How do I market a website?

[Sock]

I have started a website which sells sock subscriptions. The website is now live but I am a bit stuck with getting hits to it. It is more of a research project at the moment, as I am still not sure whether to carry on or stop, depends on if I can get any people interested in it.

I am not currently selling anything, I just have a pre-order page where the customer can register their interest. I am using twitter to try and get some people to my site but no one seems to click the links, even though I am doing more 'interaction' than advertising (I am replying to tweets more than saying 'Look at my website).

Does anyone know any useful tips to help get hits to my website, and even better some people registering their interest?

I don't wish to post my URL here, however if you want to have a look please PM me (I don't want to advertise it here)

 

[thelegalstop]

Thanks for asking question!

I think that the content is the key. You need to make is as attractive and engaging as possible. Adding a YouTube video is always a good idea. I would start with promoting the page among my friends and colleagues. Many people think that it's kind of rude to ask your nearest to "like" you on Facebook or to give your site a visit.

In fact, it is not and it's the best campaign you can have. Most of your friends might not necessarily become your canvassers, but spreading the word of mouth is just as important as it used to be a couple of years ago.

Once this is done, you can start some networking: social media and business forums are great for that. Find people that might be interested and get in touch.

Also, why don't you search for similar pages and see what they do in order to increase their audience. Follow some of their methods and come up with your own ideas.

Lastly, don't forget the basics: have your website validated by W3C, submit it to the Google search, make sure it's responsive among all devices, etc. It's so easy to forget about these fundamental things when you're engaged with marketing.

Good luck with your website!

 

[Vectis]

Sorry, but what's a sock subscription?

And, 'I am a bit stuck with getting hits to it' (the website)........'I don't wish to post my URL here'.......'I don't want to advertise it'

 

[Genn]

If you only have a preorder page you need to get the site up and running and engage in social media a lot more to give it a proper shot. I don't know what a sock subscription is but I imagine it has to be much more interesting than it sounds. And if it's not, then you should make it so. It sounds like it could be a really cool and quirky thing. I'd like to see the site if you want to pm it to me

 

[fisicx]

If you want more people to visit the site then you need to advertise. Adwords is a good place to start, mens magazines will help or maybe banners on clothing websites.

You have to speculate to accumulate.

 

[Sock]

Sorry, but what's a sock subscription?

And, 'I am a bit stuck with getting hits to it' (the website)........'I don't wish to post my URL here'.......'I don't want to advertise it'

And with good reason too. I don't want the business to be associated with me asking business questions. I want people to think of the business as a brand and by posting business questions on here and linking to my website anyone could find it only to realise it's being run from a bedroom or something!

If you only have a preorder page you need to get the site up and running and engage in social media a lot more to give it a proper shot. I don't know what a sock subscription is but I imagine it has to be much more interesting than it sounds. And if it's not, then you should make it so. It sounds like it could be a really cool and quirky thing. I'd like to see the site if you want to pm it to me

It's a subscription where you pay monthly and I send you different designs of socks. Probably won't appeal to someone who isn't really following fashion or not bothered too much about what they wear, but would appeal to someone who is interested in how they look (this isn't a dig, it's just the target market I have in mind!). Also I have the full website up and going. What I meant is that it's a preorder page instead of a sales page. I have PM'ed you.

 

[fisicx]

Having now looked at the site there is no point in doing any marketing until you have launched. The lack of pricing and payment information and more importantly the lack of socks means any traffic you get from fashion promos and advertising will be wasted.

There are number of sock sites around - all seems to be promoting the monthly subscription thing - is it a franchise?

 

[Sock]

Having now looked at the site there is no point in doing any marketing until you have launched. The lack of pricing and payment information and more importantly the lack of socks means any traffic you get from fashion promos and advertising will be wasted.

There are number of sock sites around - all seems to be promoting the monthly subscription thing - is it a franchise?

I am trying to research it to see if there will be interest. I don't want to waste money by ordering xxx pairs of socks (to meet the MOQ) when no one is interested. What I want to do is see if I can drive traffic to the site and see how long people spend on it. If I can't get anyone to look at the site then there is no point carrying on because of the lack of interest. If I can get people to look at the site, and they read a few pages then it's worth doing as they must be interested.

PS. I don't think my analytics is working properly because it isn't showing any new visitors!

 

[Sock]

Ignore, double post

 

[ryedale]

I've just mailed you an ad words voucher over if you are going to try that

 

[Scceelly.com]

Are you sure there are visitors to the website? Based on what you are saying, lack of visitors may not necessarily be Analytics fault.

Not sure if just testing the waters is best idea as it may not give you enough data to make a decision. But as some users said, try adwords voucher and see if it takes you anywhere.

Just FYI, not sure what your adwords knowledge is, but Display tends to be cheaper and better for branding, search is good choice for direct response. Good luck!

 

[Sock]

I've just mailed you an ad words voucher over if you are going to try that

Yep, got it. Thanks!

Are you sure there are visitors to the website? Based on what you are saying, lack of visitors may not necessarily be Analytics fault.

Not sure if just testing the waters is best idea as it may not give you enough data to make a decision. But as some users said, try adwords voucher and see if it takes you anywhere.

Just FYI, not sure what your adwords knowledge is, but Display tends to be cheaper and better for branding, search is good choice for direct response. Good luck!

Fisicx said he has visited the website but analytics says only one visitor (which was me, because when I look at the location is says where I live)

 

[Scceelly.com]

If Analytics shows data, and as you mentioned it does, it probably means it is set up correctly. Please bear in mind that it can take 24 - 48 hours for Analytics to show you updated information which means you may not see Fisicx visit until next day (or two).

 

[Scceelly.com]

Also, in order for AdWords campaign to be successful, it needs to be set up correctly and the right strategy along with optimisation needs to be in place. You also need a website with good selection of merchandise, or attractive prices. (fyi I'm a search account manager and some of my clients are ecoms) If you dont have neither one, and also are not ready to invest some budget into clicks than you may need to reassess your position. But as somebody mentioned above, without good website (and selection of merchandise) it will most likely be waste of money anyway as clicks will not be turning into convesions

 

[fisicx]

I block cookies so my visit won't show.

Buy the MOQ, launch the site and see what happens. If nobody signs up flog the socks on ebay and try something different.

Is this some sort of franchise or affiliate deal? Two minutes research shows loads of people now doing this sort of thing.

 

[Sock]

I block cookies so my visit won't show.

Buy the MOQ, launch the site and see what happens. If nobody signs up flog the socks on ebay and try something different.

Is this some sort of franchise or affiliate deal? Two minutes research shows loads of people now doing this sort of thing.

Oh, ok.

The MOQ is quite high and would require me to buy a range of designs which would probably last a fair few months if I only had a few subscribers. There is an American company who have a MOQ of just 6 per design but import duty and taxes will wipe out any kind of profit I imagine.

And no, it's not a franchise or affiliate. It's just something I am doing on my own. The majority of businesses only do subscriptions for black or white socks. One of the first on Google is Henry J Socks but these are only really stripy, heel and toe, and solid designs (not too much variety). The ones that give you different socks (like a good range) are American so often don't ship to the UK.

 

[drdes]

Sock - you don't need to order MOQ for this to work, Can you buy these socks from anywhere else (retail)?

If you can, just get some photos of these socks and put them on your website. If anyone pays you, then go and buy the socks from the shop and post them out. You wont make much money (or maybe even a loss) - but that's fine because you are seeing if the idea works. If it works, then you can go ahead and order the MOQ with a bit more confidence.

 

[drdes]

Also, to my knowledge Google dont allow adwords campaigns for landing pages and coming soon sites (so I have been told) - just be aware so you dont get banned by them (there may be other with more expertise ont his who may correct me).

 

[Sock]

Sock - you don't need to order MOQ for this to work, Can you buy these socks from anywhere else (retail)?

If you can, just get some photos of these socks and put them on your website. If anyone pays you, then go and buy the socks from the shop and post them out. You wont make much money (or maybe even a loss) - but that's fine because you are seeing if the idea works. If it works, then you can go ahead and order the MOQ with a bit more confidence.

Great idea! I have just googled it and found someone on eBay selling one of the designs which would work out about the same price as buying from the supplier (assuming I buy a few pairs). It's a stock clearance and it's only one design they are doing so I could try that.

 

[Genn]

Having visited it, I really like the brand image you're trying to create and I think it could really work. It's going to take some time though. I'm equally frustrated with how long it takes to get people interested, believe me. I don't think people often sign up to register interest in things like this; I know I wouldn't, I'd just follow on social media to see when it was up and maybe get to see the kind of merchandise that got offered.

I did notice that the url on your twitter profile didn't work so that doesn't help, and you're not really promoting the facebook page yet.

I think you're going to have to put something into it to get something back. Contact some UK fashion bloggers and see if they'll write of review of some socks that you send them. Run a couple of rafflecopter giveaways. Start a blog and continue to build up the witty image you've started. Review socks you see on celebrities, in high street shops, etc. Review other fashion trends. Team up with some other new brands to cross promote.

Its a lot more work than I thought it would be too. Good luck!