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Targeting Regional & International:

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If your business is better off targeting people outside your local community, you might want to consider implementing a link exchange program. This is where you will find extremely competitive directories online that want to get as much exposure as you do.

Once you start targeting internationally, many of directories you will find will most likely want to swap information with you. The good ol' barter system, an eye for an eye. Nothing wrong with this. Just make sure that directory you link to doesn't "feel wrong".

... and I mean "feel wrong".

Someone came to me other day and asked me to take a look at something. They said that they weren't sure if they should swap links with this other company. I simply asked them, what kind of feeling do you get from this other company?

This person said that website was a little fishy and felt a little cold. What's best course of action here???

Go with your gut instinct. You never want to link to websites that you don't even feel right about it. Besides, if you link to it from your site, you might as well put up a banner sign outside your window saying that you fully support this other company.

If an online directory asks you to exchange information and you don't feel that it would be valuable to your visitors, move onto another directory. If you feel fishy about it, so will others.

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Finding International Directories:

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For this you'll want to implement same strategy as before when you learned about searching for "local directories". Try using "country, state/provice" added with online directory or business directory.

So do a search like this: Canadian Business Directory - or - Online Directories In Canada

This style of searching should bring you specific directories. Please remember that there is NO quick way of doing this. You must have patience since, even now, there are still literally 1000's of directories I've never heard of.

Directories keep popping up every day. Don't be afraid to search for new directories once a month, or once every 90 days.

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Placing Your Companies Directory Listing In The Right Spot:

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This step could be one of most important steps you take for advertising within online directories.

I say this is important because without careful positioning, your directory listing may never see a visitor again.

Steps you can take to get proper placements:

- Do a "general search": Search within directory for something general and related to your business. Place your company within that search result.

- Only 2 clicks away: Try placing your company within a category that is only 2 clicks away from main directory page. This will increase your results. Some directories can't offer you this, it's ok depending on popularity of directory you are submitting to.

- Watch out for spammers: Watch out for directories that list 100 companies on one page. This is called "Link Farms" online and is frowned upon from search engines.

- Find empty categories: Don't be afraid to click in once more in order to find a category that has been barely touched. Getting your own category is ultimate listing for your business.

- Don't go "unrelated": Do not submit your company to "unrelated" categories. If you can't find a category for your business, try contacting directory administrator to implement a new category for your business.

- Was it too confusing? Again, go with your gut feeling. If you found directory way too confusing to find anything, 9/10 times other visitors will also find it confusing and leave.

That about wraps it up for online directories. There is enough knowledge here to help you find right directories for your business. Some tips have been excluded because every person adapts to their own strategy and I hope you will too.

Best Of Luck To Ya!

About The Author:

Martin Lemieux Smartads - President

Affordable Web Design & Web Site Marketing http://www.smartads.info & http://www.smartads.ca

By writing, I use something that I can do to publicize myself. The next step of course after writing an article is to submit it to places where it can be sent to " publishers" of ezines and other publications both online and off. For a list of places through which you can do so go to

What skill or talent do you have that can be used to publicize yourself? Perhaps you are good at talking to people. One on one communication is a great way to let people know that you are marketing something. Along same lines, comes public speaking. Want to find organizations to speak for, and possibly get your own public speaking engagements. One place to start is to join an organization like Toastmasters whose main focus is to build public speaking skills.

But what if you don't want to speak professionally or write articles for ezines or magazines? Another way to get your presence known is join as many different online public forums as possible. They don't have to all be marketing forums, just try to concentrate though on forums that peak your interest most. In that way you'll have something more relevant to contribute. Of course, you've got to do more than to just join these forums. You do have to post to them!!!

These are just a few of ways to get free publicity, market yourself and therefore increase your marketing potential..

Remember, like politician you've got to get your name out there, and "blow your own horn".