Although these eight tips are rather elementary, they are a good starting foundation if you really don't know how to go about promoting your site. If you would like something more thorough then get yourself one of the recommended books. In the meantime, enjoy these promotional tips:

1. Submit your site to multiple search engines. Submit every page you can and make sure that all the meta tags are there. Do not repeat words too often as some search engines will punish you for trying to cheat. Make sure that each page has some kind of an opening statement with the words that are descriptive of your business. Search engines also give you a popularity advantage if there are many other web sites that link to you; hence its in your best interest to have others link to you!

2. Banner Swap with complimentary services/products. Find out who your audience is and find out how to go after them. Banner swapping doesn't cost anything and increases your exposure. You can either swap or pay someone to put your banner on their site. Expose yourself everywhere you can, but make sure your site doesn't look like one big ad. Bottom line is that you want to be active, but don't over do it! Banners are a bit controversial these days because they don't really generate that high of a click-through traffic. Regardless, as long as you can strike a deal then you should take advantage of this.

3. Place your web address on every piece of stationery you have. Exposure is the key here, thus it becomes crucial to put your web address on your business cards, letterheads, envelopes, pens, answering machine, advertisements, your doors, license plates, everything!

Try to inform your existing clients of the site. Ask them for their input on your site (this often makes them go through the majority of your site) as well as for any tips they might have on improving your site. Also, don't forget to ask for referrals!

4. Offer incentives to your existing clients for referring others to your site. Referral is an ideal source of potential growth so make sure you can reward those that give you the leads.

5. Ask for Advice! Look around the web for someone who is doing exactly the same thing that you are, but perhaps in a different geographical market. Contact that person, introduce yourself, your company and ask them what they found to work for their business and what did not to work for them. You wouldn't believe the kind of advice you can get from the internet community. The key is to build relationships with those who are geographically unable to compete with you but can offer you some solid advise. Learn from others mistakes and make sure you don't repeat them!

6. Advertise Advertise Advertise! Put some money into the advertising element of this equation. Find out who your audience is and what they like to read, listen to, watch and put an ad in those mediums. This costs, but it can lead to some serious exposure.

7. Be the consumer! This is one of the strongest pieces of advice we can give. Have you ever thought of what other things the typical consumer might be exposed to before finding your site? Do some searches on the main search engines. Act like a consumer, visit other sites and ask yourself how could you make those sites better AND how can you integrate the elements you like to your site. Its very difficult to lure the audience to your site so make sure that once they are there they like what they see!

8. Read the Logs Captain! Already have a site? Do you know what your previous audience enjoyed about your site? If not make sure you contact your server provider and find out how you can access the raw log files. In lamens terms these are the data records that tell you how many visitors you had and what they clicked on. In essence, this will give you a true understanding of where the traffic is focusing on and will allow you to redevelop a site with a better understanding of what the typical Joe and Jane is looking for! I am often surprised, no excuse me, shocked when I take over some of the sites only to learn that they have been in business for several years and they never looked at their data! YIKES! This is The way to learn how people surf on your site and what they like to click on, what they don't click on and why.

REMEMBER: The internet will not make you rich over night! It takes time, effort and money to get going. Not everyone has the money so learn how to dedicate at least an hour a week towards promoting your site. One thing I can say for sure from watching our clients past experience is that as long as you commit yourself to working on your marketing plan, and DO your homework, you will get positive results out of this. Never go for the quick slam dunk. In your marketing endeavors you will find many sites that offer the solution to your problem for just $99.99. WRONG! There are places that can help you out, but you still have to be involved in the overall equation. There is no such thing as free lunch. So get going

We hope this was useful. Please email us and let us know if you have anything else you wish to add!