5 Dirt Cheap Methods for Marketing Your Website

Do you think you are using your company’s website to its full potential?

Maybe you have a new or existing website, but you’re not sure what to do next? If you are not properly marketing your website and driving unique, target traffic, it becomes more of an expense, than a sales tool.

If you’re aiming at generating more traffic, here are 5 quick tips you can implement today:

#1 Make sure Google has found your website

For years Google has been a go-to source for finding anything and everything on the internet. From a new pair of socks, to companies that can develop a marketing campaign, there is nothing people won’t search for on Google.

Have you Googled your website lately? Did you find it? If not, you can easily register your website into Google’s database using Google’s Webmaster Tools. Simply visit the website, click the "Add your URL" link, login or create an account, and type your website into the text field. Hit “Add A Site”. Google may direct you through a few quick steps to ensure your website is properly set into their database. In a few days, to a few weeks, your website will be added and can be effectively searched on Google.

Quick Tip: Don’t be afraid to add each page individually from your site. Your blog, contact page, and services page.

#2 Put your website on everything

This may sound obvious, but it’s often missed.

Put your website on EVERYTHING your business promotes or hands out to potential new and existing customers:

• Business Cards
• Flyers and Brochures
• Presentations
• Chatchkeys/Tradeshow Handouts
• Letterheads
• Print, Radio, or Television

This is a great way to promote, that won’t cost extra money. You’re already creating these materials anyway.

#3 Share your site on social networks like Facebook and Twitter

If you have a company, set up a business Facebook and Twitter account and include your website URL. Include it in all articles you write and in posts you share when appropriate. It will reach a new audience, get liked, linked and shared.

Fact: 93% of marketers use social media for business and 80% of consumers prefer to connect with brands on Facebook.

#4 Run ad campaigns on new media sources

According to the Huffington Post, the public spends 62% more time on-line today, than they did just three years ago. This increase comes at the expense of time spent with traditional media sources such as television, radio and print. A majority of that time is spent watching Netflix, Hulu, listening to Pandora, Spotify, or checking their Facebook or Twitter pages.

It is becoming increasingly more necessary to advertise on these popular new media outlets. And with more highly targeted demographics, such as age, gender, family status, and precise interests, you are only paying for the traffic you want.

To learn more about new media marketing, make sure to check out a recent article provided by CWS’s own Sheryl Barlow: “How to Market Using New Media”.

#5 Talk to people about it

The simplest way to start marketing your website that is free, easy, and can be implemented instantly, is simply by telling your friends, family, clients, and prospective clients about your website. Talk about the benefits of your site, and why they should visit it.

Another method is to get in touch with your companies niche market communities. Website forums and casual gatherings within these groups of people are a fantastic way to spread your website to these types of markets.

Final Thoughts

In the end, you don’t need a large marketing budget to start generating traffic to your website. Spending a few minutes a day, a few days a week, can easily drive more traffic over time. Remember, it isn’t always about the amount of traffic, it is the amount of targeted traffic.

So tell us, which of these tips are you going to implement first? Have you already started?