Something for Nothing with Free Online Advertising
by Kate Smalley
Published on this site: January 12th, 2006 - See
more articles from this month
It may sound too good to be true, but there's an array of
free advertising available online through search engines/directories,
banner exchanges and e-classifieds. You can also take advantage
of often-overlooked tools like ezines, blogs, forums and reciprocal
links to promote your business. This article gives an overview
of each of these resources.
Search Engines/Directories
Free search engines/directories are a prime spot to advertise
products. The reason is: Eight out of 10 people surfing the
Web use search tools to navigate their way around online,
according to the eMarketing Association. And 54 percent of
experienced online shoppers rely on a search engine when searching
for a product to purchase online, reports Jupiter Communications.
ExactSeek is one of the few remaining search engines that
offer free listings. It receives and indexes more than 30,000
new site submissions daily. To date, more than two million
Websites have been indexed and added to the ExactSeek database.
The Open Directory Project is one of the most important directories
online. Also known as DMOZ, it is the largest, most comprehensive
human-edited directory on the Web. Getting your site listed
with the Open Directory Project can be a major boost because
of the highly relevant searches it delivers. Hosted and administered by Netscape Communication Corporation, DMOZ powers
the core directory services for some of the Web's premier
search engines and portals, including Netscape Search, AOL
Search, Google, Lycos, HotBot and DirectHit.
Online Classified Ads
Almost everyone is familiar with classified advertising.
So why not take advantage of the online equivalent. Placing
e-classified ads can help you broaden your reach and Website
traffic. It can also connect you with people who are eagerly
searching for what you have to sell, which can boost your
sales.
Websites like YahoolClassifieds, SuperAds and ZipZapAds allow
you to post free classifieds in a range of categories and
upload photos. Many sites allow listings nationally and worldwide.
Ablewise.com, for example, features global ads in eight different
countries. Online classifieds are the ultimate way to expand
your brand locally and worldwide.
Banner Exchanges
Banner exchanges allow members to swap ads on each other's
Websites. You simply insert a small piece of code onto your
Web page and you will display banner ads from other exchange
members. In return, your advertisement will be displayed across
the banner exchange network.
There are a wide variety of banner exchanges networks available
online, including e-bannerx, click4click and 1800banners.
All of them have different operating models, with some giving
perks like a 10-percent referral fee or 3,000 banners for
joining. Many banner programs require a 2:1 or 3:2 exchange
ratio.
Overlooked Free Resources
There's an array of free resources that are often ignored
by Website owners. Ezines or online magazines are one of them.
Ezines can give you an effective way to establish yourself
as an expert, build consumer trust and, ultimately, generate
sales. Submitting articles to ezines can result in a byline,
enhanced credibility, plus a link back to your Website.
Another subtle way to advertise online is through blogs.
A blog-short for Weblog-is simply a digital diary or online
forum that anyone can read online. Nearly 80,000 new blogs
are created every day, making them one of the most rapidly
expanding online marketing tools, according to the State of
the Blogosphere report from Technorati, a Website that indexes
blogs.
Blogs can be developed to cover almost any topic, and they're
a great channel for publicizing new products or services.
You can use a blog for a variety of purposes, including news,
education, and commentary. A blog can provide quality links
back to your main domain, plus enhance your site's performance
with search engines.
Reciprocal links is a tactic that can allow you to generate
free traffic from other Websites. The key is to link to high-traffic
sites that complement-not compete-with yours. This can provide
you with a steady stream of visitors matching your target
market.
Forums can also increase your visibility on the Web. This
type of online chatting lets you communicate with audiences
directly related to your product or service. You may even
be able to slip in the name of your company and link back
to your Website.
Kate Smalley, Connecticut Secretary http://www.connecticutsecretary.com
[email protected]
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