How do you spread the word that you now doing business online and have your own website? Look no further than below for 8 easy and everyday ways you can use to make your website known! 1. Word of mouth! Dont be shy about telling others that you are now doing business online! Find opportunities to spread the word about your website. Inform your family members, neighbours and friends. Make your URL (website address) prominent on every outgoing piece of business stationery such as letterhead, envelope, fax cover and name card. 2. Include a catchy email signature with every outgoing email of yours! Be sure to include your name, company name, phone number and URL and one or two sentences describing what you offer. Dont make it too long or tedious to read. To set up an email signature in Outlook Express, just go to Tools, then Options and click on the Signature tab. Type in your signature text, click Apply. Now each time you send an outgoing email, your signature will be appended. 3. Voicemail can also double as an advertising tool! Specifically mention your URL when you record your voicemail on your mobile phone or answering machine. Whenever anyone calls and leaves a message, they will hear: Thank you for calling (your business/your name). I am not available right now, but if you leave me a message, Ill be sure to get back to you. If you need more information, do remember to log on to (your website address). Heres where it gets crucial: say your URL slowly so your caller wont miss it. 4. Dont forget marketing materials such as brochures, flyers and ads. Include your website on all these. Important tip: Give would-be customers a reason to check your website out. Include offers of free information to hook your target customers. For instance, how about including a teaser like this - Find out how you can save your business more than RM1,000 each month with our free and exclusive report! Limited stock only so hurry and get it by visiting us at (www.yourwebsite.com)! 5. Let others find you easily on the web! Ensure your business is visible on the world wide web whenever anyone does a search related to your business and industry by submitting your website to major search engines. To enhance your search engine rankings, remember to keep the information on your website constantly updated and useful. If you dont know how to submit your website to major search engines, try reading it up on www.selfpromotion.com I highly recommend this site! 6. Try adding a blog to your business website. Blogs are online journals which make it easy for anyone to spread their ideas and thoughts. More and more businesses are using blogs to increase their visibility because business blogs are an informal way to position oneself as an expert on their business. Web visitors can come by easily to comment on the articles that one has added to ones blog thus increasing interactivity. By the way, blogs which allow pings also invite search engine spiders and increases your chances of being read and found online too! 7. Dont forget offline advertising! Use offline methods to complement your online marketing and promotion. But when I say advertise, pick your target market well. If you are offer services meant for home businesses, it makes good sense to advertise in websites or magazines that have readers who have their own home businesses or thinking of setting one up. This way, you are sure that your message is going directly to the people who are going to buy from you! 8. Organise a lucky draw or an online contest. Donate generous prizes to attract participants. Better still, combine both offline and online marketing for this purpose. Advertise the contest offline but ensure the participants log on to your website to join. This ensures they get to know your business, what it does and where to find you, when they need you. |
