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.

6. Look at two or three of your competitor’s websites or ad’s. Write one or two sentences describing their USP.

7. What does your favorite client or supplier like most about your business solutions?

8. Look at other industries, are their innovations or processes in these industries that you could apply to your business?

9. Now rewrite your USP. Write it in clear language your clients can understand. Make a simple message. Make it specific. Make a bold promise (adding little value gets little money; adding great value, gets you big money) Make it stand for one distinctive thing. Write this in paragraph form and also in a shorter one sentence version that can be easily repeated.

10. Start using this USP in draft form. 30 days later repeat above exercise. Revise your USP based on your experiences. Complete same process in 6 months and you will have a winner.

Being honest about your USP is your most difficult task. You love your business idea. You love your product or service. You think everyone should love and want it. You need to be brutally honest. Is it different or better than what others are offering in market place? Is it meaningful to your potential client? Answer these questions honestly. If your USP does not meet above criteria, then find aspects of your business, client dreams and expectations, or gaps in your industry where you can meet a customer need that is unique and different from your competitors. Find that aspect of business where others are not serving or serving client poorly. Go there and create your product or service. Have courage to complete this process honestly! You do not always have to be first to think of a particular USP. But you need to be first to use USP in your business. You want to position yourself in people’s minds as best with particular quality in your USP. Every product is different, every service is different. So find difference and market it. Good luck! © Al Hanzal