Promotion Your Site

In order to be successful online, whether you have a new web site, product or service, you must continuously promote it, EVERYWHERE. There are many ways you can go about promoting just about anything. In this lesson we will be focusing on both online and offline promotion.

* Signatures

Also known as sig files, are basically 4-5 lines of text following your name in the closure of any form of Internet communication. They are used in email, discussion lists, discussion groups, newsgroups, and message boards. A typical sig file contains pertinent information about you, your business, your product, service or web site.

Example Sig File

* Free E-books

Everyone loves freebies. You can use this to your advantage by offering something of value, free. E-books or electronic books are self contained pages of HTML compiled into an .exe file format. They do not need to be installed and can be viewed on your desktop by simply clicking on its icon.

E-books have the potential to be viewed by millions! They are, in my opinion, the best form of free promotion online.

Picture this... You've just finished this great, free online tutorial for creating beautiful graphics with Paintshop Pro. Over twenty pages of detailed information, step by step instruction, graphic examples of each step and more. Your main objective in offering this free tutorial is to bring traffic to your site and offer your graphics and Logo design service.

By simply compiling your tutorial into an e-book with plugs for your design service, you will have a free ongoing promotional tool working for you 24 hours a day for years to come. How? You may be wondering... By giving it away and allowing it to be freely distributed.

Example Ad

Sample Distribution

10 visitors to your site download your free e-book = 10
Those 10 each give away 10 free e-books = 100
Those 100 each give away 10 free e-books = 1000
Those 1000 each give away 10 free e-books = 10,000
Those 10,000 each give away 10 free e-books = 100,000
Those 100,000 each give away 10 free e-books = 1,000,000

This is just a small example of how powerful your free e-book can be. Imagine what will happen when you submit it to all of the free software sites...or when you give away 100 free e-books...

Tip: When you create the pages for your e-book, make sure you add a few lines of text to your page something like this:

This e-book may be freely distributed.

There are many ways of utilizing the promotional power of an e-book. Take for example, Ken Evoy's e-book, "Make Your Site Sell." Over 800 pages of pure GOLD for only $17 USD. Ken offers a free e-book of over 100 pages of powerful free information worth $17 by itself. Why? As a sample of his main product, "Make Your Site Sell." This powerful technique works!

For further information on e-books, read the article entitled,
"How to create an e-book and Drive Massive Traffic to Your Site by Giving it Away"

* Free Reports

Offer quality, free reports in an area of your expertise. These can be used to lead your readers to your product or web site by identifying a problem and promoting your products or services by providing the solution.

* Write Articles

Write articles in the area of your expertise. E-zine publishers are continually in need of quality content.

When you write an article you are entitled to include your "Author bylines" or "Resource box" promoting yourself.

Example byline:

Articles have the potential to be viewed by millions! Imagine your article being published by just a handful of publications with over 100,000 subscribers each...

- Distribution

Visit some e-zine listing sites and put together a list of publishers that may be interested in your article's topic. Contact each publisher and ask them if they accept article submissions.

Subscribe to Article Announce and announce your new article to an entire list of publishers.

Subscribe to Writers & Publishers Connection where publishers announce their article needs.  Send a message to: writers98@aol.com with subscribe in the subject.

* Start Your Own E-zine

Having your own online publication is a great way to promote your site, products or service. It provides a great way to reach your target audience and build a quality, trusting relationship with your subscribers. For further information, read our online tutorial entitled, E-zines: A Complete Guide to Publishing.

* Press Release

Write a press release about your product or service and tell the world. Writing a press release is another great way to promote your web site, products or service. There are many companies online that will deliver your press release to thousands of media resources for a very reasonable price.

CanadaOne provides a free interactive press release builder. http://www.canadaone.com/promote/pressrelease.html

Gebbie Press provides over 10,000 links to print and electronic media on the Internet.
http://www.gebbieinc.com/

Dr. Kevin Nunley will write your press release and send it to 5,000 media.
http://coldfusion.affiliateshop.com/Link3.cfm?AID=004436

Gap Enterprises will enable you to send your press release to over 7,600 media. You write your press release or they'll write it for you.
http://www.gapent.com/pr/

* Partnering

Create partnerships with sites similar to yours, but not in competition. You can promote one another, provide recommendations, exchange prominent links or whatever you both agree upon.

Be cautious when selecting your networking partners and making recommendations, as your reputation is on the line. Only partner with individuals you truly believe in.

* Newsgroups

Participate in newsgroup discussions in an area of your expertise. With each post, you may include your signature. Make sure you only post to appropriate newsgroups and do not place ads. It would be wise to review the groups posting guidelines and review other posts for a while prior to posting. Many newsgroups have been over run by spammers, but there are still some good ones out there. For a complete listing, visit:
Deja News - http://www.deja.com/

* Discussion Lists/Boards

Subscribe to appropriate email discussion lists and visit discussion boards to participate in online discussion. Although blatant advertising is prohibited, signatures are acceptable. Visit List Universe for a complete list of email discussion lists. Click Here for a list of some of the top discussion boards.

- Business Cards - Include your web address on your business cards and leave them everywhere! Stores, restaurants, gyms, bulletin boards, restrooms, everywhere...

- Flyers/Brochures - Create flyers and brochures about your business and include your web address. Place them on car windows, doors, bulletin boards and send out mass mailings.

- Letterhead - Always include your web address in your letterhead. Every letter you send out will be promoting your web site.

- Checks - Another usually over looked form of promotion. Include your web address on your checks.

- fax cover sheet - Every fax you send will promote your site.

- Address Labels - Add your web address to your return address labels. Another overlooked promotional method.

- T-shirts - Wear your web address. Give away free t-shirts for even more promotion.

- Pens & Pencils - Give away free pens & pencils with your web address on them. Leave them everywhere...

- URL Plates - Get a customized URL plate for your car. They look like chrome and magnetically adhere to the back of your car.

- Place mats - Design a paper place mat focused around your business. Take it to your local print shop and have thousands of copies made. Approach small restaurant, diners, etc., and offer them a continual supply of free place mats. Many will jump at the chance, as it will save them money. To help cut your costs, prior to printing your place mats, contact some local businesses about buying ad space on your place mats. Figure up your total cost, layout and the number of ad spaces you'll have available. Divide your cost by the number of ad spaces you intend to sell to come up with your selling price. Your place mats can pay for themselves.

- Mass Mailings - Design and send out an information packet focusing on you business, product, service or web site. Target your audience by purchasing a mailing list of individuals who may be interested in your particular area.

IDit Plates - Put your web address on your vehicle. IDit Plates are a great way to continuously promote your web site. They look like chrome and blend in well with your vehicle.

Magnetic Signs - Full size magnetic signs for your vehicle. Get a customized sign that magnetically adheres to each side of your vehicle, advertising your website.

iPrint - Professional printing over the Internet.

PromoCity - Add your logo to any of over 500 promotional items.

Place ads in newspapers, magazines, on the radio and TV. Visit these links for complete listings.

NewsDirectory Newspapers

Newspapers Online

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