Forum Moderators: open
Whose had success marketing their business online relatively inexpensively? I am in the U.S.
Any good free industry specific places to post ads in forums?
Thanks
[edited by: agerhart at 2:50 pm (utc) on Aug. 8, 2003]
[edit reason] removed URL - please see TOS [/edit]
Looks like you got in trouble posting your URL. naughty naughty! ;)
As far as finding free advertisement, you should do a search for your keywords and see if there are any directory style sites that show up in the first page or two. I know that for my keywords I can find around 12 free directories in the first two pages of results. Get listed in any that show up for you.
Also, you can do a search for:
"Add Site" + "Your Keywords"
"Add URL" + "Your Keywords"
etc...
This will usually give you some more directories for links.
Then you just have to wait for the spiders to find them and you're on your way.
Also if you track hits to your site you might be surprised how many click throughs you get from some of those directories that you never thought were worth it.
One thing though, watch out for those directories that require a reciprocal link and then put your link as a JavaScript link that the spiders can't follow. That's a one sided relationship if you ask me. Maybe give them a link for a week or two (so they can verify it), then take it down. If they don't help you why help them?
Submit articles to trade e-zines and other appropriate websites. Ensure your url gets a link somewhere in the article.
Find horizontal markets and trade links with them. Testimonials from your customers (if applicable)
The above are all free - I'm a cheapskate and won't pay for anything on the web :)
-webwoman
SO do whatever you want, but be careful in selecting each and every action especially when you care for the search engine traffic.
Also, try to get links to your site. This can be free as well and bring you in decent traffic from the sites linking to you, plus it will boost your SE rankings which will bring you in more traffic from the SE's at the same time.