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By Michael J Medeiros
Promoting a Website is becoming tough. For many, problems are seen at the
beginning, when attempting to register a domain name. Once a satisfactory
domain name is acquired, the site is lost within a see of competition. Time
and money is required to excel above the competition. Along with these common
suggestions, there are five areas to consider when promoting a Website.
Core Promotion – Establishing Links
A major fundamental to promoting a Website is establishing links. Back-links
allow people and Search Engines to find a Website. There are a variety of
beliefs to how different Search Engines utilize back-links. However, it is
anonymous that this factor is vital, and for obvious reasons.
Link exchanging with other Websites is probably the best and only affordable
solution to accomplish back-links. However, be aware there are some shared
beliefs that spawn trickery with link exchanges. Some theories, regarding the
major search engines, suggest the number of, “outbound-links,” a page
contains causes drainage. For example, if a page cut the outbound links by
half, that pages recognition would increase. Webmasters with this belief
often mask their links pages from search engines. This is done using a robots.
txt file, which specifies pages for the Search Engines to avoid. To see if a
page is masked, simply type the domain name followed by robots.txt into your
browser. Ensure the page that will contain outbound links is not blocked. If
the page is blocked, the exchange will not be equal.
Design a Directory of Information
While animated pictures and fancy graphics are nice to look at, they are not
cost effective when beginning a Website. Delayed loading time could loose
customers. Additionally, increased bandwidth may inflate overhead. If
increased costs and lost business is not bad enough, graphics are not search
engine friendly.
Present information, based on the premise of the Webpage, before other content.
Being concise will improve recognition. More quickly than a cluttered
Website that lacks focus. One or two sponsors will help maintain a friendly
site, and maintain focus.
Present information similar to a Directory. Use words that are common to
describe content within the Website. Alphabetize the navigation. Keep columns
distinct and clean. Utilize a heading and sub-headings where there is content.
Submit your Website to Indexed Pages
Once again, there are a number of beliefs towards ways the major traffic
movers rate a Website. One common belief is having an inbound-link on an
established Website, is more valuable than a New Website. As a result, some
Webmasters refuse to exchange links with sites that are new. Again, this
increases the difficulty of adding a link to other Websites.
Another affect that stems from the reduced link theory, is disallowing search
engines from link pages. Many directories, where the administrator shares
this belief, will utilize a robots.txt file. Within this file, he or she may
specify which pages the search engines should avoid. What is the result? The
page displaying the link will not be indexed, as requested, within the Search
Engine Directories. Before spending valuable promotional dollars or
requesting a link exchange, type the domain name followed by robots.txt into
a Web Browser. If the pages containing links to other Websites are being
hidden, it may not be an effective place to promote a Website.
Get more traffic or get more return visitors?
Often, webmasters loose a customer friendly mindset. Rather than being
concerned with gaining customers, they are overly concerned with generating
traffic. Having a lot of unique visitors is good. However, if there is
nothing visitors appreciate, the advertising program will gain negativity.
Eventually a lot of people will recognize the name and URL, as site not to
visit. Because of this, place more concern on attracting less unique visitors
and more return visitors. The result will be avoiding the number one link on
the Search Engine results page, and visiting the number two site. Rather then
trying to trick the search engines into making a Website number, ensure the
site is ready.
Submit to Website Directories
An easy way to have a Website categorized is adding it to a Directory. If a
site is placed in the proper category, a link will be grouped with similar
sites. Additionally, the text that Spiders will follow to retrieve the page
is important. Most Directories will have modest recognition. This is because
others link to them as a resource.
Identify the focus of the Website being promoted. Trying to add a Website to
an improper category will certainly give the editors a bad impression. Take
for example, a website that focuses on shopping for a home, being suggested
to a Business Category. The Website must belong to a Realtor or financial
institution. Otherwise it is not pointing people to a Real Estate Businesses
Website. The identification is wrong, according to most directories. Improper
focus will cause delayed listing or result in being declined.
In addition to identifying the sites focal point, place heavy consideration to
a description. It does not have to list every single feature, item for sale,
or benefit the site offers. Give a proper concise description. Rather then
specifying all the towns where Real Estate business is offered, mention the
county or major Metropolitan area. If the extra text is not needed, why have
it there?
There is still potential on the Internet. Don’t get discouraged and keep an
open mind towards changes and feedback.
Copyright 2001, SmallBiz Publishing.
BB Lee is Editor of SmallBizBits Newsletter. Join Our List Of Informed
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