Promoting my new website

[bitesoftwarecom]

Hi all,

I've set up my new website www.ibuyfree.co.uk which basically gives buyers the chance to win their shopping for free. At the moment the SEO I've done on it is minimal - all my time so far has been spent on design and code.

I would like to develop a marketing strategy to bring visitors to the site and generally encourage people to give it a go since it's free and doesn't require login or anything.

I'm thinking of dropping leaflets through letterboxes around my area, brushing up on the SEO to attract internet users, however I need a more complete strategy. Any idea would be greatly aprpeciated!!!

Thanks

 

[iTopz]

I doubt leaflets/non online adverts will be as effective as online ads are. Think of stuff like Google, eBay etc. who rarely do offline adverts. Mind, if it's cheap then go for it.

I guess SEO and SEM is the way to go as per usual...maybe backlinking if you have the time?

 

[bitesoftwarecom]

What do you mean backlinking?

Also, the reason for dropping leaflets is to build word-of-mouth in my area rather than try to take on the online world straight away. Alternatively I guess I could try advertising on particular target blogs and adverts...

 

[bitesoftwarecom]

Has anyone else had experience in promoting websites in offline media, how has it panned out? I'd like to hear more advice from people actively running and developing websites please.

 

[jopickles]

You could also try and get an article in the press.

Your article needs to be well written, not a sales script for you and have a good angle i.e. Credit crunch, every little helps, if you buy online anyway, top websites to save money etc (maybe include yours at the top of a list of websites that will help save people money, moneysavingexpert etc)

Write the article in the 3rd party as if a journalist were writing it about you and keep it fun and informative give your local papers a call to see if they are interested in running it.
Many newspapers are struggling at the moment as their advertisers are not buying so much therefore they can't afford so many journalists now. Show them a paper ready article and they may well use it.
Good luck with it
Regards
Jo

 

[Ann@Anicca]

Hi
You may be best to post this thread in the SEO PPC forum where all the other online marketing guys lurk

If you want traffic now then I always recommend Google Ad Words or PPC. However, it really depends on how you will generate revenue on this site; as you don't want to spend more on acquiring traffic than you will receive in revenue.

If you are giving stuff away you need to rely on viral marketing and the word of mouth. Online this is what social marketing is all about!

You will need to set-up a blog on your site plus accounts on Facebook, YouTube and a range of other article and social-bookmarking sites to spread the word. Post a question "on how to get started with social marketing". You will get loads of replies!

The other technique you should consider is email - this can be very cost effective if you have access to any lists, then you can use a recommend a friend functionality to spread the word.

Ann Stanley
Anicca Digital Solutions - A Google Ad Words Professional Company

 

[zsazsab]

Hi, we recommend a combination of these three marketing strategies (which have worked pretty well for our clients):

1. Direct marketing
2. Search engine optimization
3. Email marketing

You mentioned that your SEO needs brushing up. If you need help, let me know, I can set up a free consultation with our seo experts. For more information about these marketing strategies, please visit http://www.callboxinc.com. =)

 

[MISI_UK]

I had a load of leaflets printed before christmas. I distributed around 3000 over the course of Nov/Dec Out of 3000 (I reckon only 1/4 of that has actually been read!) I reckon it generated around 80 users but have no way of being exact.
It cost me £75 for 5000 So I got my money back on it. They were targeted at the sellers in my case and I dropped them into art type cafes/craft fairs/workshops etc. I didnt go greatly out of my way with the distribution. Just when I was in an area or at a fair I would leave some in relevant places etc.

Theres no harm in it but make sure you target where you put them. I think through peoples doors would be a waste of money and energy. If I get anything through my letter box it goes in the bin, especially if its telling me I can win something or get something for free.

To get the buyers in the best thing apart from SEO has been face book ads. They are targeted and pay per click and were very effective for my business. I think online ads will always work best as its just one click away for the user. I like that I can monitor the online ads through my stats easier also.
Im still learning with my site but I feel there is no harm in using as many means as possible as long as its cost effective, I will be getting new flyers this month but not as many as last time.

 

[ForexPro]

Its good that you are thinking of both online and offline advertising activities as a lot of people when producing and marketing a website seem to focus too much on the online aspects of marketing.

However I do also agree that the leaflets may not be that effective just because unless its actually giving something away 100% guaranteed or something of personal interest to the leaflet owner they are not going to take the time to type in your website address and then have a look around. To be honest most of them will probably forget they even received your leaflet.

Instead why not approach other websites linked to your site and ask if they could promote your website through advertising space. Another idea would be through forums and through ebay perhaps.

Just some ideas.

Oh why not use directories selected for your market, article marketing perhaps not sure if it would be effective for your site.

Do surveys? Just a random idea that popped up in my head if you were to set up a survey and send it to a main survey site such as CIAO I am really not sure what the effects of this would be just came up.

Anyways hope this helps.

 

[Gavin-Design-Right]

If you want to give leaflets a try mate , Drop me an email and we will get some sorted out for you

 

[fisicx]

At the moment the SEO I've done on it is minimal - all my time so far has been spent on design and code.

code = design = SEO.

You can't go back and bolt on some SEO, it's built into the core of the design.

Like the idea though, I would have tried it but the stores I wanted aren't listed (Lakeland, Blacks, Play, Sainsbury's....)

 

[bitesoftwarecom]

Thanks for the ideas everyone - I'll definitely check them out. The idea for social marketing is a good idea especially for Facebook/blogs.

I will also send some articles to the papers and request links on some of the websites I feature.

In response to 'fisicx' thanks for saying you would try it, I will add the stores you have requested - there is a form on the about page to get this.

Cheers!

 

[bitesoftwarecom]

I've added Play.com and Firebox to my site if any of you would like to try it

The idea to ask my affiliates to point to me (and offer their customers the chance to win a free order) is a great one and I'm working on that today.

Thanks again!