When you're just starting out promoting a new site, where do you start? There are so many options, so many methods of promotion you can take advantage of, so many ways to go about each method, it's easy to be confused. Here are some tips to get you started promoting your new site, the right way.
Press Release It
A press release is an excellent way to announce your new website to the world. Write about your company, what it does, what your goals are for it, how it came about, and then distribute your press release via a reputable newswire like PRWeb. A newswire will allow your press release to be accessible and searchable through many search engines and news databases as well as being posted on their site. A press release can potentially attract attention from news media including local, as well as national and even global magazines, newspapers, TV news stations and other media outlets. If your website offers something unique, something of real interest, a press release may be your website's ticket to stardom.
Talk About It
Talk about your website in the many communities, forums and blogs across the web where your customers converse. Post to relevant blogs, join the discussion on a relevant forum, answer questions in communities, and include your link in your post signature. Offer good information and you'll gain a good reputation as an expert in your area, which makes people more likely to trust your posts, click your link, and may even make them more likely to buy from you!
Announce It
Announce your new website in your local newspaper, circulars or a trade magazine or publication. This helps you get your name out there and reach local customers who may be able to start your business off on the right foot with good word of mouth.
Network It
Leverage the many social networks on the web, specifically the ones where your target marketathers, it could be MySpace, FaceBook, LinkedIn, Zaadz, Ryze etc. There are thousands of social networks online, with new ones popping up everyday, you're sure to find one or two, or maybe a dozen that cater to your target audience. For instance, if your website offers something for seniors, you could network with people on Eons.com, which caters to seniors.
To use social networks to reach out to your audience, simply sign up for an account. Then set up your profile, add as much information as possible to your profile, including a picture, links, information etc. Then browse around and join groups, add friends and converse with people. You'll quickly gain some friends if you have something interesting to say. To promote your site, you can add your link to your profile, or send your link to friends via private message or bulletin boards, or post it to groups. Remember not to spam though.
Link It
Link building is an important part of the website promotion process. One way to start off your link building is to exchange links with other, related websites. Write to webmaster's of related websites and ask them to exchange links with you. Make sure your message is personal and polite, or your message could have been ignored or marked as spam.