You can't expect to hit the jackpot if you don't put a few nickels in the machine. -- Flip Wilson (1933-1998) - Comedian

What's the purpose of you to build a wonderful, info-packed, online business website? Yes...to sell your products, your services or to get visitors to click at your affiliate links. Not everyone to your site will do what you want them to. A fraction of them will, of course, provided you've successfully warmed them up through your high-quality information web pages. Thus, your goal is to get as many visitors as you can to your site, hopefully to click at the wonderful 'Buy' or 'Order' button.

What you are going to do is to promote your website. The more people your website can reach the better. Start advertising your site to your targeted visitors (or the whole world if possible!) that your online business is there on the net ever ready to serve their needs...

 

1.	Now that I've my own website up and running, how do I tell my friends, customers or just anybody who surfs the net to come to my site?
	There're several ways you can market your site...through word of mouth, email signature, search engine listing, exchange of links with other similar-themed websites, advertising (both online or offline), etc. The following will discuss the several methods of marketing your site.
2.	Word Of Mouth
	Word of mouth is a powerful way of advertising your site. It's absolutely free and people who heard about your site through this method have normally been pre-warmed by the previous visitors of your site who told them about it. Tell your family members, friends, neighbors, colleagues, customers (anyone else you deem fit) about your online business. The next time you meet them or write them, tell them your site URL (website address). Be proud of it and encourage them to visit your e-business site.
3.	Email Sig. File
	Everyday we send and receive emails. Emailing is sort of like a universal culture in today's e-world. Why not let emailing helps you to promote your e-business? Create a compelling email signature file in all your mail accounts. Put your site URL and briefly but clearly describe your online business in the sig. file. Include the email signature in every outgoing message. Just imagine the numbers of emails you send each day, you're promoting your site to the recipients effortlessly this way.
4.	Search Engine Listing
	One of the simplest and most effective ways you can do to increase visitors is to get your page listed on major search engines. List the URL of your home page. The search engines will typically follow links o your other pages and list those pages as well. Make sure you follow the rules of the search engine, and do not abuse the privileges or no pages will get listed!   Learn more about getting your site listed on Search Engines.
5.	Directory Listing
	Directories are much like search engines, and also great places to be listed!  Example of directories are Yahoo! (will charge annual fee for business ties and free for non-commercial sites), Open Directory Project/DMOZ (free for all sites). Go to the directory site and read the terms and conditions before submitting your site. Sites submitted to the directory listing are listed into different categories. Visitors can easily find what they want by clicking the main categories and then sub-categories. Based on the nature of your site theme, your site will be listed accordingly.
6.	Pay-Per-Click Advertising
	Pay-Per-Click advertising is where you bid to have your links above others. You pay only when your link is clicked and visited. You decide how much to bid for the traffic.  Example of pay-per-click sites are Overture and FindWhat.
7.	Link Exchange
	Exchange your link with other similarly themed sites. Your site (link) is then exposed to visitors to other linked sites. This method will attracted highly targeted traffic as visitors from other linked sites are also interested in the information you are offering. However, do not link to sites that are of low quality or different theme. This will dilute your site ranking on the search engine. Also, beware that linking to other sites will send your visitors away from yours. Value Exchange - the world's only true-blue, real link exchanger that WORKS! Now you can find high-value, similarly themed sites, then exchange links to truly increase your link popularity, in a way that the search engines LOVE. Free registration and exchanging.
8.	e-Zine Publishing
	Most of your visitors come to your site only once. 'Hi' and then 'Bye' and never again set foot in... Don't let go your visitors just like that. Retain them by getting your visitors to submit their email addresses to you so you can constantly update and remind them what you have to offer them through your e-zine. An e-zine or email newsletter is an important part of building a long-term, successful online business. Let's build and grow your own e-zine.
9.	e-Group, Forum
	Participate in e-group or forum of the same theme as your site. As you offer your help and expertise in solving others' problems, you build up your rapport. Include your sig. file with your site URL to all messages the way you did in your outgoing emails. As people start to like you, they'll check out your site. Please do not spam the e-group or forum. If you spam, people will sense it and never trust you. Worst, you can be banned from posting more posts to the e-group or forum.
10.	Referral Programs
	Run a referral program to make your site visitors to advertise for you. Pay them attractive commission to refer others to your site who make purchase after that. Your 'sales persons' or affiliates will be motivated to promote your product or service for you. This is why amazom.com is so successful. They reach out to every corner of the world and make sales...all through other website owners. Learn more about Affiliate Marketing.
11.	Other Site Marketing Methods
	Print your site URL in marketing materials such as brochures and flyers. Advertise in websites or magazines that have readers who are interested in what you have to offer. Offer freebies and organize contest to attract repeat visitors. This method sounds weird but no harm trying out...mention your site URL in your voice mail on your answering machine or mobile phone. People can't get you but your free site marketing of your website works on them!