Build a Website: Publicizing Your Site

Several sites maintain updated lists of what's new on the Web. Unlike search engines, they don't automatically list your site just because you submit your information. Usually someone reviews and evaluates your site before adding it. That's why making the list drives traffic to your site. One of the most popular is Yahoo! What's New page. Plenty of other sites list newcomers by category or type. You'll have to do some research to find the ones that are appropriate to your particular site.

Give this one some thought. Don't blindly use these forums as a way to promote your site or you might get flamed or harassed. If the content of your site has something valuable to offer a specific audience, then by all means find the appropriate place and let those people know about it.

Traditional marketing methods can be highly successful, assuming you have the money to invest. If you decide to place print ads in various publications, make sure they target your audience. If your website appeals to classic car enthusiasts, don't advertise in a food magazine.

Be sure to include your site name and URL in all of your advertisements and marketing materials. Send press releases to Internet-related publications. If your budget supports it, consider hiring a Web-savvy Internet marketer to spread the word and come up with creative ideas for generating traffic.

Advertising online is another way to go. In general, when you buy ads, whether in print or on the Web, you are paying for the number of impressions--the number of times your ad is seen. The rate is also determined by how highly targeted the audience is. For instance, if you sell graphics software, you want to reach design professionals. If you advertise to a general audience, most of those people will have no interest in your product. So while it may cost more to advertise to a targeted audience of graphic artists, the chances are greater that they will be interested in your product.

Another option is called Pay per click (PPC), where you buy sponsored keywords with search engines. For instance, suppose someone is looking for door knobs and you operate an online hardware store. You've set up an account with Yahoo! to sponsor these keywords: "hardware, hinges, door knobs". When the prospective buyer searches "door knobs," a sponsored link to your site appears as part of the search results. Typically, you only pay when the buyer actually clicks on the link, so this can be a very cost-effective way to generate leads.

We've saved the best for last. Don't underestimate the value of links. Find websites related to your area of interest and ask them to link to your site. Many sites will do that for free, especially if you reciprocate. With new sites coming online all the time, this should be an ongoing process.

Last update: Jan 13, 2010