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Cheap Advertising Methods That Work!
Advertising is necessary to get name recognition for your business and attract customers. But, what steps can you take to advertise your business if your promotion budget is limited?
Plenty!
The following methods are some of the best and...
Creating Your Website's Promotional Strategy
Creating a successful Internet presence involves much more than designing a great web site or having the "perfect" product. Listing your website with the Search Engines is your first step, however, you must not solely depend upon the Search...
Discover Co-Registration Services - The Secret Weapon For Flooding Your Opt-In List With Subscriptions
Discover Co-Registration Services - The Secret Weapon For Flooding Your Opt-In List With Subscriptions by Paula Morrow http://www.idealmarketingcorp.com It just wasn't happening. Yes, visitors were coming to the site, but the opt-in list was...
Free Traffic
Copyright 2005 East Tech LLC
If you're an online marketer and own a website, you know what free traffic means. You also know there's really no such thing as free. There are free traffic exchanges that allow you to get free traffic to your website...
The Top Ten Steps to Springboarding Your eBusiness -- Part 1.
The Top Ten Steps to Springboarding Your eBusiness -- Part 1.
By Kamau Austin
If you are new to Internet marketing, or even a seasoned web pro, the correct promotional usage of applications like RSS, blogs, viral marketing, and ezines, can be...
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Submitting Your Site to Search Directories
Getting your site listed in the search engines directories can be a time-consuming and complicated process. But, with a little effort, research and patience it can be done.
This guide will take you through the steps that will ensure your site gets listed.
What are directories?
Unlike search engines that use spiders to crawl the Web looking for content and links, (Google, Inktomi, Alta Vista) directories are powered by people.
Many charge a fee to get listed (paid inclusion or pay-per-click). They include Yahoo!, LookSmart and The Open Directory. It is possible to list your site for free but paying for listings will speed up the process and generate more search engine related traffic for your site.
Before submitting to directories you’ll want to sit down and prepare a 25 word or less description of your site making use of two or three key terms or phrases that describe your site. When deciding on your phrases think about what words people will use to search for your product or service. For example, if your site sells window coverings you may want to write your description like this:
“Purchase custom draperies, blinds, shades, wood shutters, sheer curtains, and other window coverings plus browse our drapery fabrics”
Don’t be tempted to use “marketing speak” in your description. Use the facts and include as many relevant keywords as you can.
If you’re planning on using the paid inclusion services you’ll want to establish a submission budget beforehand. Currently, I’d estimate around $800 or so, although prices have a habit of increasing so you may need more.
Submitting your site to…
Yahoo!
Yahoo! has two submission options:
1.Standard submission (non-commercial) - Free
2 Express Submission – $300 annual fee
For a free standard submission click on the “suggest a site” link and fill out the submission form.
For paid
submission go to http://add.yahoo.com/fast/add?+business
LookSmart
Before MSN announced it was switching to Inktomi, LookSmart was the power horse behind their popular search engine. In fact, MSN accounted for half of LookSmart’s revenue. But don’t let MSN’s departure stop you from submitting to LookSmart – it still distributes to other search engines so it’s important to get your site listed.
Like Yahoo! LookSmart has a free submit (non-commercial) option and a paid submit for commercial ones.
To submit for free go to www.zeal.com and sign up as a member. Once you’ve completed the form and passed the test you can submit your site using the “manage” option and the “Add a site” link.
To submit for paid inclusion go to www.listings.looksmart.com and fill out the online form. LookSmart’s paid listings are priced on a cost-per-click (CPC)basis. Meaning you only pay when a user clicks on your listing and visits your web site. A $0.15 CPC is given for the first 5,000 clicks when you pay with a credit card online. Any clicks after 5,000 are billed at your business category rate, which ranges from $0.23 to $0.75 per click.
The Open Directory
Although the Open Directory is volunteer built it is essential to Web site owners. Submission is free but the turnaround time for a yes or no answer to your submission may take a long time.
To submit your site visit www.dmoz.org, identify your category then use the “add URL” form. Fill out the form and you’re done.
There are other smaller and directories you may also want to consider. They include: GoGuides, Gimpsy, JoeAnt and Web-Beacon.
About the Author
Julia is an independent copywriter and consultant specializing in search engine copywriting, web site promotion and print communications.
To learn more about how Julia can help increase your company's sales visit her web site at www.juliahyde.com.
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