Having previously dabbled in all three of these areas myself, I can appreciatively say that developers prefer to be handed an accurate story board of site that they are intended to build, including a detailed page by page briefing. Just like site visitors, it is not in developer’s job description to determine where design meets copy or initial ideas of initiator of project.

Ensuring that various departments converse at least once pre-site design is vital, and will ensure that website launched will depict story board initially requested.

It was quite a change for me as a previous “old school” developer to change to W3 Standards, but I must admit that it really is best way to ensure cross browser compatibility. No more having multiple browsers open to ensure design is always standard. I will recommend this to anyone still developing “old school”.

Ensuring content delivers most effective message, capturing audience whilst still enticing search engines is third part to equation. Also confirm that your page titles accurately convey message of page.

Gone are days or writing M-amount of key-words within content to try and push your pages higher. Content is king in land of search engine optimization. You will often find that just by writing relevant, on-topic content copy is optimized by default. Both spiders and visitors will appreciate this from your site.

Bring on Traffic

It is great watching these areas coming together and preparing for website launch. Now that your site is built as optimally as it could be: great design, relevant persuasive content and development strategy that reaches all markets, all you require is traffic.

Consulting with a media strategist at this time is definitely recommended. They would be able to confirm best methods for your niche of market. Whether you should concentrate solely on natural search or tie in with a paid search marketing campaign. A mail shot is always a good idea – especially if site has been revamped. The latest craze is Affiliate Marketing, a very effective way to market your website with proven returns on investment. A media strategist would be able to confirm whether your site needs all four or if one of these areas would suffice.

Follow Through

Your site is launched, you have an effective media strategy in place and traffic is booming. Is this end of site lifecycle, certainly not!

Don’t let attention of your site slip merely because it has launched and expect it to fend for itself on World Wide Web.

Acquire a good log file analyzer program and keep tracking and measuring performance of your site.

To ensure that your site stays at peak performance you will constantly be required to analyze traffic, visitor navigation through site as well as your search engine optimization levels.

Involve your visitors. Place feedback forms on your site and request that visitors tell you where, or if they require more detailed information, or have suggestions for improvement of experience.

It is for them that you have built this site, and without them, your site would be a lonely satellite in a populated galaxy.

Advertisers pay for results rather than paying to reach a particular audience or gathering a certain amount of traffic. Publishers advertise products or services offered by advertisers in exchange for commissions on actions. Publishers display ads, banners, text links or products on their website and via email campaigns.

The actions are mostly recorded by way of cookies which are set on visitor’s browser identifying advertiser, publisher and specific action incurred.

Affiliate Marketing is a very friendly and open way of advertising. Publishers choose who they would like to advertise, thus are able to include relevant content whilst making commission for advertising them. Paying only for performance removes much of risk from merchants and places it upon affiliates. The only risk that merchants need be aware of may be in a worst case scenario risk of fraud from partner sites.

Both Amazon and eBay are of first significant adopters of affiliate marketing technique and now have substantial affiliate relationships measuring in hundreds and thousands.

Adopting Comprehensive Media Strategies

All four media that have been discussed within this article, namely natural and paid search, viral and affiliate marketing may be used independently from each other, and may deliver very effective results for your website.

If your product or service lies within a very competitive niche of market however, a comprehensive implementation comprising all four should be considered to achieve maximum return on investment.