For example, say you sell your arts & crafts online. You could write an article with tips on how to boost sales using eBay auctions and then submit that article to newsletters and websites catering to crafters.

Make sure you require site or newsletter owner to publish your "resource box" in addition to article. A resource box is a four to eight line "bio" that runs at end of an article. Include your URL and info on your products or services too.

There aren't a lot of restrictions for what to include or not to include in your resource box, so be creative.

If you work at it consistently, benefits this promotional tool can yield are myriad.

Not only do you have link to your site from your resource box, but many places archive their old newsletter issues indefinitely online, so you get residual traffic, PLUS you build number of quality links to your site.

PARTNERING

Partnering, as I'm using it here, is somewhat similar to bartering for ad space, except instead of offering your service in exchange for ad space, you and other party(ies) exchange advertising.

There are lots of ways you can offer advertising, even if you don't sell ad space, per se, on your site.

You could include a review or write-up of your partners' service or product, or simply list them on your "links" or "resources" page.

Another idea: you probably send out follow-up emails, thank you emails, free reports, etc., right? If so, consider adding your partners' ads in one of those places.

There are countless possibilities when it comes to partnering. The first step is to get in touch with someone who runs a site on something of interest to your target market. Look for those in a complementary field (a site that sells templates might partner with a site that offers search engine submission; a site that sells sporting goods might partner with a company offering adventure vacations, etc.).

Once you've established a partner program with one or more sites, regularly analyze your sales data to make sure relationship is profitable for you. Work to strengthen good relationships and be on lookout for new potential partners.

I hope you found these ten ways to promote your site for free useful. We explore these topics (and many more) in-depth in GetonMessage!, our free site design and promotion newsletter. To sign-up, send a blank email to GetonMessage-subscribe@topica.email-publisher.com.

ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE ON MESSAGE BOARDS AND IN DISCUSSION LISTS

Many message boards and email discussion lists will allow you to post either a full SIG (signature) file or, at a minimum, your name and URL.

I'm using term "SIG file" to refer to a short text block added to end of your posts. Similar to an author's resource box, a SIG normally includes contact information (your name and URL) and possibly additional information on yourself, your business, and/or your products or services.

It goes without saying that in order to generate significant traffic to your site via this method, message board and/or list has to have a good bit of traffic itself, otherwise few eyes will fall on your "ad" and still fewer clicks will be collected.

Notice I used "ad" (in quotes)? There's a reason for that, and please be crystal clear on this point from get-go: NEVER blatantly advertise on a message board or email discussion list.

Ever heard of getting flamed? Well, let's just say your hind parts may very well be ablaze if you break this rule.

If you're unsure what's acceptable, many boards/lists post usage guidelines, or you can "lurk" for a while before posting to get a feel for board etiquette.

To get most return on your time and effort, search out boards and lists that are either directly or indirectly related to what you sell. Run a search for "message board" plus your target subject (or "newsletter" plus your target subject) and that should generate a sizeable list.

ADD YOUR URL TO EXISTING MARKETING MATERIALS

If your website isn't already listed on your business cards, letterhead, and other marketing materials, add it.

In addition to items discussed above, other places to use your URL include: bumper stickers, receipts, promotional items, yellow pages ads, television and radio ads, your answering machine message, and I'm sure you can come up with several more at drop of a hat.

You're already spending money for these things anyway, so why not get most bang for your buck?

START A LINK BUILDING CAMPAIGN

Good links to your site can benefit you in more ways than one.

It's obvious that link itself can direct traffic to your website, but quality links to your site may improve your ranking in some search engines as well.

So, not only do you get visitors who click on link itself, if you successfully establish a quality link program, you may have tons more visitors as a result of increased rankings to boot.

There are several ways to get linked:

- get listed in search engines and directories - request a link from sites complementary to yours - use a SIG file on message boards/mailing lists (if appropriate) - write articles that include your URL in resource box - start an affiliate program - provide a testimonial (these often include URL of person quoted in testimonial) - start an award program - buy online advertising - sign online guestbooks where appropriate

One of things you DON'T want to do is participate in a "link farm" (sites that exist solely for webmasters to obtain links). You may be penalized rather than rewarded if you go that route.

In Part Two, we discuss five more ways to generate no charge traffic to your site.