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Sharing some of my learning about using the web for marketing....
So you have something to sell.. In the words of Shania Twain, "That don't impress me much". Whether you make things or sell services, you've get out there and create a "buzz" around your product or service. Unlike the corner shop, people aren't just going to walk up and buy from you. You need to get known. Clearly the web can really help with this.
You can set up your own website. That's great. But in the great ocean of other websites out there, how do you get found?
There are a number of things that you can do to get found on the web. People that create content will tell you that iStadia helps them to get noticed, but of course you should be trying to get your name, your business or your product on as many 'channels' or platforms as you can. So here are some ideas.
1) Add your business to online directories. There are many that are free. For example:
http://kyotee.co.uk/
http://www.uksmallbusinessdirectory.co.uk/
http://www.freeindex.co.uk/
Sometimes these will allow you to list your website for free, sometimes not. Sometimes you have to have a reciprocal link, sometimes not. Sometimes they generate traffic, sometimes not.
I'm not sure about them, but one directory you should really get listed on is dmoz.org, and another that is really useful (if you also put content up) is BT Tradespace.
(You'll notice that iStadia gives you a free link (in fact as many as you can be bothered to add, if you include your profile, blogs, articles, news, clubs, events and even forums).
2. Blog (and News)
Whether you blog here or elsewhere, blogging creates traffic. Put clear links to where you want potential customers to go, and some of them will. If there's nothing there, there's nothing to follow. Likewise, Google will pick it up as a link and it will help you to rank better (especially if you are using keywords).
3. Articles
Articles work like blogs, but have greater permanence. Blogs tend to be 'of a moment'. Sometimes you want to show that you have a lot of knowledge, which makes you more credible - either as a professional service provider, or as a the maker of a product, it's better that people think you knwo what you're talking about, right?
4. Press Releases
There are a number of free and cheap onine press release sites around now. For example:
http://www.free-press-release.com/
http://www.freepressreleases.co.uk/
http://www.prlog.org/
Online press releases can be great because a) you can reach journalists looking for a story and b) your press release gets listed on places like Google News, and can create more valuable backlinks to your site.
5. Create a 'lens' about your product or area of interest on Squidoo.
6. Create a page on Facebook. No, not your own profile, but a page. Tell all of your friends about it and invite them to become 'fans'. Of course, embed links to your site.
7. Go onto other popular blogs and forums, and leave comments - of course making sure that you can link back.
8. Whenever you can, add any of your content to social networking sites such as
Digg
Reddit
Delicious
Stumbleupon
Most of them have toolbar wdigets to make life easier. On iStadia, you can bookmark any blog or article by choosing 'Add This' at the bottom of the article or blog.
There are many other things to do (feel free to add more as comments), but the most important thing is that you are out there, using the web actively to promote yourself. Otherwise, it's like opening a shop in the middle of knowhere then expecting walk-in trade.
Oh, and finally, don't be shy about duplicating content in many sources. It isn't like school, where you'd be told off. Google don't like it when you duplciate whole sites, but articles and blogs - no problem, it can only help.
If you find this helpful, please think about creating a links to your iStadia profile or content, as well as to your own site.
What do you do to make sure that people know about you?
You can set up your own website. That's great. But in the great ocean of other websites out there, how do you get found?
There are a number of things that you can do to get found on the web. People that create content will tell you that iStadia helps them to get noticed, but of course you should be trying to get your name, your business or your product on as many 'channels' or platforms as you can. So here are some ideas.
1) Add your business to online directories. There are many that are free. For example:
http://kyotee.co.uk/
http://www.uksmallbusinessdirectory.co.uk/
http://www.freeindex.co.uk/
Sometimes these will allow you to list your website for free, sometimes not. Sometimes you have to have a reciprocal link, sometimes not. Sometimes they generate traffic, sometimes not.
I'm not sure about them, but one directory you should really get listed on is dmoz.org, and another that is really useful (if you also put content up) is BT Tradespace.
(You'll notice that iStadia gives you a free link (in fact as many as you can be bothered to add, if you include your profile, blogs, articles, news, clubs, events and even forums).
2. Blog (and News)
Whether you blog here or elsewhere, blogging creates traffic. Put clear links to where you want potential customers to go, and some of them will. If there's nothing there, there's nothing to follow. Likewise, Google will pick it up as a link and it will help you to rank better (especially if you are using keywords).
3. Articles
Articles work like blogs, but have greater permanence. Blogs tend to be 'of a moment'. Sometimes you want to show that you have a lot of knowledge, which makes you more credible - either as a professional service provider, or as a the maker of a product, it's better that people think you knwo what you're talking about, right?
4. Press Releases
There are a number of free and cheap onine press release sites around now. For example:
http://www.free-press-release.com/
http://www.freepressreleases.co.uk/
http://www.prlog.org/
Online press releases can be great because a) you can reach journalists looking for a story and b) your press release gets listed on places like Google News, and can create more valuable backlinks to your site.
5. Create a 'lens' about your product or area of interest on Squidoo.
6. Create a page on Facebook. No, not your own profile, but a page. Tell all of your friends about it and invite them to become 'fans'. Of course, embed links to your site.
7. Go onto other popular blogs and forums, and leave comments - of course making sure that you can link back.
8. Whenever you can, add any of your content to social networking sites such as
Digg
Delicious
Stumbleupon
Most of them have toolbar wdigets to make life easier. On iStadia, you can bookmark any blog or article by choosing 'Add This' at the bottom of the article or blog.
There are many other things to do (feel free to add more as comments), but the most important thing is that you are out there, using the web actively to promote yourself. Otherwise, it's like opening a shop in the middle of knowhere then expecting walk-in trade.
Oh, and finally, don't be shy about duplicating content in many sources. It isn't like school, where you'd be told off. Google don't like it when you duplciate whole sites, but articles and blogs - no problem, it can only help.
If you find this helpful, please think about creating a links to your iStadia profile or content, as well as to your own site.
Rob Robson
Sport and Business Psychologist, WarwickshireTags:
bookmarking,
buzz,
creating links,
directories,
google,
istadia,
listings,
promotion,
ranking,
search engines,
social networking,
web marketing
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