MARKTING TIPS

1. Of course we think this is the most important marketing tip of all. That's why we created Search engines.com. Stay up to date on search engine information and do what you can for a better ranking. This is how people find your site, so it's critical.
   
   
2. Send press releases to editors/writers and publications that are likely to be interested in your pitch. Write a newsworthy article, not an advertisement. Tailor your material for different audiences and increase your chances of publication. Above all, be short and to the point, and avoid factual, spelling or grammatical errors.
   Make sure that your site's content puts forth the image you want to present. A nicely designed website with useful, informative content is a great promotional ambassador.
   
   
3. Try to use a short domain name that relates to the site's purpose. Make it memorable and unique… after all… there are a lot of sites out there.
   
   
4. You don't have to update by the second but you should refresh your site's content as often as possible. Updating shows customers you are on top of things and helps your business appear current.
   Ask other webmasters to link to you. This will help your search engine rankings and create a strong company image as well as some traffic. Send emails only to webmasters with related content and personalize the message. If it appears that you are sending mass emails to random sites, this will be considered spam. You may need to offer a reciprocal link. Make sure the websites linking to you represent your company's ethics. You don't want to be associated with a site containing objectionable material. Don't forget to find out who's linking to your competition.
   
   
5. your usual (and maybe some unusual) methods of communication including stationary, business cards, invoices, faxes, etc.
   Try to register common misspellings of your domain as well as other top level domain extensions such as: .net. You may also want to register your domain for using national top level domains such as .co.UK.
   
   
6. Show your good side. Find out if your company donates money to a charity or participates in volunteer services. Involvement with education or the environment is an example. If so, describe this on your site. Don't make anything up.
   It pays off, whether you're doing marketing research or responding to a complaint. Honest and clear communication builds a strong reputation and good customer retention.
   
   
7. Nominate your website for web awards today! It doesn't have to be a big name website. If you win, (or even if you win 'runner-up,') post the news on your website. Aside from the promotion, chances are you'll gain an external link from the site that awarded you. Kill two birds with one stone; increase web traffic and gain recognition for your outstanding website!
   When you are deciding whether or not to make your site multilingual, first consider who your audience is.
   
   
8. aren't set it stone but make some good ones the first time. Spend a lot of time on both, and if you can afford professional advice, it's not a bad idea. In general, your logo and slogan should be on every page of your site. Consistency is everything.
   
   
9. Send emails only to those that opt-in.
   
   
10. if they are done right. Keep it short and sweet. Send the newsletters at consistent increments and make your material easy to understand. Try to make it viral by asking recipients to invite others to sign up.
    
    
11. Simple is best. Whether you choose company trivia or host a writing contest, make sure you set guidelines and post them on your site. Contests give customers another reason to return to your site.
    If possible (depending on your web host,) change 'file not found' messages to a friendly response that re-directs visitors to your home page.
    
    
12. other things. Not only can you attach your extension to customer email addresses (such as Matt @search engines.com) but you also give customers another reason to come back to your site to check their email.
    
    
13. At a time when online security is the main concern, show customers you care. Privacy statements let customers know what happens to the personal information they give to you. Make your privacy statement clear and concise, and then offer contact information should any confusion or disagreements arise. Employees should be made aware of the information in your company's privacy statement.
    Creating an FAQ section will save you time and energy and give your web users a quick response.
    
    
14. Register freebies at a "Free stuff" site. Look around on the Net for sites that promote free stuff. Contact these sites and offer some of your own promotional goodies.
    
    
15. Include your name and contact information. This will reinforce your company identity. It should be between four to six lines and provide basic information and your company's primary focus.
    
    
16. and concise writing is paramount to effective communication in your web content, press releases and newsletters. If needed…get help.