Internet marketing is easy but it isn't an overnight proposition; 1-2-3 could be weeks, months or years of Internet marketing before your Web site becomes viable. Don’t stop reading yet -- I’m living proof that micro businesses can earn 6+ figures annually online, with little or no money invested in the early stages of Internet marketing.
This isn’t about selling vitamins to your family and friends, nor is it any kind of network marketing type of company. I own a business that’s traditionally associated with walk-in traffic, not search engine traffic: postcard printing.
Over the eight years I’ve had a Web site, I’ve accumulated a lot of tips on running an online business, and I’d like to share some of the Internet marketing search engine tactics I’ve learned.
If you like to do-it-yourself, subscribe to some of the good free newsletters about Internet marketing available:
Yes, it’s a lot of reading, and yes, I continue to read many of the above Internet marketing publications. These days, it’s important to know how to write good copy so your Web site will be found by the search engines. Part of this is knowing how to create good titles, and how to use meta tags. But another important part of successful Internet marketing is search engine submission. Here are some search engine submission tips to help you build search engine traffic.
Are you ready for search engine submission? Be patient and only submit your site to search engines when it is 100 percent tested and completed. If Rome wasn’t built in a day, your Web site will need time to mature as well.
Once you feel your site is up and running, and just the way you like it (you did check all your links to make sure none are broken, and that there aren’t any missing images, didn’t you?), it's time for search engine submission. For the most effective Internet marketing, you’ll want to make sure your site is listed in the following search engines and directories:
- DMOZ. This is a directory that’s edited by humans, and its listings "feed" a number of other directories, including Google. It’s a free listing, which is very rare.
- Google. Another free listing.
- Yahoo. Regions and localities within the Canadian section are still free. Also edited by humans.
- For e-commerce enabled sites, there's Gimpsy.
- Industry Canada's Company Capabilities.
Also look for niche regional and local directories, and directories that are specific to your type of business. For example, if you do a search on Google for "toronto business directory", you'll see a number of places offering search engine submission. Almost all the other "major" search engines now charge a fee to get listed, or are just not worth the effort of search engine submission.
Avoid Free-for-All listings (FFAs), link farms and the majority of Award sites. If your gut says it's a bad idea, it probably is. What I can’t emphasize enough is that you take the time to find the right search engine submission category, and if your business is regional or local, make sure you submit there instead of the main areas. Also be sure to read the search engine submission guidelines carefully. (Don’t try to stuff the listing, because a real human editor will likely hit the delete key.)
If after a few months you find that your site is still not listed in the search engines, go through the search engine submission process again. First though, take a hard objective look at your web site to make sure the basics are covered:
- Is the navigation (also referred to as usability) of your site easy to understand and use?
- Do visitors understand quickly, upon their arrival, the purpose and subject of your site?
- Is there enough descriptive, keyword rich text on the home page?
- Are you inadvertently using spam techniques?
If you have any kind of Internet marketing budget, I’d recommend Google AdWords before Overture. There's also PositionTech and Business.com. To ensure you're targeting the right keywords with your Internet marketing, use WordTracker.
Other considerations for future Internet marketing investment are a qualified Web designer, an experienced programmer, a talented Internet copywriter and other specialized professionals to help make your Web site more effective.
Internet marketing can be as easy as 1-2-3 - as long as you invest some time learning the fundamentals and realize that Internet marketing success won't happen overnight.
B.A. Sybal is the owner of GFX Printing, specializing in high quality color promotional and advertising card printing. Postcards, webcards, business cards, book markers, brochures - getting your full color images printed on cards is easier than you imagined. Call GFX Printing at 1-905-828-7399 or order online.
Source : http://sbinfocanada.about.com/od/internetmarketing/a/netmarketingbs.htm
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