My Marketing Suggestions Thread

Hehe! Nope, didn't miss it. It's right above your post pointing out that I may have missed it. Your response is at the bottom.

 

Wow, great thread! I learned a lot. Thanks!
Do you have any additional ideas on how to market a local real estate site? I've done some linking, Squidoo and WP theme sponsorship...

 

Greetings usasportstraining,

Thanks for the advice, I'm glad you like the theme!

Best

 

This thread is really helpful. It's a shame that more forums aren't this civil.

Anyway, I don't own the site, but I know its founder and he has asked me for some feedback. I would like a 3rd opinion, if you will, before I send him a letter.

It's called vgviews.com (sorry, I can't have live links yet), and he's targeting it as a social networking/community site for video game players. Players review games, mainly, and can have personal blogs (though nothing as useful as destructoid.com or what's on gamespot).

I think it looks a little plain, but I was also wondering what you guys might think of it.

 

hey thanks for your tips +rep added

 

Real estate is a very competitive niche. I'm not sure what you have on the local real estate site. What does it provide? Are you listing houses for sale?

• Read this info on localized SEO and marketing. It should help you with trying to increase your local traffic and improve your ranking in the SERPs.
• I'd recommend buying a couple real estate domains; ie real-estate-help.com or whatever and host it on another webhost for cheap. Then offer other real estate sites and blogs a backlink, if they'd link to your main real estate site.
• If possible, offer local real estate agents something from your site (a backlink, article about their service, etc) if they would link to you.
• Make your site useful locally. Make a Real Estate FAQ or write helpful articles.
• If you are a real estate agent, offer free classes, etc and it could lead to customers.
• Join Meetup.com and/or start a real estate investing group or first time homebuyers group.
• There are plenty of people out there selling links or blog posts about real estate. Check out the buy/sell section of the forum.
• You could possibly use Craigslist.com to advertise your services and site.
• You could do simple things like advertise via your car; logo on side or back window may generate a few referrals.
• Do press releases.
• Advertise locally via Adwords, Yahoo, and the local online or print newspapers.

 

Can you suggest some ideas on how to market a site selling manicure and pedicure sets?

 

That's an interesting type of site. I haven't had a question about one like this, so this is always fun.

• Try to get backlinks from hair salon, nail shop, and cosmetology sites. Write to the owner/webmasters and see if they'd be willing to link to you. Offer them a discount or whatever. It will benefit you linkbuilding-wise, but also you may get some referral traffic.
• Look for 'mommy blogs' and others that may be interested in writing about your site and linking to you. Same offer as above, possibly.
• Hire WordPress designers to create templates with a "take care of yourself" theme, such as haircare, 'what looks good', the latest fashions, etc.
• Press Releases
• Advertise via Google and Yahoo on the above mentioned sites and via keyword search.
• Write articles on your site about nail care products, how-to's, new ideas, the latest styles. You may be considered something of an authority site, if people like what you write. Also, this may help with searches, especially longtail keyword search results.
• If this is for a local shop, you could work locally to promote it. Take a look at geotargeting.
• You could have a contest for most impressive/difficult nail designs. *Proof could be via a picture with part of their photo ID showing (nothing important though!) and then display the winners. Send out a monthly or quarterly prize or gift certificate. You could then use the images in a gallery of designs. You may eventually build up a following of visitors wanting to see the latest designs. It could be good linkbait too.
• Market your site carefully via social media/bookmarking sites. Don't spam though!

 

Hi, great thread with very good info about Marketing. Your work is really appreciated.

I own a PSD to HTML service. I provide xHTML/CSS coding services to busy Graphic Designers and Studios. I only market it through Adwords and I also get a lot of traffic through Google (organic traffic).

What would you suggest me to further market it?

 

I too have the same answer

 

I too need a ideas on how to market a site selling please.

 

Thats a splendid set of suggestions, very thoughtful as well as valuable.
Thanks a ton for your response
My site is http://www.nailcaredeals.com
This is my prime website and I am taking constant efforts to make it the best.
I will be always open to take your advice and help (with fees Also)
Please pm me anytime if you have something specific in mind.

 

How would you market my website www.everythingblackhat.com

 

• Press Releases
• Be active and helpful in webmaster/design/photoshop/photo-editing forums and include your links in your sig.
• Market your services in the services sections of related forums.
• Provide helpful Squidoo/hubpages on html and design, including within those sites. Join their groups. Show off your stuff!
• Join Biznik and LinkedIn and market yourself there. LinkedIn is more of a resume place, while Biznik is for entrepreneurs/small business owners/independent contractors. They are basically business/work networking sites. Both would be good for you.
• Join StumbleUpon and keep a sticky post about your services/site. Review sites and images.
• I looked at your site and I didn't see any before and after portfolio or anything of the sort. I'd suggest something like that to show off your work.
• Try to get backlinks from photo sites and art/design studios, or where ever people are competent with the PSD format, but not with HTML.

Nice site and very cool service you provide!

 

USA...

You have some great advice. Do you have time to give me some ideas for marketing the first site in my sig? It is for teenage driver monitoring.

thallewell

 

I like the simple design and usability of the site. Very professional!

http://www.nobaddriving.com/

• I would try to get backlinks from driving advocate groups, MADD, etc. Take a look at http://search.dmoz.org/cgi-bin/search?search=driving for some ideas. Check out Yahoo Directory as well.
• Look for parenting/teenage parenting groups and websites too.
• Look for parenting blogs for possible blog posts about your site and service.
• You could also try to get driving schools and highschool driving programs to mention you and maybe even send a letter to the parents.
• You could also try church groups too.
• Don't forget the AARP, as grandparents are often really concerned about teenage driving and may convince the parents to buy the service.
• Do Press Releases
• Since parents may not be as hip on the latest technology, ideas such as making a really good YouTube video or doing mobile advertising may be lost on them. You may have to resort to the old letter/email writing campaigns to reach them.
• I'd suggest advertising on parenting sites and check out print magazines for low cost advertising methods. If you're a non-profit, you may get a discount or get free advertising. Also, I know that the advertising sections in the back are usually the cheapest.
• Possibly hire a designer/create a couple really good parent specific Word Press templates with your text link on the bottom.
• Take advantage of social media/bookmarking sites, especially the older ones that are popular with the 30+ age folks. StumbleUpon included.
• If this is your site, you could list yourself on Biznik and LinkedIn. Network with people.
• Create Squidoo pages and use the various methods to increase awareness of them. They are good backlinks, but also you can get good traffic from there, if you do things right. The Squidoo users tend to be in this age range and there are many parenting groups to join as well.
• You may be able to do the same via Hubpages too.
• You could offer free bumper stickers to a couple groups to generate some buzz.
• You could try contacting a writer at NPR (National Public Radio) to see if they'd be interested in the story about your site. It couldn't hurt to try!

 

Hey, thanks for the great last reply but sorry I got another one for you

The website is www.snowsurge.com and it is a newly launched skiing and snowboarding news website. I have spent lots on it so far so would like it to be a success.

It is just launched so I have got a press release written and I am not submitting it to places. I have also purchased 2000 directories submissions.

How else could I advertise it?

 

God bless you so much for your invaluable contribution to this great forum.
i have a question which i need your help. i am building an ecommerce store that will sell computer/pda/ipod accessories, etc. it will include a blog, forum, reviews, news ,guide/,how to,auction,articles,online games,sa sort of social sites where people can have their own store, blog, share and upload files.

My question, how can i market this site.
Thank you,
kingsley

 

You have some amazing advice here, very thorough! Thanks so much for this, I have learned alot.
+REP to you!

 

It's very professional looking!

Some day I could envision sponsoring ski events and a line of clothing. Probably jumping ahead a bit though.

For now:

• You could advertise on such sites as http://www.skinet.com/ and http://skicentral.com/ - these may be competitors, but if not, then they could be good partners.
• Contact ski resorts, ski websites, snowboarders, etc for possible advertising exchanges, special offers or news that you could announce for them. You may have more success with the smaller resorts that are craving more visitors. Partnerships with them could be your best bet.
• Try to get bloggers that love snowboarding/skiiing to write about your site or at least link to you.
• Maybe along a partnership with a ski resort you could offer a contest to generate buzz, which you could try to get spun up on the social bookmarking sites.
• You may want to try advertising via Google Mobile, as it could target your market.

That is a very, very competitive niche. You have a lot of parts to the site, so it may work well. Specializing could be a good thing too. Have you tried selling via Amazon to see how well things sell? It may be very revealing.

• To generate the necessary amount of activity on the blog, auction, and elsewhere publicly visible, you would probably want to do something big, which usually requires news coverage or some hefty advertising.
• Do press releases.
• You could try to have a grand opening and try to do some buildup prior to it. You'll want to get some buzz going beforehand and make sure people are talking about it. *You may need to hire some people to help you spread the word. Get your friends and family involved.
• You could have daily contests, specials, and other things to keep people wanting to come back to see what will happen next.
• Have an opt-in monthly or quarterly email that you send out with the latest deals, coupon codes, reviews and such. This will keep your site in their minds.

Thank you! I'm glad you're enjoying it.