Introduction
WEBSITE DESIGN TIPS
MARKETING IDEAS (ATTRACTING VISITORS)
KEEPING VISITORS
We have found the following to be very effective in building and sustaining traffic to our website. I hope it goes without saying that website sales are directly proportional to traffic!
Get listed with the major search engines. Don't do it yourself - it is very time consuming and there are plenty of inexpensive ways to get it done. I like the folks at 1-step(http://www.1step.com).
Engage in strategic mutual link development. This is quite important - 25% of our traffic comes to us via these links! This takes time but is worth the effort.
Participate in newsgroups and listservs. Don't advertise - provide useful information. Let your "signature" do the advertising. Don't become a pest.
Include your URL on EVERYthing: telephone answering machine, literature, business cards and stationary, traditional adverts, etc. We had some T-shirts printed with our homepage on the front and URL on the back - they are great conversation starters.
Develop a newsletter. (Preferably e-mail based) We did, and in about a year generated a mailing list of over 5000. This brings traffic ... and sales. Got a new book? Let your list know about it - at no cost.
Write articles for journals and periodicals that relate to what you do. Include a byline with your URL, of course.
Make sure you are using a "signature" with your e-mail and include your URL.
Dr. Robert Sullivan
www.isquare.comBrought to you by: World Wide Information Outlet - http://certificate.net/wwio/, your source of FREEWare Content online.
This article is an excerpt from "The Small Business Start-Up Guide" by Robert Sullivan, which is available in many libraries and bookstores or may be purchased from the publisher, Information International, Box 579, Great Falls, VA 22066, at $16.95 plus $3.50s/h. 800 375 8439. Visit "The Small Business Advisor" at http://www.isquare.com