I've put together a number of niche focused custom search engines. I'm looking for some advice on what i can do to start promoting the sites. Do you all recommend i start by paying for links? And if so who should i use? Do any of you have any advice on building links without spending a huge amount of money. I don't mind the grunt work, i just don't know where to start. Thanks in advance.
Google has recently cracked down on many pay for directories. My person opinion is that paying for links in the traditional sense is NOT worth it. My recommendation would be to submit your site and articles to resources like Digg, Reddit, Stumbleupon Del.ciou.us and those kinds of things. DO NOT SPAM THEM. They will block you. I also highly recommend starting a blog. They have built in marketing tools. AKA they ping other sites everytime you add a post. I get most of my hits on my website entering at my blog. Hope that helps! PS I recommend reading as much of this forum as possible. It can be daunting but trust me it does help.
Dont listen to that guy firstly. There is still nothing to say that google has 100% cracked down on them. Yes, a heap of directories have been WHAKED!!! but there is still nothing saying whether this is something random or googles snipers r out of their cages. Just get your sites out there on the directories and try free automated links exchanges with sites like telalinks.com. Oh and article marketing is something you should NOT avoid. just saerch about for article on it and ull learn quikly.
Head over to my site (in sig, Splur Submissions) and chek out the packages there. Each of those packages WILL improve your sites reach. If you are looking to get your site out there alot i recommend some article submitting as this can generate thousands of links if you write a good article.
Start by building free links then if you want more traffic, buy links that does not pass PR, but passes traffic.
Start getting “active†websites linked to your site through: Publicity/Press Release (free or paid),Viral Marketing, Article Writing and Submission, Submission to Directories, Social Bookmarking, Ezine Advertising, etc.