Hello, I turn to you for some marketing advice. I'm currently working on a 'freelance' website (like oDesk, ifreelance, freelancer, elance, guru, etc). The question is, what is the most effective way to market this site to attract both buyers and providers? I believe search engine optimization is the best way to build long term traffic. Would PPC be worth it? How much article marketing should I do? I guess the thing is, I don't want to get ranked highly in search engines (as this will probably be where I devote the most time/resources) but have a 'dead site' without buyers/providers actively there. Is this the type of site that can grow steadily through SEO? Also, if you're a freelancers or a buyer, where do you go to find work? What type of blogs or websites, related to your work, do you visit? Hopefully, I'll be able to target some of these as well.
SEO is not a best way actually but a good way only. However, it would take much in both time and budget to spend on to compete the current freelance market. The current leader like Guru.com and others already has authority status, also a tons of competitor running after this market. If you have analyzed through already then you can go. Another option is to contact for direct advertisement in relative forums or blog such as webmaster forums. It could be banner or reviews from website owner, a famous one if possible to help building trust toward your brand faster. This could also build a long term clients as well. The important point to consider are 1. How differentiate between you and the current leader? 2. How much secure you can guarantee for user privacy not being stolen, especially financial informations. Most of current leader had taken very long time built it, thus an important consideration point from user perspective as well. If you cannot think how important this is, think about Paypal and other payment system. Are you dare enough to give credit card info to unknown payment gateway over Paypal? I think the answer is - No.
Good points. So you agree that the best way of driving long term traffic and growing the site and brand is through marketing to forums/sites that buyers/freelancers frequent and through SEO? And of course we have a secure payment gateway in place..
If you educate others on why using your service is good then your on the right track. Just expand from that buy creating articles and other how to info.
There are a good advice that buy private ad from small blogger, it would help those blogger know you and they would be you first providers and then the reader of those blogger.