relevant content and try to make it interesting.
Aim to have at least 50 words per page.
Consider adding articles, testimonials, blogs, message boards, forums, etc.
Encourage return visitors by updating regularly, and adding extras: special offers, deals, free things (information, games, competitions, etc.)

Web promotion.

Submit your site to search engines and directories such as Google, Yahoo, Open Source Directory, etc.
Most will allow you free submission, but it may take longer for the site to actually appear in their search results.
For faster and better results, there are a number of advertising options (e.g. pay per click, banners, etc.)
We would recommend you to use Yahoo (former Overture), Google and Yell.com in UK as they are some of the best in the market.
Add your URL to email, newsgroup and forum signatures and try to socialize online as much as you can.
Create an e-mail with the same domain name as your site (e.g. johnwhatever@mycompany.co.uk )
Send e-mails (as well as traditional mailing) to your potential and existing clients, informing them about your new web site. Try to avoid spamming, send to the people from your own database who are already aware of your business.
Try affiliate marketing - suggest some profit for the referrals, e.g. percentage of a purchase.
Consider linkshare - contact few companies or people who in a similar (but not the same) area of business and suggest them to exchange links, so you refer customers to each other.
Make sure you are comfortable recommending them, and pick those you like and trust.

Traditional promotion.

Add you domain name to company stationery and everywhere where your logo appears (business cards, letter headings, press releases, company uniforms and vehicles if you have, etc).
Send letters (same applies as described for e-mail above) to your potential and existing clients informing about your site.
Don’t neglect traditional media advertising.
Leaflets and advertising cards can be very powerful especially if they are distributed in the right location or venue (e.g. if you do wedding cakes, a bridal shop would be a safe bet).
Give some promotional items with your web site domain name (e.g. mugs, pens, etc.)
Network.
Mention your web site whatever occasion, especially if you get broadcasted.

If you have any questions or comments, please send us an e-mail or go to contact us page and fill in a small form.

This is just a short check list for easy use, which we pulled together. For more information, please please e-mail us on info@natashahill.co.uk or go to the contact us page and fill in a simple form.