Why and How to Promote your Website
Once you start the process of creating a website, the words you must remember that are WRONG are: If we build it they will come.
If you do not inform your current clients and prospective clients that you have a website, they cannot find you. It is vital you look at ways to promote your website presence.
Promote It
Tell everyone… your clients, your ex-clients, your colleagues and your non-colleagues. Tell your suppliers and your allied trades people. Tell one and all!
Promoting your web presence allows your clients to find more about your products and services 24/7. Even if you are not in the office or on a holiday, these potential clients can find out about your business, identify what they want from you and can send an email to you so that you have work the moment you open the office on Monday morning – now that’s a huge saving as you did not pay a person to sit at the phone for the weekend, your website is your extra ‘office staffperson’.
It is only logical that your business needs to quantify the cost of the website so it is vital to validate the time and money spent on the creationg of it. The only way that is done is to monitor your phone calls and emails and track how many clients have found you or tracked your company done via the internet. Ask all your phone enquires WHERE they heard about your business – was it yellow pages, local newspaper, internet, word of mouth, etc.
How to Promote
Here is a list of ways to promote your website:
- include the website address on all letters, marketing brochures and emails
- include website on business cards
- brand your business vehicles with your website address
- submit your website to search engines and business directories (some are free, some not)
- pay for online advertising space on website that relate to your business (eg if you sell pavers, advertise on a gardening and landscape website)
- provide links to other related businesses, THEN ask for links back – it is best you do it and show good faith. Even if they do not provide a link directly back to you, keep it there and re-assess the link in a few months time.
