:: Web Design Promotion ::

Meta Tags:
In our ever-desperate search for higher search engine rankings, is it worth having META tags on all of your site's pages?

Definitely. Search engine robots won't necessarily come in through your 'front door' (your index.html or default.html), so it's always wise to keep META tags updated on every single page.

You should also modify your META tags on each page to reflect the content on that page - recent studies have shown that pages have a higher chance of success if you re-inforce META keywords by using them in the main text of your page.

However, keep in mind that each search engine has its own policies and what may work with one search engine may not work in another.

Weekend traffic : how to manipulate it to your advantage.

Most webmasters will know that traffic to their sites drops off significantly over the weekends as most people get offline and enjoys the sun (or rain or snow wherever you may be). So how can you manipulate this to your advantage? Send out your site newsletter, submit your scripts or even do that major site update that's been waiting in the wings for a while. Do it on a Friday or Saturday so that people surfing on weekends will surf right on in. At the same time, it will still be fresh for Monday and should help to build repeat business.

PROMOTION: There are plenty of advantages in sharing content with others...

Contrary to 'popular' perceptions amongst the public, many authors and webmasters on the Net feel prilvileged and honoured if someone asks to borrow or use their content. As long as the original author gets the credit both sides benefit with increased traffic and exposure.

However, you need to be careful if you are prepared to offer content : you know the saying "Give an inch and they'll take a mile?" It does happen on the Net, so here's some tips :

- Offer a 'free content' area where others can copy your content on your site, as long as they keep a link back to your original site.

- If you are supplying tutorials or articles or the like with another site, you should probably prepare a written contract specifying both sides' obligations and interests.

PROMOTION: Another popular way of promoting your site isn't online; rather, it's all over you..

Yep, you guessed it. Clothes, caps, mouse pads and coffee mugs are popular ways of enforcing your branding and encouraging visitors to drop by your site. So where can you get this stuff?

CafePress - http://www.cafepress.com
iPrint - http://www.iprint.com

Also, speak to your local 'copy' shop and see if you can arrange some sort of deal in return for advertising, to cut down on costs.

PROMOTION: Are Yahoo! serious about site submissions??

Recent reports from our own SitePointers suggest that Yahoo! now takes an abnormally long time to assess your site submission and determine whether it deserves a listing on the portal. Time ranges have been anywhere from 3 months to over a year. We've also received reports that the $199 quick-assessment value is not value-for-money, particularly if Yahoo! editorial staff decides to remove your site a few weeks later for being in the wrong directory.

So what can you do to increase your chances of submissions?

1. Make sure it's in the right directory.
2. Submit to your local portal version!!! Yahoo.com is already overloaded with submissions and you have a better chance of getting on if you submit to your local portal.
3. Make sure your site is as finished as possible and proof-read the site before submission.

Good Luck!

PROMOTION: Are search engines becoming obsolete?

It would seem that with frequent search engine changes to the rules, updates and the like it would be pretty hard to maintain a high ranking. It has been suggested by some that you only submit to Inktomi, Excite and Altavista. I'd add the following :

- Make sure all your META tags are optimized and present.
- List yourself in the ODP (Open Directory Project - http://dmoz.org) and make an effort to be listed in Yahoo! and Looksmart by submitting your *finished* site to them.
- Submit your sub pages to the engines every month or so.

Check out PromotionBase.com for more.

PROMOTION: Q : I have a Flash intro on my default page for my site. Do I submit that to the search engines?

A : Probably not. Search engines and people reviewing your sites prefer to see real content instead of seeing fancy Flash movies at the front, so it would be better to submit some of your subpages with content in order to have a chance at a relatively decent ranking.

PROMOTION: Does Quick Submit to Search Engines work?

It depends on which search engines you submit to. NBCi.com indexes your site quite quickly, and if you pay to submit to Inktomi, your site will usually be listed in HotBot, AOL and other Inktomi partners within a week. GoTo and pay-per-click engines usually take a few days, LookSmart takes at least a month and Yahoo! Express will put you up in about 7-10 days.

As for the rest, well........ You'll just have to wait....

PROMOTION: Make your viral marketing campaign deliver!
Viral marketing is all about word of mouth. So how can you make subscribers talk?

Offer an incentive for them to pass your marketing message on

Don’t consider referrals as opt-ins - confirm each refer-ee’s agreement with them personally

Personalize the referral email so that refer-ees know who sent you their details

Track and analyze your results - use them to constantly improve your program

Continually promote friendly referrals from your subscribers

PROMOTION: Want to use viral marketing? Make sure you’ve covered these essentials…
Viral marketing leverages the most valuable Web commodity – word of mouth.

So make sure your campaign:

Presents clear value to your customers

Is in a format that’s easy to pass between people

Is easy to track – so you can continually hone the campaign and improve your results!

PROMOTION: Generate traffic, increase sales leads – all with your signature!

A good electronic signature that you use to append emails, or to identify yourself within online communities, is a very personal way to attract attention, promote your site, and advertise your business. A good signature should:

Identify who you are

Contain a link to your site

Be as concise as possible

Avoid including images, lengthy quotes, or multiple urls - the shorter your signature, the better.

PROMOTION: Look beyond link exchange programs to generate traffic.
In generating traffic, don’t just head to Yahoo! and Altavista, or you’ll miss out on valuable opportunities.

Consider site-specific search engines and portals that cater to Web users with specific interests and information needs.

And actively pursue reciprocal linking with sites that:

compliment your online presence in terms of genre, and type of content

target the same/similar target audiences that you do

Please forward all newsletter suggestions you would like to see in future editions to  we will do our best to follow up on the most popular suggestions in future issues as time and resources permit.

Regards,
Tim Watts, CyberNet Solutions
http://webdesign.cybernet-images.com
Phone: 604.817.4789