Re: the art of web promotion, maybe

From: Tina Reed <calgurl_at_pacbell.net>
Date: Wed 26 Jan 2000 09:39:17 -0800

If you build it, they will not come (without web
promotion). The art of promoting a website in search
engines and directories is a science. There are
thousands of sites on the internet offering to submit
your site to 1,000 engines at $4.95 and up. They are
trying to make a buck just like everyone else. If you
want quality placement (or placement at all) you have
to pay a reasonable price and make sure you research
the service.

I would point beginners in two directions:
http://www.webpromote.com and
http://searchenginewatch.com. Yes, the field is
complicated, but if you have time to do some research
you will benefit greatly by knowing what you need to do
for your site to be successfully listed. This way you
will be able to "talk" intelligently with any service.

I have written a brief explanatory document about
search engines. If anyone would like a complimentary
copy, email me and I will send you one. I believe in
education to better the Internet.

ALLAN POLLET WROTE:
> I found that there were hundreds of sites each offering
> expertise in this field. However, though they all
> claimed to have many different schemes to generate hits
> the bottom line always seemed to come down to some kind
> of sales pitch. I was frustrated by the experience but
> managed to learn the following: (some obvious and not
> so obvious)
>
> 1) Get listed on the search engines, but make sure to
> get listed properly. Have the meta tags, keywords
> carefully selected. Get your friends to tell you what
> words they would use to search. Put lots of the key
> words in the actual text the appears on the home page.

Keep in mind that not all search engines use meta tags.

> 2) Get listed again, again, and again. Search engines
> seem to drop people for no reason so don't give them
> the chance.

Track your listings, resubmit when necessary, and be
sure to check all engines at least once a month. Some
se's drop when their databases are full.

> 3) Get linked to everyone you can. Even if you have to
> offer your first born. The more links you have the
> better you will be ranked on the search engines.

Some search engines like Alta Vista use link popularity,
but not all.

> 4) Make your site easy and straight to the point. When
> people can't find something they go somewhere else.

KISS

> 5) Make your web site fast. The pictures on your site
> need to be compressed. If they are too big people get
> inpatient and leave.

This is one of the most obvious factors in keeping
users on your site. Use one of the free services to
optimize your images and evaluate load time. We're not
all graphic designers, use available resources!

> 6) Get people to return to your site by having them
> join a mailing list. Actually most people don't seem to
> like joining mailing list however if you offer
> something interesting like jokes in the mail or a
> chance to win a prize they can be persuaded.

If you offer something of value, people will register.
But be sure you are able to devote a lot of time to
this effort, and provide timely ezines.

> 7) Do a banner exchanges but do it full heartedly. Be
> proud to show banners and expect the same from the
> person you exchange with.
>
> 8) Don't spam! It will kill your business and your
> reputation.

Yup.

> 9) Make friends, have fun, and hope to survive this
> modern era. Try to believe that the Internet actually
> does make business easier.

I agree. I'm sure everyone on this list is trying to
improve the net in their own way. Let's party!

~Tina L. Reed
marketing_at_truewestern.com





Received on Wed Jan 26 2000 - 11:39:17 CST