Advice Network Founders Blog

There are two keys to success when it comes to promoting your services online.

1. You need a website.
2. You need traffic to your website.

I’m not going to bother explaining anything to do with #1 here, but instead focus on a few ways you can develop organic traffic to your website (traffic you don’t need to pay for). Here are 18 tips for promoting your website in today’s world:

1. Put your website URL everywhere your current and prospective customers would expect to find it – on your business cards, letterhead, email signature, advertisements, and so on.
2. Include your web address on promotional items that you give away to people – pens, pads of paper, t-shirts, key chains, and whatever else.
3. Make sure to include your URL in press releases or bylines whenever your company is mentioned in print.
4. If you drive a company vehicle, throw your logo, tagline, and website address on the back and/or side.
5. Improve your Search Engine Optimization so that you have a better chance of being found through Yahoo, Google, and other search engines.
6. Start a blog to give others a reason to visit your site on a regular basis.
7. Hold a contest to generate inbound links and buzz.
8. Offer to write articles for other sites so that you can make your name visible and build your reputation online.
9. Create a regularly published newsletter for people interested in your business and services.
10. Deliver extraordinary value to the people that matter most by offering free reports that your visitors can download…advertise these reports on your business cards and newsletter.
11. Comment on other blogs within your expertise.
12. Participate in online message boards.
13. Generate an email list of prospects (with consent) and make sure to keep in touch through personalized autoresponders and newsletters.
14. Create YouTube videos about your services if you have creative tendencies.
15. Make sure your website speaks directly to your well-defined target market to keep them coming back for more.
16. Use FaceBook, Myspace, LinkedIn, and other social networking sites to build connections and create awareness of your website and services.
17. Make it easy for blog visitors to submit your site to Digg, StumbleUpon, and other social bookmarking sites.
18. Make sure you include lots of link-outs on your blog…there’s a good chance you’ll have some coming your way soon after.

Your website should become the hub of your services. By using technology to your advantage your can automate many of your processes and run a much more efficient and effective business. Get with the times and promote your website!