New Jersey Enterpreneur - Small Business, Entrepreneurs and Venture Capital

First ? Engage Real and Credible Support! By creating a stronger online marketing and branding effort through various media like print, radio and TV, you?ll reach targeted audiences everywhere they assemble ? socially, personally and professionally. It won?t be cheap however. The best way to start is to advertise in your immediate trading area where you?ll want to get the quickest traction and interaction with your site. Without knowing who you are, visitors won?t just stumble upon your web site.

Second ? Don?t be Shy! If people don?t know what your web address is, what makes you think they?ll ever arrive on your doorstep. That means that an aggressive effort to assure your url is visible must be your first step. If you haven?t included your web address on your email signature, business cards, telephone on-hold message, yellow pages, stationery suite (yes, envelopes too) and anywhere else, you missed a big opportunity to connect. This is especially true if you are a start up business.

Third ? Shout the News! One of the ways to consider spreading the news about your web site is to communicate your web launch via email blasts that take advantage of targeted opt-in e-mail lists. Optionally, you can elect to distribute post cards with a creative announcement of what you?re doing, where to find you and some relevant reasons why visitors will want to spend time clicking through your site.

Fourth ? Utilize Banner Advertising! Through relevant sites where you can logically place a banner ad among businesses and industries that compliment your services, the use of a banner is smart and more strategic than ever. From fixed messages or flashing text, banner ads deliver enormous pulling power particularly if scripted cleanly and simply. Consider that banners can be exchanged or traded between businesses if appropriate and timely. Caution: Don?t think that this very inexpensive way to advertise will solely generate the results you are seeking. It won?t.

Fifth ? As the Master of your Domain, Give Something Up! Generosity goes a long way when it comes to forging new relationships. As such, whether it?s a new prospect or an existing client, give them a chance to learn more about your business, your areas of expertise or what you have done for others via a newsletter. A Free Subscription to an on-line newsletter will get them to the site for a test drive of what you have to offer. It?s an ideal setting to gather important information about your reader. Consider saying “Thanks for visiting. Before you continue, can you tell us a little bit about yourself by answering the three questions below?” In the future, you?ll begin learning more about how to speak with that visitor on a more personal and relevant level.

Sixth ? Ask a Friend for Feedback! Introducing a website that has global visibility involves a lot of people, friends, clients (former and current), prospects and family. By involving them into the process and asking them to take a look, you?ll surely be the recipient of a variety of suggestions; good, bad and ugly. Whatever the consequence, the undertaking will be worth the effort. With first-hand, straight forward critique from trusted allies, you?ll need to hear various opinions to adjust and make your web site more effective.

Seventh ? Do some Promotion! The news media is always looking for internet-related stories and good candidates to interview. Spend time sending out press releases that detail Who, What, Where, When and How your company operates to targeted newspapers, magazines, radio and TV stations.

Eighth ? Update, Update, Update! Today?s news is old news tomorrow. It always sounds like a good idea to have a press room on a web-site until the time arrives to add new information. If you look forward to guaranteeing return trips to your site, give readers a reason to come back.

Ninth ? Investigate Search Engine Optimization! Register your web site with top search engines. Will you spend some money doing so? Yes! But worth it for certain vehicles that will garner attention for your site. Start with one (from sites like Yahoo, Lycos or Excite) and test effectiveness of visitors coming from that site. Having your company appear on the first or second page makes a big difference when trying to attract casual visitors. Most won?t read past 2 pages.

These simple steps will help you begin your journey to greater visibility.