First Thing You Did This Year To Market Your Site?, Tell us what you've tried or want to try Options

[BobetteKyle]

In the spirit of sharing, tell us what you have done to market your Website. What was the first (or most effective or least effective) thing you did in 2004 to market your Website? How did it work? Any words of wisdom to or questions for the rest of us?

Note: If you are new to these forums, please don't forget to read the rules. This is a no spam zone and we do enforce the guidelines!

Other than being sticklers about spam, we are a friendly bunch here!

(IMG:http://www.highrankings.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/cheers.gif)

This post has been edited by BobetteKyle: Jul 13 2004, 11:20 AM

[BobetteKyle]

One of the first things I did this year was to start a RSS feed for my newsletter in addition to the email and Web based versions. The idea was to give people a way to receive the publication without using email. With all of the viruses and spam these days, email is not as easy to read or reliable as it once was.

I don't know positively how many people are reading the feed, but I do know the code is accessed quite often. I am continuing to slowly learn more about feeds, syndicating Website content, and (I hope) begin to learn more about tracking the RSS subscriptions.

This post has been edited by BobetteKyle: Jun 29 2004, 02:30 PM

[rohgan03]

Most results from article writing and distribution. The articles helped establish our authority in the field after which conversion went up and also started getting lots of emails from prospective customers asking for more details.

[BobetteKyle]

Articles are one of my favorites, too rohgan03. Would you mind putting a link in your sig file (or in a post if you'd rather not have a sig). I was going to have a look at your site the other day during the third party articles discussion but couldn't find a link to your site! (IMG:http://www.highrankings.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

[Jill]

I started a forum! (IMG:http://www.highrankings.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (Not this year, but within a year's time.)

[Peter]

Most results from article writing and distribution. The articles helped establish our authority in the field after which conversion went up and also started getting lots of emails from prospective customers asking for more details.

I took that idea and turned it arround. Since it does work so well and so many people know this, I set up a website especially for articles. Using it for my own benefit and who ever likes to use it as well is welcome to submit as well. The website is www.knowledge-finder.com

Hope that that is not considered self promotion, (IMG:http://www.highrankings.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Regards,

Peter

[BobetteKyle]

I started a forum! (IMG:http://www.highrankings.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)   (Not this year, but within a year's time.)

So Jill, how's that working out for you? (IMG:http://www.highrankings.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)
(IMG:http://www.highrankings.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/hysterical.gif) he he... (IMG:http://www.highrankings.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/lmao.gif)

[BobetteKyle]

Peter, I do something similar as well. It's implemented a bit differently, but the same basic concept: advertising revenue for me, more exposure for guest authors.

I have several info sites dedicated to specific subjects: MarketingPlanArticles.com, Take-Payments-Online.com, WebMarketingArticles.com (Website marketing strategy), etc. Instead of a directory structure, I hand pick certain intermediate/advanced level articles, to include in the sites with a few of my own articles.

The idea is to build - over time - more and more very tightly focused content on each site. As each site becomes a better source of information, I'm thinking it will naturally build more backlinks and rise in the SERPs. It is starting to happen, but I still have a ways to go with the search engines.

I hadn't heard of knowledge-finder.com...I've added it to my list of submission sites. (IMG:http://www.highrankings.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/thumbup1.gif)

[Hyperformance]

(IMG:http://www.highrankings.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/bye1.gif) First, let me thank you Bobette for the invitation. I am only a member of 3 forums (because I'm picky), but I am now a member of four.

I wanted to add to this thread because I feel Articles are an excellent source of TT - Targeted Traffic, great links and even potential recognition. Though I see this all the time, I find that some people (clients) don't believe you, and yet some of my best Rankings are found under these same articles. It is also (for me) a great motivator to complete my book - meaning if the articles are of interest to other professionals, it tells you something about your writing and not just your content.

In addressing what I did or did not do this year to promote my business - I whole heartedly decided to fight the evils of procrastination... (IMG:http://www.highrankings.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/yell.gif) a bitter enemy in the fight to get things done and reach or surpass my goals. Now, I still battle this demon, but it gets a lot easier when you acknowledge that you do it and to what degree. Now I try to use my fear as a positive motivator in overcoming it - sounds easy - but it's not...

Thank You again for the invite! ...and to coin a famous Governor, "I'll be back"

[Jill]

Welcome Hyperformance! (IMG:http://www.highrankings.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/bye1.gif)

Jill

[Hyperformance]

Thanks Jill ! Nice Forum!! I get your newsletter (under another email address) and have always appreciated your frankness and no BS approach. Good luck with all your endeavors!

Oh, does it take time for my photo to show? Maybe (likely) I did something wrong...

[BobetteKyle]

(IMG:http://www.highrankings.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/bye1.gif) Welcome Hyperformance [erase]Steve[/erase] ...errr SCOTT!! (IMG:http://www.highrankings.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/wacko.gif)

Glad to see you made it over. I'm the same way with forums. To me, in most forums it's too time consuming to wade through the unproductive posts.

(I think I'm a little too addicted to this one, though! (IMG:http://www.highrankings.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/lol.gif) )

Articles are an excellent source of TT - Targeted Traffic, great links and even potential recognition. Though I see this all the time, I find that some people (clients) don't believe you, and yet some of my best Rankings are found under these same articles.

Yep, we are definitely on the same page there. (IMG:http://www.highrankings.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/thumbup1.gif) IMO original, well-written articles help build a business on several fronts, not simply search engine positioning - brand (name) recognition, quality content, reputation/good will, etc.

On the subject of procrastination, I do the same thing but prefer to call it "prioritization" in public. (IMG:http://www.highrankings.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/lmao.gif)

This post has been edited by BobetteKyle: Jul 20 2004, 11:48 AM

[Hyperformance]

Bobette -

You made me laugh (IMG:http://www.highrankings.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

It's Scott, not Steve - That would be from your forum addiction... (IMG:http://www.highrankings.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/bubbly.gif)

I know a number of good therapists! My favorite one is (IMG:http://www.highrankings.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/zz.gif)

- Smiling.

[OldWelshGuy]

If I could stop people telephoning me, and emailing me then I would get some time to market the site. It is desperately ill the poor thing. It sits there neglected having been built in a few hours on a Friday afternoon (& boy does it show). The only alterations were when someone pointed out the text was a little small and I thought 'right I am going to alter those titles slightly now' .

So in order to market my site i erm sort of did nothing lol.

I really want to write some articles, but it means hassling my online friends to make them readable (IMG:http://www.highrankings.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif) (my English is lousy as if you hadn't noticed). I really want to get my own projects off the floor, but just can't get the time to move with it.

As for forums, I will never start my own, I am here, in two in the uk, Over at Robert's forum, and that is enough to keep me up to date on matters home and aborad, and also feel like I am giving back a bit of the joy I get from the game.

I also have a rugby forum which is great fun, (IMG:http://www.highrankings.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:http://www.highrankings.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/drunk.gif)

I am just setting up a site to give all the small charities and voluntary groups in my country a voice. It is going to be a CMS driven directory thing, and they can add their sites for free, upload a couple of images and make alterations without my involvement (other than to approve their pages before they go live to stop the spammers. I will probably run some sort of branding on that site, but currently marketing the site is a bit of a no no for me. I made a promise not to grow our company, and there are only so many jobs you can take on.

[BobetteKyle]

Bobette -

You made me laugh  (IMG:http://www.highrankings.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

It's Scott, not Steve - That would be from your forum addiction...  (IMG:http://www.highrankings.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/bubbly.gif)

I know a number of good therapists! My favorite one is  (IMG:http://www.highrankings.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/zz.gif)

- Smiling.

Duhh!! Sorry about that Scott. :slap:

So you noticed the time...woke up at about 2:30 am and couldn't go back to sleep. Obviously, I'm not fit to post on four hours of sleep! (IMG:http://www.highrankings.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/stretcher.gif)

100 times on the chalkboard...His name is Scott, His name is Scott, His name is Scott... :doh: