Agencies large and small have embraced the Web as a place to have a presence. Fewer, however, have really figured out how to cost effectively market online. The folks at Web Advantage have come up with several ideas on how to execute online marketing with a limited budget. Jack Fries shares eight tips that can help your agency.
- Search Engine and Directory Submittals: Search engines, the third most often used way that people find Web sites, are the source of up to 85% of all site traffic. Aside from Yahoo and LookSmart, most search engines allow you to submit your Web site at no charge.
- Paid-For Search Engine Listings: The advantage to programs such as those offered by Overture and Google Ad Words Select are that their top search engine results are also syndicated across other search engines — so as a top bidder, you get even more exposure for your dollars. Costs vary by search term.
- Site Linking: Getting other Web sites to link to yours is not only free, but can also help with your search engine rankings, since many search engines factor “link popularity” in the relevancy of their search results.
- E-Mail Signature File: “Sig files,” which automatically appear at the bottom of every e-mail you send , are like little text billboards that help you promote your agency.
- Auto-Responders: These automated e-mails can be a very helpful (and inexpensive) way to send follow-up information and customer communications. AWeber and GetResponse are examples of low-cost auto-responder companies.
- Ad Swaps: If you publish your own e-mail newsletter, you can swap ad space, content, or other types of prominent placements with other e-newsletter publishers.
- Low-Cost Classified Advertising: Even if you don't publish a newsletter, you can still buy relatively low-cost ad space, which can work well when placed in e-mail newsletters targeted to your audience.
- Content Placement: Re-use or write articles and content that you offer to others to publish. You and your agency get exposure through your byline.
Try 'em — you'll like 'em!