You have a website and you want to get more hits, right? First, take a step back and make sure you have a terrific site! A great site has information that is actually useful to the people looking at it. Creating a website to only tout your greatness or make a quick sale is a sure way to lose repeat visitors. Today's savvy customers will demand a rewarding web experience from your company and a top rate website. Some additional qualities of a great site include: ease of use, pleasing layout and presentation, changes made monthly to keep the website fresh and exciting to repeat visitors, and fun or reward for visiting. Modernize your website. If you have not overhauled your site for several years, it is time for a facelift! Web technology changes quickly. More can be done with websites than ever before. If you already have a site, consider revising your site to take advantage of new technologies and enhancements.
Once this is done, you are ready to begin to drive customers to your website. Below are off-line and on-line methods of advertising to consider along with some helpful notes and suggestions.
Off-line Methods of Advertising
- Advertising you are already running.
- Place website address in all printed ads
- Mention website address in radio ads
- Have a web address that is easy to remember and easy to spell!
- The shorter and simpler the better!
- You can register a second domain name that is easier to use in radio ads and point it to your main site!
- Have your website address on screen during entire television commercial.
- Direct mail – advertise your new site or changes to your current site!
- Promotional items – place your website address on each promo item you hand out.
- If you can only have one line to advertise on, pick your website over a phone number! Numbers and area codes change more frequently than websites do!
- You can register a second domain name that is smaller in print and easier to use on promo items and point it to your main site!
- Printed Items
- Letterhead / Envelopes
- Business Cards
- Invoices / Credit Notes
- Proposals
- Newsletters
- Flyers / Mail Pieces
- Brochures
- Gift Certificates
- Voice-mail
- Mention a special that can be found on your website.
- Be sure to give the website address.
- Signage - Place signs in windows and on roads with your website address
- Billboards
- Great way to be seen daily by hundreds of people. Make sure that you give viewers a reason to go to your site. Use a contest or a giveaway. Make your web address easy to spell and remember.
- Interviews - Mention your website address to listeners/viewers of radio, television, or written interviews.
- Chambers of Commerce
- Speak at forums and hand out materials containing website address.
- Attend chamber events and provide handouts. Talk to other guests and invite them to visit your site.
- Mail letter or other marketing material to fellow members and tell them about your website.
- Advertise in Chamber newsletters and include your website address.
- Trade Shows
- Banners that display your company name and website address.
- Handouts with your website address.
On-Line Methods of Advertising
- Add your website address to your e-mail signature file. This is the information that automatically gets put on all of your outgoing e-mails and replies. Give an exciting reason for going to your website such as a contest or a special offer.
- Place your website link in industry directories that list your company and give information about what services and goods you provide. Search Yahoo and Google for such directories.
- Create a monthly e-mail newsletter that you send to your client base and prospects. Fill the newsletter with helpful information that will provide value to the people who read it. Do not simply make it a marking piece touting your company. Send copies of these newsletters to local Chambers of Commerce, newspapers, television stations, and magazines.
- Make sure you go to your local Chamber of Commerce website and list your website address.
- Post information about your services on message boards and chat rooms.
- Link exchange or banner ad exchange with other companies to boost visits to each of your websites.
- Purchase advertising space on other successful websites.
Remember, ALWAYS advertise your website. It gives your customers 24-hour access to your goods and services. Once it is developed, it costs your company the same amount of money if one person or one hundred thousand people visit your site. If you need help with any of the suggestions above or would like to work on your website, please call our office at 847-842-9570.
Good luck,
Scott Cummings
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