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There are an amazing number of nitty-gritty details that go
into producing a successful website. A powerful site search
engine. An easy-to-use navigational interface. A short but
snappy URL. A quick loading front-page without too many
graphics, but many complimentary colours.
And as if all that wasn't enough, you need to promote your
site! It's a sad fact of Web-life, but Netizens and potential
customers won't come running to you - you have to pull
them to your site. And once you have them, you need to
keep them. In a recent study it was shown that the average
web-surfer only clicks on your website once. So, if your
site hasn't got that 'oomph', it's not going anywhere.
Get to the Point
OK, I'll stop rambling and get to the top five ways to
promote your site:
1. Links on other webpages
2. Newsgroup postings
3. Award winning
4. Award giving
5. Something Else
Allow me to elucidate...
1. Links on other webpages
I'm not just talking a link on Johnny's homepage here, I
mean the larger sites - ones that make it their job to list
websites on particular topics.
For example, I often browse the Web for listings of various
news sites. When I find one, I'll e-mail the Webmaster with
details of our site - IT Gossip.net. More often than
not, the
link will be up there within a week.
Search engine links also come under this category - use a
mass search engine submission service, like the one at our
site which automatically sends your details to 150 sites.
2. Newsgroup Postings
Be careful not to confuse this with spam! If you're running a
site that focuses on mystery, then every other week send a
message to the newsgroup rec.arts.mystery - and tell them
what you can find on the site and any new happenings.
Our own site, IT Gossip.net, focuses on Net news and
computer scandal. So, I'll probably post a message to
alt.net.scandal or alt.life.internet.
But a word of warning - make sure your posts are relevant
to the newsgroup you're sending it to! Or else...
3. Award Winning
If you're after a few thousand more hits, submit your site to
one of the award sites - such as the Top Ten area on
WhatsOn.
We were recently voted 7th after submitting our own site for
consideration.
In essence, it's great because (a) the fact that you were
voted a top ten website encourages advertisers, (b) you'll
gain an average of 5,000 extra hits per reward and (c) we
can tell all our friends we beat the Financial Times in the
Net's Top Ten list!
4. Award Giving
Starting your own award service is a pretty straightforward
process. People send you details about their site, you visit
their site, if you like it - give them an "award" which usually
consists of a small image to place on their website. The
image should link back to your homepage, generating more
traffic. You usually list their site on an "Award Winners"
page.
That's simply it. If you join the Award-It crew
you'll find it's
much easier to attract traffic. Users can automatically
submit details to your site - but expect in excess of 100
e-mails per day.
5. Something Else
I know that number 5 is a little general, but that something
else needs to be a unique or special service, preferably free
of charge!
Article by Karl Moore, president of IT Gossip.net.
Karl is a UK Internet Journalist with a specific interest in
computer industry gossip and Internet rumour. In 1997, he
started IT Gossip.net, a link website focusing on these
elements - and the site has since grown to an
award-winning start page. Karl Moore can be reached at
[email protected]. The article was
first published in the Internet Day newsletter.
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