looking for a word...

...that would describe everything we do to attract visitors

[muszek]

I'm writing my thesis (graduating sociology soon) on something that could be described in a ugly way like this "about attracting visitors to websites". Web advertising seems right at start, but this term is too narrow, I need a term that would describe everything that "web subjects" (webmasters, e-stores, etc.) do to attract visitors. SEO, linking strategies, buying ads, making contests, affiliating with other websites, creating content that serves just this purpose (i.e. some silly flash animations), etc. What would you say?

I'm thinking about the verb "to promote", but it's (at least in Polish) connected too tightly with the term "sale" (when you see a word "promotion" you know it's always something like "all prices cut in half until next month" or "buy one, get 2nd free").

[diamondgrl]

Just to throw in a little cynicism to get the discussion going, the appropriate term for many site creators is "flamboozle".

[rocknbil]

Internet marketing strategy?

[Mcadieux]

How about SNAFU... HEHE just kidding. How about Website Optimization.

[deejay]

One thought - don't get too tied up in that magical single word.

The more appropriate and all encompassing that word is, the more unlikely it is that your potential clients will be searching for it.

:) Make sure you throw those other individual descriptors around liberally too.

[txbakers]

marketing

It all comes down to marketing. Everything you described is a function of marketing.

[Frequent]

Traffic Optimization

[Bongo27]

web development?

[karmov]

I vote for Traffic Optimization. I like that one, good job Frequent :)

[rocknbil]

Except that traffic optimization is only a PART of the Internet marketing strategy. :-P

[Essex_boy]

Voodoo?

[Frequent]

I was going to defend my choice of terms but there really isn't the need. In response to his question, I gave him my answer.

Give him your answer if you have one. That is, of course the whole point of the thread.

[chakra]

Third vote for Traffic Optimization

[limbo]

marketing

It all comes down to marketing. Everything you described is a function of marketing.

Seconded. I would go one further and call it Internet Marketing (IM).

[larryhatch]

Internet Marketing might be a tad too wide.
That could apply to a business selling hosting, bandwidth etc.

Sooooo .. hows about 'Site Marketing', or 'Site Promotion'?

It doesn't have to be commercial. My site isn't monetized, but I still promote or
'market' it so people will see my work. -Larry

[fom2001uk]

what about "web honey"?

[Macro]

There's always management gobbledegook - like Dilbert :)

Or political non-speak, like Labour's election promise that everybody will be "better off".

Mananging
Assisting &
Growing
Internet
Channels

The MAGIC of presence management?

It's too early, I haven't had my coffee yet