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Gain Visitors

Written by: Doug Gorman

Article Overview: You will probably gain nothing by advertising your Internet business to people who do not own, or spend very little time on the Internet. That is obvious. There are a few ways...

Gain Visitors

You will probably gain nothing by advertising your Internet business to people who do not own, or spend very little time on the Internet. That is obvious. There are a few ways to excel at both online and offline marketing.

Marketing has come a long way with the growth of the Internet and advertising has to be aimed at potential customers. While offline advertising can pick up a few extra hits from people who have never heard of your website business, the best place to advertise your online business is online. Offline marketing can attract those who spend a great amount of time online if you place your business ads in the right places.

Look at it from the point of view as your website advertising being a billboard along the side of the road. Regardless of the quality and message on your billboard if no one drives down the road, it is a waste of money to keep it in place. How many billboards have you seen on roads you have never travelled? The whole idea behind Internet marketing is to put the advertising effort on the well traveled road and to obtain Internet customers. You can also use the detours as well to stick to those seeking what you have to offer.

Internet business means traffic and traffic means sales. Online, it is all about the traffic and routing potential customers to your site is the goal. Whether you do it through PPC (pay per click programs), affiliate programs, SEO, or online ads, there will need to be some effort put forth to bring more customers to your site. Many times a combination of all of the various options will net the best results, but if your budget is limited you will have to determine which one is right for you.

If you have no budget, that is no reason to give up. There are many free marketing tools and advertising options that do not cost 1 penny. All you have to do is search. Look up "free advertising" or something of that nature and you will find many, many options to choose from. You can increase your ad budget as you start to make a profit.

Getting people to your website will enable you to capture information, such as an email address of visitors and is the equivalent of a printed brochure or guest book. Offering good information about what you are promoting is key to making sure you fully explain to visitors what they are buying or joining. Offer your email address to answer questions and give a link to your blog so they can get more information about you and your business. Make it trustworthy.

SEO is when you enhance your site to make it attractive to search engines, but keep in mind search engines only help customers find you, they do not make purchases or recommendations. Your site can be found on search engines by having it optimized for search engines or through PPC advertising. You pay for certain keywords and when someone searches for that key word and clicks on your site, you pay for it.

This is an option, but there are other techniques you can use. Writing articles, blog posting, free ads posting, writing newsletters, and/or joining forums. The beauty of these is that most are free! You create valuable back links to your site and that is what moves you up in search engine rankings.

Email marketing and banner ads can also provide name recognition but with most banners, according to size, you will pay for their inclusion on a site. These work much the same as traditional print advertising. You are charged for the space, without any guarantee of receiving any return on your investment. Online promotion is also becoming popular with blogs and online newsletters, written by you with links back to your site.

When promoting your business, the options are endless. Find creative ways to do this and stay away from things that will get your site blacklisted. FFA's,spamming your site, etc...these are definite NO's. As for offline, try posting your ad on billboards in libraries, local businesses, and try to exchange promoting your biz with the promise of linking the other companies business on your site.

Seek and you shall find...

God bless,

Doug Gorman is owner of Work Be Gone! and writes on multiple topics from business to humor. To receive more information from or to request written material for use please visit:

www.WorkBeGone.com

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Article Tags: advertising, Internet business, Internet customers, Internet marketing, Offline marketing, online and offline marketing, search engines



Related Forum Posts
Re: Has anyone bought targetted visitors? - Most "Targeted Visitors" do not look for your site or intend on going to it. Most of the vsisits are generated through popups and popunders. Some of the targeted visitor sites allow you to create an online add that people can click and go to your site but I have never heard of anyone getting so much as a newsletter signup from them. I think it would be more productive to take the money you would spend on guaranteed visitors, guaranteed signups, buying leads etc. and use it to advertise on some of the higher page rank websites related to your industry.
Re: Trade Shows - Are They Worth It? - Hi, Tradeshows are attracting different types of people. First, the visitor, which is the main reason of putting it on. Visitors come from all types of background: Buyers, prospective buyers, people who had a business and failed, directors, shopkeepers and even the public. Secondly there are people who just like to meet new people, that is the best place to be. Exchange of business cards, make new contacts for future use. Thirdly, the exhibitors are mixing with one another either help one another or just want to fine out the newest trend. It is also a good place to meet with competitors and learn from their strategies. Finally, there are numerous seminars with excellent speakers, covering a wide range of information. Taking these points in consideration, they are beneficial. Of course, not every exhibitor has the same success.
Ladies Who Launch Nov 1 event in Washington DC - Top 10 Reasons to Pre-Register for WASHINGTON, DC LIVE EVENT on November 1st! A Thursday in the fall: What could be better than an investment in yourself? Leave your briefcases and at home. Take one day to focus on YOURSELF. You may ask, is Ladies Who Launch LIVE for me? For those of you who tinker all day in a cubicle, may we honor you with a day to explore your feminine entrepreneurial and creative potential? For those of you who have launched a business, might a day of connecting with like-minded women be just what you need? And for those of you with wanderlust contemplating just when-oh-when you will ever get off your derriere and start that creative project you've been dreaming about - sit no more and join us - the dynamic group of fun, fabulous women at Ladies Who Launch LIVE who will share their stories on how they dumped their day job or launched on the side, harnessed their ingenious ideas, created a business, idea, or creative project....to live the life they imagined. Married, single, mother, or free-wheeling girl about town, this day is all about YOU. Join us on November 1st, and see where it takes you. Click here to view the invitation and register. Here are the TOP TEN reasons why you should pre-register for The Ladies Who Launch LIVE event: 10. You are guaranteed our cool, chic gift bag with special surprises with the price of admission. Only guaranteed to first 300 pre-registration!! 9. You will be part of the welcome package that will be emailed out before the event...you can promote your business, creative idea and even offer a special discount or free consultation to generate buzz. 8. You'll get in...we have limited space and are filling up quickly. 7. You'll save $ 40...enough for lunch and drinks with a new friend that you meet at the event. 6. It is going to be at the unique Cold War Gallery - Building #70, Navy Museum, Washington Navy Yard, FREE shuttle service from two metro stations: Navy Yard (Green line) and Eastern Market (Blue and Orange line). Visitors entrance: M and 6th St. SE 5. We are serving light breakfast and lunch. 4. You will receive a free posting on Launch Pad, the Ladies Who Launch classified listings ($30 value) that is distributed to over 40,000 women. What a great way to get your product or service out there! 3. You will be eligible to be selected as a Featured Lady story on the free weekly Ladies Who Launch newsletter that is sure to gain you national exposure. 2. Our speakers will inspire, motivate and entertain you. Speakers include Kathleen Matthews: Executive Vice President Global Communications and Public Affairs, Marriott International, Inc. and former award-winning producer, reporter and news anchor who covered news in Washington, DC for 25 years, Mei Xu: Founder and creator of CHESAPEAKE BAY CANDLE and Blissliving Home, Julie Lenzer Kirk: President of Path Forward International and author of The ParentPreneur Edge: What Parenting Teaches About Building a Successful Business, Jennifer Buddin: Co-founder of "The Little Black Book for every busy woman", Victoria Colligan: Founder of Ladies Who Launch, Frances Crespo and Nicolette Pizzitola: Ladies Who Launch Washington, DC Leaders. 1. Because it is an investment in yourself...and tax-deductible.


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