Hi, after around 8 months in production we're about to launch our new website which is a much improved version of the last one. Does anyone have any ideas on where to start with a launch promotion ?

We are going to be doing PPC and the designers are actively working on SEO for organic listings but i would like to maybe try some other things.

 

Thanks

 

Paul

We are going to be doing PPC and the designers are actively working on SEO for organic listings

 

I'm guessing a site which has been developed over 8 months is by no means a simple 4-5 page website - but quite a substantial one? Which begs the question - why are the designers doing SEO? I would strongly advise in investing in the services of a professional here, and no, I'm not just trying to plug my services! But feel free to use my 101 tips in my signature.

 

If you can post the link here I'd be interested in having a look.

 

Andrew

Have you got a link to a test site we can see?

Owning your own website is both exciting and challenging. Having an idea and building a website is almost the easy part, the hard part is marketing it, driving traffic to your site and building awareness on the web. For those of you who do not have a huge budget at your disposal do not despair, there are other ways you can promote your website at no cost.

 

Social networking sites offer you a fantastic opportunity to talk about your website to people who are genuinely interested. The key success factor here is targeting your audience – ensure you join the right network groups! It’s no good talking to car enthusiasts about china dolls. Do your research and join a group of like-minded people with similar interests and your promotion will be more effective.

 

Be prepared to work for your free promotion; do not assume you can join a social network site, submit one posting and watch the traffic flow - you need to commit and engage on a continual basis. Very few websites are a success over night; they grow gradually over time, building awareness and traffic as they do so. If you want to increase traffic to your website, you have to get out there and start working.

 

Using forums and social networking sites that are relevant are a great way to learn from others and promote your business at the same time. You should choose a social networking site that offers you as many platforms to communicate your business, whilst at the same time helps you to build and grow your own site.

 

•Blogs are a great way of expressing your expertise, opinion or promoting your business. The great thing about blogs is that you can write as many as you like, all over the web! Submitting blog after blog on a particularly site will result in repeat views, as people will want to see what you have to say. (You must ensure your content is interesting/relevant to guarantee this). Blogs also allow others to comment on your content, so in turn provoking a discussion. You can include link backs to your site within or at the end of your blog (if you have a site), or simply use your blog as your communication platform to the world (your site in effect).

 

•Submitting articles is also another way to promote your website for free and in turn help drive traffic. Your article should be of a certain length, more than 200 words and should contain content that the reader will find useful. At the end of any article you write you should include a signature with your website URL, or business name. If the information you provide is credible you are more likely to get people click on your webpage link at the end of the article.

 

•Forums are a brilliant way of communicating with like-minded people and sharing experiences. Starting any new business can be daunting, so it’s great to have a group of people you can share the good and bad experiences you have. You can also ask questions of one another to help with the growth of your website. The promotional part of using a forum is the ability to include a signature in any post you make. This will enable those who are interacting with to view your website and for you to gain more traffic. You can also get feedback on your site for free (without having to pay for research!). Building relationships on line is a fantastic way of getting exposure on the web and forums enable you to do this.