Web Marketing

"Build it and they will come", one of the biggest and most widespread Internet myths around. With millions of web sites already on the Internet and the numbers growing daily there is intense competition to attract visitors.

So how do you do it?

• The Basics

  The simplest way to let existing clients know about your site is to add your site address to all existing media. This includes all printed media; brochures, flyers, business cards, letterheads, invoices etc. and electronic media; signatures added to all online correspondence, email, newsgroup messages, bulletin board messages etc.

• Search Engine Positioning:

  To promote your site effectively you need to be positioned within the first 50 results in the search engines, its all very well for web sites to say they will submit you to 1,000+ search engines, but what use is being listed if nobody drills down to your number 300 position? Lets face it how many pages will you look at before you choose a site, change your search enquiry or just give up completely?

  There are only about twenty major search engines/directories that you should really worry about getting into. Most of these serve their results to other engines or directories. Search engine relationships are ever changing and can be very complicated as the Search Engine Relationship Chart at BruceClay.com shows.

  Before submitting your site to any search engine your content needs to be optimised; this is the most important part of your web site as far as search engines are concerned. Appropriate use of keywords, meta-tags, styles, headings, links and file names can make the difference between getting into the top 50 results or being stuck at number 200.

  Once your site has been submitted to the top search engines you can then start submitting to local and business specific search engines. Submission to the top 10 major non pay search engines and any appropriate local or business specific engine or listing is free with all sites over £300.

• Press Releases

  Writing effective press releases or including special offers that encourage enquiries can drive targeted traffic to your site. Sponsoring a local event and then preparing a good press release almost guarantees to get the local newspapers interested in covering the event and, at the same time, mentioning your business.

• Publishing e-zines

  Even if you are not ready to publish your own e-zine or newsletter at the moment you should start building your own opt-in email list of people who may be interested in receiving further information or offers. When you are ready to start your e-zine or newsletter, you can mail your list with a one time message announcing the launch of your new e-zine with a web link included in the body enabling them to sign up. As an example, our contact page has a checkbox enabling any visitor to express their interest in occasional updates or promotional offers. If we later decided to publish a monthly newsletter offering articles and information about site maintenance or promotion we would already have a list of potentially interested subscribers.
  

• Reciprocal Links

  Trading links and banner ads with other sites that complement your business will not only gain more potential customers for your web site, it will also boost your page ranking, as an example; if you run a property site, trade links with local accommodation sites and tourist attractions.

We can help your site to build traffic by:

• Submitting your site to the top ten non pay search engines and directories, as well as search engines specific to your business.
  

• Submitting your site to paid inclusion search engines and directories.*
  

• Providing advice on building site content to attract visitors.
  

• Provide an in depth KEI (Keyword Effectiveness Indicator) analysis for your business.*
  

• Offer suggestions for e-mail lists, memorable email signatures etc.
  

• Offer advice on setting up and publishing an e-zine or newsletter.*
  

• Setting up an automatic email response to enquiries.