New website owners assume that traffic will develop automatically, but I've found that the best marketers (of books, paintings, bicycles, non-profits....) also market their website. Here’s how:

1. Include your web address in all correspondence. Set up an automatic signature block in your email program and add it to every message. Don't just sign off with "linda" but with:
   
   macrogirl
   
   Meeting your web design & hosting needs with personal and friendly service!
   
   Linda Bingham
   (512) 722-3216
   mobile (512) 517-3889
   www.macrogirl.com
   Linda@macrogirl.com
    
2. Maintain a list of email addresses, contacts to whom you can send updates from time to time, perhaps to let them know about new content on your website. Maybe you've already started a list of groups in your email program, or maybe you keep them in a contact management program. When the list gets large enough, you may have to subscribe to a ListServ to send out your message to several hundred people. I'm not talking about spam. I'm talking about a group of people who agree to get mail from you and can opt out at any time. macrogirl manages ListServs.
    
3. Keep your content fresh. Add something new to your website--a special offer for instance--at least once a month, and when you do, let your contacts know about it.
    
4. Get your URL out there every way you can. Donate something to an organization and make sure they list your name, slogan, web address in their program.
    
5. Order printed advertising material with your message and URL on it. Give it away to every potential customer.
    
6. Exchange links with others.
    
7. Per Click advertising on Google and Yahoo should be reserved for after you've taken these basic steps to market your website, which is to say, your business.
    
8. Every ad you buy should include your web address and email address
    
9. Speaking of email addresses: go to the trouble to set up and use your POP3 mail address. Don’t know how? Ask macrogirl.

If you don’t know already, learn how to check your web statistics. A quick glance will tell you how visitors are reaching your site and help you refine your meta-tags (hidden text that directs search engines.) Macrogirl includes meta-tags in every site.

Macrogirl also takes advantage of free indexing on Google and Yahoo! You can visit these premier search engines and find other ways to advertise your site, including per-click programs that allow you to set a budget for your ad campaign.

Macrogirl hosting offers a user-friendly interface. Enter on macrogirl homepage. Type in your user/password and learn how the control panel works. Many services are available for advanced users.

You can also set up new mailboxes or manage mail forwarding while you are away. Be sure to return to the control panel and log out when you’re through.

[macrogirl] [macrogirl customers] [portfolio] [hosting] [faq's] [marketing your site] [contact]