svend | design
Guide to Web Site Promotion

In developing your web site through svend | design your site has been submitted to the top
Internet Search Engines as part of our premium web hosting. As with any promotional plan,
the search engines must work in conjunction with other mediums to achieve maximum exposure
for your company. Make note that many search engines take months to get you listed.

The following tips provide some important techniques to drive traffic to your Web site:

Step 1:  Include Web Site Address on Letterhead, Business Cards, and Literature
Make sure that all reprints of cards, stationery, brochures, and literature contain your company's
URL (Uniform Resource Locator synonymous with Web site address). And see that your printer
gets the URL syntax correct. In print, we recommend leaving off the http:// part and including
only the www.domain.com portion. It won't be long, and you can just put "domain.com"

Step 2:  Request Links on Industry Sites
You probably belong to various trade associations that feature member sites. Ask for a link.
Even if you have to pay something for a link, it may bring you the kind of targeted traffic you crave.
Don't overpay for these links... they are just a small part of your overall strategy.

Step 3:  Promote Using Traditional Media
It is essential NOT to discontinue print advertising you've found effective. But be sure to include
your URL in any display or classified ads you purchase in trade journals, newspapers, etc. If you
have an ecommerce site, you need to promote in traditional media to get your site URL noticed!

Step 4:  Install a "Signature" in your E-Mail Program
Most e-mail programs such as Microsoft Outlook and Netscape allow you to designate a "signature"
to appear at the end of each message you send. Limit it to 2 to 4 lines: Company name, address,
phone number, URL, e-mail address, and a one-phrase description of your unique business offerings.
This is how mine looks:

------------------------------------------------------
Marketing Success Through Design Distinction
http://www.svend.com
::: Web Design ::: Graphic Design ::: Print Design :::

Note: use "http://" in your web address, so it is clickable!

Step 5:  Ask Visitors to Bookmark Your Site
It seems so simple, but make sure you ask visitors to bookmark your site. It's a great way to
keep them coming back.

Step 6:  Issue News Releases
Find newsworthy events (such as launching a new product or Web related service), and send news
releases to print and Web periodicals in your industry. Note: opening or redesigning a Web site is
seldom newsworthy these days. Make the news release specific to a new product or service offered
on your site. Another great of news releases... they are FREE, and people tend to "believe" them
versus advertising.

Step 7:  Request Reciprocal Links
Find complementary Web sites and request a reciprocal link to your site (this works well for industry
related sites or associations you belong to). Develop an out-of-the way page where you put links to
other sites -- so you don't send people out the back door as fast as you bring them in the front door.

Step 8:  Develop a Free Service
Make sure that your free service is closely related to what you are selling so the visitors you attract
will be good prospects for your business. Give visitors multiple opportunities and links to cross over
to the sales part of your site.

Step 9:  Point of Sale Material
Whether you are a business-to-business or business-to-consumer entity, be sure to include your
Web site address on EVERYTHING a customer sees. For instance, put the Web address on receipts,
bags, boxes, gift certificates, invoices, purchase orders, countertop material, etc.

Step 10:  Important Locations to Remember
Billboards, Brochures, Catalogs, Company Cars, Coupons, Cups/Hats, Envelopes, Flyers, Key Chains,
Magnets, Media Kits, Newsletters, Newspaper Ads, Pens, PhoneBook Listings, Press Releases,
Print Ads, Radio Ads, Receipts, Reorder Forms, Shipping Boxes, T-Shirts, Television Ads, TradeShow Banners.

Let me know your great ideas for promotion! I'd love to learn some new ones. email svend

As part of our web hosting service, we submit your site to many of the leading search engines.

Feel free to contact svend | design at (603) 448-2845 or via e-mail for any additional assistance
in promoting your web site or business. I look forward to talking to you about how we can help.

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