Don't Rely on Search Engine Traffic: 10 Other Ways to Promote Your Website

Some words about Internet marketing...

It doesn't stop with search engines. As a matter of fact, search engines may be the vehicle that brings the least amount of traffic to any given site.

An increasing number of people are frustrated with search engines. For one thing, finding the correct results has become a nightmare for most people due to the "tricks" utilized by what many consider to be under-handed and unscrupulous marketers. This includes "hidden text," using keywords that have nothing to do with the website or product being sold there, scripts and settings that "tweak" search engine listings, etc.

Also, as is the case in most of life, "he who has the gold, wins." This relates to paid keywords and advertising on search engines. So your product can be inferior or not quite what someone is looking for, but if you have the money to buy those spiffy keywords or place a "sponsor" ad, you're guaranteed top billing on search results.

Anyone who relies solely on search engines to market their website is going to be vastly disappointed, especially if they cannot afford to buy keywords or ad space. With the millions upon millions of websites out there (and the number grows by thousands on a daily basis), it's an on-going battle in an attempt to win a never-ending war.

Do submit your site to the main search engines and do ensure that your meta tags, titles and content reflect the right keywords and content, but don't stop there! Here are ten other ways to promote your website:

1. Put your URL on ALL print materials, from business cards to flyers to letterhead and envelopes.

2. Link exchanges work best when your link is presented to your target market. (Link exchanges also help your ranking on search engines such as Google.)

3. Local directories and guides can be excellent places to list your URL.

4. Market-specific websites, magazines and other publications can be great places to advertise!

5. Newsletters sent to your target market often offer affordable advertising.

6. Network like crazy, but not just within small business groups or groups that do what you do. For example, if you're a web designer, networking on web design e-mail lists likely won't get you any business... and why should it when others there do the same thing you do? Network with people *everywhere*!

7. Hand out your business cards to all and sundry. Sure, even give one to the convenience store clerk, because you never know who he might know... and where your card might end up.

8. Give small stacks of business cards to your clients and ask them to pass the cards along to others they know. You can even set up a referral program where existing customers refer others to you and get something in return. That "something" might be a discount, an added freebie, a cash incentive or a small gift.

9. If you have a good quality printer, get some window cling blanks and do up some with your logo and contact information, as well as the URL, and put them on your car windows! You can also hire a good graphic artist to do this for you.

10. Write articles for publications. Online zines, newsletters and websites frequented by your target market are great places to put these, as are local publications. Don't just have your article published in a 'zine or what-have-you that is directed to you or your colleagues -- again, the readers do the same thing you do! -- but find out what your particular audience is reading and go after that. Make sure you include a "resource box" -- information about you and what you do, plus your URL and any restrictions for publishing the article.

And of course, there are very specific things that can be done depending on the kind of business you have and the market you're trying to reach.

Do everything you can to secure the highest possible search engine listing, but don't neglect other areas. A lot of your marketing efforts will come down to branding and name recognition, so anything you can do to help these along will be useful. The handful of ideas given above are just a start... see what your creative mind can come up with!