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Think Locally:
Creative Ways to Generate Traffic
Chances are, your website is not as well-trafficked as Amazon.com or
Gap.com; but chances are, your business’ name is not as recognizable
globally nor is it aiming to reach that wide of an audience. The most
efficient means to generate web traffic on a smaller scale is to begin
locally, pointing out the distinctives of your smaller business and
targeting a niche market instead of competing with the larger
conglomerates. That way, your local rare bookstore with wonderful
ambiance and great coffee would be no competition for Amazon.com.
Web Ring:
Create your own web ring! Web
rings are an excellent means of generating no cost traffic. You can
join a web ring to receive traffic from sites with related products or
interests, or you can create a location-specific web ring. For example,
approach your local chamber of commerce to start a local business web
ring: this will be beneficial for the economy of your city or town and
make your services more assessable for local searchers.
Be
a Local Web Hero
There are various means of
publicizing your business locally that will increase the name
recognition and corporate image of your company and even improve the
community in which you live. Sponsor a little league team or provide
your services pro bono at a local non profit organization.
Networking: Be the Web Guru of Your Town
Perhaps the most useful yet
untapped publicity resource is you! Improve your networking skills by
refining your “elevator pitch”—so named for the short amount of time
that is spent with an acquaintance on an elevator ride.
If you have a refined “pitch” for your business, you can use this
anywhere you go! This is effective for any word of mouth encounters:
whether it is on a sales call, at a trade show, seminars, workshops, or
even a trip to the mall with your children, you can “sell” your business
anytime someone asks how things are going with you.
Mobile Marketing
Turn your car into a mobile
marketing machine! This may at first sound ridiculous, but during the
dot com craze, it was not uncommon for cars in larger cities to be used
as mobile billboards. You can print the logo and URL of your company
onto a magnetized sign which can be easily attached and removed from
your car.
Remember, the sky's the limit when it comes
to creative means of self-promotion. Any means to get your name "out
there" is beneficial.
Webmasters
Manual:
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