Eight Steps to Web Success - Step 3: Contact the Search Engines and Let Them Know You Exist
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Another fundamental. Who can help you get customers? The search engines. If you don't show up on the search engines you might as well not exist. Okay, that was overstated, and I am sure I will get shot down on this comment. There are plenty of businesses that succeed just on word of mouth and reputation. But, somebody has to build a street to your door.
You can build a business, but if no one knows about you, then who do you think will stop by to buy something? You can submit your site to Google for free. You can submit to some of the directories for free, like DMOZ and even others if you don't mind being an editor for them. But for some of these, you need to be willing to spend a couple of hundred dollars.
These are paid links that will help you to score high on Google. Other search engines and directories you may want to submit to include Yahoo, LookSmart, Overture, Gimpsy, JoeAnt, GoGuides and Galaxy. There are many others, but this is a good start to get you listed and showing up immediately. Some of these you can submit a free listing to, but chances are good you will never show up on their directory or it could take four months or more.
How do you drive traffic to your web site? Search engines will definitely rank high as a start to building customers. But you also need to have other reputable sites show you as a partner. Like a brick and mortar store, you need to advertise in visible venues, both on the internet and in relevant magazines. Word of mouth can drive business your way, when you offer quality products, an affordable price or exemplary service. Another way to increase traffic is to create an RSS Feed to your web site and that is the next topic.
Next: Step 4: Create RSS Feeds to All Your Content >>
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