Articles and Other Written Content
Besides providing good website content, articles and other written content can be used in several ways to market your business. Here are some of those ways: Article Directories- Article directories provide great marketing tactics to use for your business. By writing and submitting an article related to your business site, you can achieve two things…
These directory sites usually rank well with the search engine results page, so someone stumbling upon one of your articles submitted within a directory can find their way over to your website for more information on that topic.
Articles Placed Within other Sites’ Newsletters or Blogs- By being a guest writer on someone else’s blog or newsletter, you can reach a whole other group of people looking for information on one topic.
You would provide a link to your site within these articles and then reciprocate the favour for the other website owner to provide the same kind of articles on your newsletters or blogs.
Articles on Digg or Similar Sites- Having one of your articles submitted on Digg or a similar type site will gain you more access to your site. Digg is a site that provides articles other internet users have deemed as good informative articles. Those articles that receive a large number of “Diggs” will be pushed to the home page where a lot of users will see and review them. Your site link could be included for those people who want more information on the topic.
Offer E-books or Guides- These can provide your consumers with information on a topic while including a link back to your site to keep them familiar with your business. These can be offered for free or for a small fee.
The word Free can be a powerful word to any user and catch their attention quite easily. You would provide some basic information on a topic and could get them interested in buying an eBook that has more in-depth information about the same topic.
One of the more successful ways to find traffic that is looking for what you have to offer is to socialize with others who are like-minded. Here are the most popular ways to socialize for your marketing needs:
Blogging Comments- Find other blogs that have the same kind of topic as your website. Post a reply on some of their posts. Your website link will be associated with your name and those looking for more information on that topic will check out your site or blog and see what you have to offer them.
Join Forum Communities- Find message board communities that have topics that relate to your website. Your website link could go in the signature line allowing others to find their way to the site to see what you have. Check with the rules of the board first to make sure this is allowed.
By posting regularly on these forums, you can build credibility as an expert for that topic and gain some trust with some potential consumers who may be thinking about buying from you. Also, the other board members may refer people they know to your site, so make sure you give back as much as you receive with these communities.
Social Networking Sites- Social networking sites include popular sites like MySpace and Facebook. These sites attract people who are looking for others who are interested in the same things they are.
Internet marketers use them all the time to hook up with people in their target audience. People who have the same interest as you, can communicate and start to build trust with you. They will be more receptive to buy from someone who’s in their “group” or they could pass on your business info. on to other people they know.
Miscellaneous Marketing Techniques
Here are some other techniques to utilize in your marketing campaigns: Affiliate Programs- Start your affiliate programs for your products. Let other people earn some money by marketing your products for you. More traffic will find its way to your site through someone else’s efforts.
Learn how to start your successful affiliate program and create a web page on your site for others to sign up to be your affiliates. This is something that you can announce in your newsletters and update messages.
AdWords- Search engines offer this feature to Business owners to purchase advertising space on the search results pages. Every time someone clicks on that ad, you will be charged a certain amount of money to the search engine.
Because you’re paying for the clicks, you will want to provide the most desirable ad possible to increase your return on investment. Poor ads can cost you money because not everyone who clicks through these ads will want to buy. Keep track of these ads and pull them or revamp them when necessary to avoid losing too much money for your business.
Word of Mouth Campaigns- This is the easiest marketing technique there is. A simple word of mouth campaign will get people to pass on the information to your business to other people and so on.
This works great for local customers and clients to hear about your business and pass it on to others that may be looking for the same products or information. This is also an inexpensive way to accomplish marketing for your business.
Use Press Releases- This option can be used if you’re just opening your doors or if you’re offering a discount or special sale. Press Releases are submitted to sites that publish them for internet users who are looking for specific information.
They are written as if they’re a news story and they showcase your “news” with eye-catching and attention-grabbing headlines and information. Your sale, discount or business startup would get plenty of exposure to potential consumers and clients.
A well-written press release to announce what you are offering may just be what you need to drive a huge amount of traffic to your business website. Consider having one done periodically to help keep your business’ name fresh on people’s minds
Place an Ad in Local Papers- No rule says you only have to market on the internet. Why not try marketing locally, by placing ads in local papers. Those advertisements are seen by almost everyone that lives within that area and receives that paper.
Sometimes, businesses gain their first sales transactions from local customers, so don’t leave out your local area when planning your marketing campaign. Podcasting- Podcasting is audio content that people use to provide information that people listen to instead of reading. It gives them a different medium to learn about a topic they are interested in. People love the option of the podcast to listen to while they do something else and not have to be glued to their computer screen.
Your business gains credibility and trust amongst the listeners. Those listeners can become customers, so your website will be linked to the audio program.
Marketing On The Fun Side
People love to have fun, so why not provide it with your marketing techniques.
Here are a few ways you can give it to them:
Run a Contest- People will come from all over when a contest is announced. Run one on your blog or site to drive more traffic. You will have to market the contest pretty heavily to get people to hear about it, but once they know they will come running.
Make your contest fun that almost anyone can participate in. Offer a worthwhile prize to the winner of the contest. If you don’t people won’t come running the next time you run a contest or anything for your business.
A contest could be quizzes to take, an internet safari to participate in or just a raffle to draw names in.
Have Promotional Products with your Business Logo- Websites like Cafe press will make products like T-shirts, pens, mugs and even hats with your logo on them. Some of these could be given away as gifts or you could have internet visitors purchase them through a link on your site.
These promotional items could be displayed so that anyone who comes in contact with that item will see your logo and be curious about whose business is on them. They can then search out your site to find out what exactly you offer.