Promoting Your Web Site

Welcome to another edition of Geek Speak. Last month we helped motivate those without a professional web site with “Ten Reasons Why Your Businesses / Organization needs a web site.” For June let’s assume you just launched a new web site and you’d like to know what to do next to promote your web site.

 First off I congratulate you on your new website

Keep the Content Fresh.

Your brand new website can quickly become out of date. Schedule to add new content weekly if possible.

Really?!

Yes, the search engines love fresh content. The more often they see you adding content the better they will rank your pages. Not only do computers like the fresh content, so do their humans.

Keeping your site up-to-date will give clients (current and future) the impression that your business is up-to-date and it will give them reason to return to your site in the future. Be sure to speak with your web developer to learn the best way to update your site: whether they make the changes for you, or like my company, they offer an easy way for you to manage your own site content.

Tell the World About Your Site.

Many people consider their web site to be like a “Billboard”.  They think that people will simply “drive by” their website.  It just doesn’t work like that.

You need to actively spread the word. Here’s the skinny on HOW:

Submit to the Search Engines.

There are countless companies that submit your site to the Search Engines for a fee. The result (more often that not) is your eMail gets on a spam list and they send you bunch of junk mail. Not good.

We’ve found the most effective way to get listed is have a blog entry from a highly ranked web site. We do this
‘cause we’re cool…

Print your .com!!

Put your domain name on all of your printed materials. Everywhere, I mean everywhere people see your company name they should now see your domain name as well. I encourage you to take a few minutes and write a list of all of the places your Company/Organization name is printed. Everywhere should include: business cards, letterhead, envelopes, vehicle graphics, banners, signs, office walls and multimedia presentations.

It should also be sent in the signature file of every eMail you send from this day forward.

Advertise Online

A recent BtoB Magazine survey showed that of those that are increasing their budget, they are doing so in: Print (9%), Online (48.5%), Direct (16.5%), Broadcast (3.0%), Outdoor (0.4%), Events (13.5%) and Other (9.1%). Online advertising is unique in that you the advertiser can clearly track all of the results of your efforts.

For instance, you can run online Ad with ValleyBugler.com or CowlitzToday.com and see how many times it was viewed (Impressions) and how many times it was clicked. You can take this info and continually refine your ad for maximum results. Talk with your web developer to discuss online options; Google, Yahoo, MSN, Facebook, MySpace, Twitter and and local offerings.

Direct Mail

Direct mail is becoming increasingly expensive to create and send marketing materials. But, targeted to the right audience it can be very effective. Do your research and compile a good database of leads. Offer a compelling reason for readers to take your postcard, brochure, etc and go to their computer.

Newsletters

Does your organization send a newsletter? Be sure to tell your audience about your new site. TIP: If you haven’t already done so we recommend that you make a PDF copy of your newsletter available for download from your web site.

Newspaper

Be sure to add  www.YourCompany.com to all newspapers ads both online and offline.

Radio

Good domain names are easier to remember than most phone numbers. Be sure to put your .com in your radio ads.

With the expansion of internet radio, many listeners are sitting at the computer. Encourage them to launch a web browser and give you a virtual visit.

In closing, the internet is not paved with Gold. People will not just “drive by” your site. It takes both old and new school marketing. I encourage you to create a web site marketing to-do list and get to promoting your brand new website.

~ Oscar is secretly developing an iPhone application that can control the weather.  How does 74° sound? ~:-)

Oscar Myre IV is the owner and graphics supervisor of omOriginals Design Studio, locally situated in Longview. With over ten years of internet, web and marketing experience, they are ready to help answer all your questions and get your company on its best “internet” legs. Call 360.575.9839 or online @ omOriginals.com