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Jennifer Mattern

Guide to Improving Your Web Site Visibility

Web site promotion tips to build awareness, drive traffic and increase sales

By Jennifer Mattern, Freelance Writer / Editor / PR Firm Owner, J.H. Mattern Communications

Whew! So you've just created the world's best Web site, and now you can just sit back and wait for the customers to come clicking, right? Wrong! Having a killer Web site is useless if no one knows about it. To get your site into the spotlight, you can use a variety of marketing and promotion tactics. Improving your site's visibility can:
  1. Increase traffic
  2. Increase sales
  3. Build brand awareness
  4. Add to your company's credibility
  5. Increase your advertising rates if you accept ads

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done


Use search engine optimization (SEO)

When your Web site ranks higher in search engine results for important keyword phrases, it's easier for your target market to find your site. Higher rankings generally translate into higher visibility and dramatically increased traffic. Provide quality, unique, keyword-rich content on your Web site, and you'll naturally attract higher rankings. Remember to pay attention to META tags — keywords, page titles and page descriptions.
I recommend: Research the best keyword phrases at Overture. Submit your URLs to Google, Yahoo! and MSN.

Build incoming links

Having popular Web sites link to your site improves visibility, builds traffic and improves your search engine rankings. The more popular and relevant the site providing the link is, the better the results you'll receive.
I recommend: Find out how to request incoming links from relevant sites. Consider requesting an incoming link from a popular site like the homepage of Digg or Slashdot (most valuable for technology-related sites) or a popular site in your niche.

Purchase search engine advertising

The most effective advertising option for increasing Web site visibility may be online, pay-per-click (PPC) advertising. Sign up for PPC programs that will display your ads on content-based sites and search results.
I recommend: The most popular PPC advertising program is Google AdWords. Discuss advertising and promo methods that do and don't work with your peers on the community forums at Internet Marketing for Newbies. If you sell business-to-business, Business.com is the top choice.

Use offline promotion methods

Just because you're promoting a Web site doesn't mean you can only promote online. Make sure to include your URL everywhere possible.
I recommend: When you work with a promotional printing company, such as VistaPrint, you can include your URL on all of your identity materials, including your letterhead and business cards. You can also print your URL on promotional products, available from companies such as Branders and ePromos.

Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

  • Include your URL at the end of every email you send in your signature.
  • Also include a signature with your URL in forum posts when permitted.
  • Send press releases with your URL to newswires every time your company does something newsworthy.
  • Send email newsletters to promote your site's content, products or services.

The official source of Improving Your Web Site Visibility is
the Web Site Promotion page at Business.com

Use Social Networking to Generate Leads
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Recommended Solution Providers

SiteNow Right Now: Website Visibility
Website management services for site with a limited budget.

Aim Higher Consulting: Website Visibility Specialists
Internet consulting that help drive traffic to your website and improves your website visibility.

Advances Media Productions: Internet Marketing Services
Internet marketing firm that provides, marketing, SEO and email marketing services.

Website Pros: Internet Marketing Specialists
Internet marketing consultants.

Small Business Website Development Center: Website Training
Offers classes in search engine marketing, Internet marketing and website development.

Best Sites to Learn More

A Promotion Guide: Tutorial
Basics of website promotion.

eZine: Internet Marketing
Articles about internet marketing and promoting online.

About.com: Online Advertising
Resources for advertising online.

Article City: Site Promotion
Articles about promoting a website.

About.com: Viral Marketing
Articles and resources about viral marketing techniques.

Best Blogs and Forums

IM4Newbies: Internet Marketing Forum
Forum for Internet marketing beginners

Warrior Forum: Internet Marketing Forum
Discussion of Internet marketing issues ideas and concepts like SEO and pay-per-click advertising.

How To Forum: Internet Marketing Forum
Discussion of Internet marketing issues ideas and concepts.

Marketing Forum Watch: Internet Marketing Board
Posts and threads about SEM topics and many ideas about website promotion.

Increase Traffic Tips: Website Promotion Blog
Tips and news on driving traffic to your website.

Leveraged Promotion: Visibilty Specialists Blog
Blog from a website visibility consulting firm

Interactive PR: Interactive Media Blog
Blog dedicated to different interactive marketing media, including website promotion.

Increase Web Site Traffic: Improving Traffic Blog
Ideas on how to generate more traffic to a website.

A1AWeb: Website Promotion Blog
Advice and the latest news on website promotion.

Live Website Creation and Promotion: Experience Blog
Testimonial on what does and does not work with website promotion based on personal experience.



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