I have two websites, redhotbrides.com and hotbridesonline.com I'm slowly letting the word out there about these 2 websites on various forums and placing some impressions ads on facebook. I have done link exchanges and still doing those. I have a lot of offline marketing material (flyers, postcards, calendars) that is ready to be used. I was going to post them up around the neighborhood wedding related stores. I live by a University. While I think college students are not getting married, would it still be a good idea to drop some flyers there? I'm building up my website image brand for the long run so i'm avoiding any bad distasteful spamming type of advertising. Also, I am trying to run a legitmate photo contest but i am having problems letting the word out about the photo contest. Any suggestion of friendly places to post notice of the contest? My other idea was to email a bunch of photography companies, but seeking them is painfully slow.
Have you submitted the sites to website directories? You should be able to find some niche directories for clothing/fashion, or even weddings. Use some at the University. College students vary in ages a lot, and I know quite a few that choose to get married shortly after graduating.
I forgot to add, but yes I have submitted two articles to ezinearticles and some other directories. My one article came up as #1 in google's SERP, but darn bloody ezinearticles took the article off b/c of some discrepancies after it was already indexed by google. Now i have to wait a few days to clear the discrepancies. I didn't think submitting articles was that effective. I've been writing some articles myself and also hired a writer from here to help out.
If you have enough articles to be a big player in your niche it can be very effective. You've only submitted two, and one's had a bit of an issue. Try submitting a few more and give it a chance. Make sure you're monitoring your traffic.
Ads on single dating site may work to generate traffic, consider upcoming dating sites, they will charge reasonable cost for ad placement.
If you have the dough, place ads in women's sites. Obviously. Also in search engines under the matching keywords. Look into magazines, both on and offline. Are you specifically advertising your articles and videos too? Continue to write articles. Duh. But write articles on other stuff. It could be on a funny story you read or heard about on a wedding, or something related. Aslo, don't give them the entire article. Have it continue on to your site. Have it stop in midsentence. The bottom line is if you want real, targeted visitors, you have to advertise with ads.
If you got the money, try AdWords. Don't advertise in the University. Surprisingly, you could make money by handing out flyers to couples you see in the park or anywhere else(where couples love to walk).