Do It Yourself Promotions
by Robert Nixon
We all have gotten those infamous e-mails about how 'so and so' makes thousands of dollars a week on the internet with information on how you or I can do the same by applying a few simple steps and paying either to join the associate end of the program or purchasing an e-book or set of program disks. All of this involves much more money than a great majority of those that are starting their own internet business for the first time can afford. They soon learn that the promotional end of the equation is something most have little or no knowledge of how to implement.
The goal is to get your site in front of as many people's faces as possible with the least amount of expense and effort. The problem is that the more you spend on promotional tools, the less effort you will have to expend, whereas the less you spend the more effort it will take.
First: What you need to do is to determine exactly what it is your going to promote, either your website with all the product information or the product directly, one or the other or both?
Both is the correct answer.
In the promotional advertisement, and Yes, I said 'advertisement' as that is exactly what you are creating, an ad for your product but reference in two or more ways back to either your website or your associate site itself. Most just send those interested to their associate site(s) directly and let that site sell the product. That would seem to be the more logical way to go about it and actually is the best way to do the process. The problem is that you will need an 'alternate' way to promote your product 'indirectly' too, as all the other hundreds or thousands of your fellow associate member's will soon flood the engines with their sites also. The engines will only take so many, and then not list anymore, they do not need to have their results show so many returns of what is the same page and consider this as a form of being spammed. If you are not one of the few first ones to become an associate and get your site listed as one of the first on the first result page, then you will stand little chance of any
Second: Where to promote for the best exposure.
Search engines are still the best place to get the best results but they are not the only places you can promote your website or product. If you pay for placement, you will of course get your site listed higher in the results no matter where you advertise. IF you do not have 'deep pockets' you will have to be very selective on how much you spend and where you advertise.
The search engines only need you submit a new site, maybe once a month to them until it is listed, depending upon the engine, and then only when you make a major change. If you have your tags and a good site map on your site, the search engine 'spiders' will visit your site on a regular time schedule and pick up all the changes anyway along with the additional pages you have created. If you are using a submitter, you can simply select the ones your site has not been listed with already thus avoiding search engine spam.
Your proper use of your site's keywords will in turn assist you with getting a better page rank for your site, but remember, all of this is inter-related and will take time.
You will get a higher rank if you have quality long term links to your site. One of the best ways to do this is to submit your site to directories (see my freestuff page for the lists of them).
Many swear that a 'solo ad' in a 'safe list' is best, others tout other places. I think, first a good 'feeder' search engine, then in a well known safelist, but I think a well known 'newsletter' may produce just a well.
Maybe you do not have the funds to pay for an ad, then what do you do?
For sometimes, very small fees, you can pay for a 'submitter' to put your message out to each of the above mentioned types of places but to many of the same type of sites.
There are several very good ones of each but here only one of each as an example:
A search engine submitter: Exploit is an international submitter and maybe found at: http://www.exploit.net/wizard/ There are also others for your region, area and/or country. On my 'free stuff' site page, I have a couple of free ones that you may want to use. http://www.cpucash.net/freestuff.html
A safe list submitter:
http://thesubber.com/ A newsletter submitter ( submit articles ): http://www.articlesender.com/Third: When to promote.
This will depend on where you are promoting.
Most places that take submissions will have guidelines for you to follow. Be sure to adhere to them and do not try to 'beat the system', as you can into very serious trouble by doing so and end up getting your site banned from submissions. Some only allow you to post after certain time periods have elapsed, well you get the idea. Pay attention to what your doing and where is the key. (keeping an Excel sheet with this information is a great way to keep track).
Fourth: How to follow up on those precious few that have become your leads.
There are several ways to follow up on your leads.
By far the best is to call them on the phone as soon as you can, making sure in the lead form you have them authorize the call, time, etc. I use my Adcalls free dialer (see my products section on the left).
Sending a follow up e-mail, again with permission, is the most often used method. Depending on your timing in sending the response will be the key here. I would suggest putting them into an auto responder and doing the follow ups that way. A good auto responder will have an opt-out link included in the message so the lead can delete themselves from the list without your having to do so manually, and is required by law. There are also some great e-mail programs you can purchase that will do the job for you along with some good newsletter programs. What you use is up to you but be aware of how you use it is just as important.
Snail mail is another way. Depending upon the volume and what your sending will determine the cost. Many associate programs have folders and other promotional aids you may purchase and send at volume rates thru the post office. Here a once a month mailing, or a one time mailing to each new person will be the most effective.
In conclusion: Do it yourself promotions give you control of all the key aspects of your new business. You can select the ones that produce and get rid of the ones that do not quickly. Your target market and how heavily that marked is saturated will also be a factor. Determination and time to let your efforts produce for you will end up with the best results. Do not become over zealous and just promote everywhere and all the time, but use common sense. Do not let your desire outweigh your common sense and you will succeed.
Good Luck,
Robert Nixon