Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Promoting your website or blog.


I know it's hard to get new blogs and websites going and keeping them going. The name of the game is driving traffic to your site. You won't have readers or customers if you don't have traffic and plenty of it! It's not enough to just build a website or blog and expect anyone to find it. You have to promote, promote, promote to get a following. There are several ways to go about this. You can spend tons of money on pay per click advertising. Most of us do not have the advertising budget for this kind of marketing, so here are some other options.


First of all, it takes time, so don't get discouraged. It also takes effort on your part. Eventually you get out of it what you put into it. There are all sorts of free and inexpensive ways to get the word out about your website.

If you have a website, you should blog about it. Blogging has become a very effective way to get the word out about what you do and where your customers can find you. You should also find several blogs that are popular and relevant to what you do. Read them and comment often. Make sure that your comments are intelligent and relevant to the blog. Each comment creates a link back to your blog or site.

Join forums. Again make sure the types of topics discussed run along the same line as your business or blog. Intelligent comments not only create interest, but a link back to your site.

Join Top Sites. Their are tons of Top Site Lists out there. Find some good ones and join them. Top Sites are lists of websites usually in a specific category or categories such as
Crafter's Top Sites or Sassy 100 Boutiques. You must follow through and vote for your site daily to get and stay on top, but it's a good way to get free targeted traffic to your site.

Add your site to free plug boards. There are many, many free plug boards out there. Find popular websites that are similar to yours and ask them to trade links with you. You add a link to their site to your site and they add you to theirs.

Traffic and Banner exchanges such as Free Banner Exchange and TCH Traffic Exchange.

There are also many sites out there that offer inexpensive banner ad space. For about $2.00 to $10.00 a month your banner can be on their homepage for all their customers to see and link back to. Make sure that you pick and choose your ad space wisely. Be sure you choose site that get a good flow of traffic and attracts the kind of people that could be your customers. It just wouldn't make sense to pay to advertise on a crafter's marketplace website if you are selling industrial janitorial supplies, so use common sense there.

The trick to all of this is persistance. It takes work and it takes time, but you can draw the right kind of traffic to your website without having a huge budget.

Primitive Promotions is a crafter's free marketing website with tons of top site lists directories, plug board directories and resource materials to help you get your site noticed. I encourage you to go to Primitive Promotions there. website and take advantage of all of the information available

Until next time...God Bless,

Celene

2 comments:

Audrey said...

Happy New Year Celene!! Hope that 2009 is your best year yet!

primmom said...

Thanks Celene for posting a very interesting and informational topic!
I know that as a website owner, I have tried all sorts of advertising methods and some NOT so cheap to do.
Living on a tight budget with not much money to invest in 'paid' advertising, it is such a relief to know that there are ways to advertise and NOT break the bank!

I will be adding you to my Blog Roll so that others can read your posts and get inspired!

God Bless and Happy New Year,
Wendy ~ Simply Cute Crafts