Marketing your site is a important as building it. Traditional “off-line” marketing and internet marketing can all work together. All successful marketing is about buidling lasting relationships with your customers, clients, members or leads.

Understanding the principles of internet marketing will result in both a more effective website and a stronger business plan. Make sure you include internet marketing in your a business/organization’s overall strategy for growth. Your  marketing plan and model for growth will effect what is featured on your website – especially the home page. Read more

Some great books: A great book for beginners is Online Marketing Inside Out by Brandon Eley and Shayne Tilley. Organizations who need to raise money should read Raising Thousands (if Not Tens of Thousands) of Dollars With Email by Madeline Stanionis.

Internet marketing course: See details of the course taught by Avery Cohen of Metrist Partners for businesses and nonprofits. Get personal instruction on using powerful internet marketing tools. Learn about advanced SEO, Google Analytics, AdWords, online fundraising, pay per click, key phrases, web writing, social networking and many other powerful skills that will bring you more visitors, sales, members and leads. Be in charge of a professional web marketing/fundraising plan at a fraction of its normal cost.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO): Google handles 80% if all web searches. A “search engine-friendly” site appears higher on Google search results. Google indexes and “ranks” websites according to specific guidelines which include key phrases, fresh and valuable content, incoming links from respected sites, use of a “blog,” menus and internal links, well-written code that follows web standards. 

Use all options to speak to your target audiences - email announcements, Facebook, postcards, flyers, e-newsletters, word of mouth, online social networking, surveys, trial offers, etc.

Target audiences: Understand all your potential audiences and speak to them on your website's homepage. Know their needs, interests and problems. Know what language, features, offers and styles will appeal to them.

Your domain name should be short and easy to remember. We can help you find one and register it.

Email marketing: Email announcements and e-newsletters are a cheap and effective marketing tool. We recommend using an email marketing company like iContact or ConstantContact. Advantages are:

• The low monthly fee is well worth the benefits and depends on the size of your email list.
• The services are “white listed” so email sent from it’s servers avoids most “spam-blockers”.
• The emails are sent from their server but shows any email address as the sender.
• The services allow you to use a colorful email template that matches your website.
• Export and import your list with Excel files.
• Set up your own e-newsletter with a little design help from us. Get free tech support from the service.  
• Track bad email addresses and who opens your email.  
• These services can’t be used with purchased lists which they consider “spamming”.   
• Collect names and addresses from your website.

Visitor tracking: We will install the free visitor tracking utility called “Google Analytics” This powerful tool if setup correctly allows you to know what works and what doesn't. 

Web writing has special guidelines. Most importantly, it has to be engaging and short. If necessary hire a professional writer. It’s usually worth the extra expense. See details below in “Writing for the Web”

Develop your networks: Use your money and resources efficiently and wisely. Figure out ways to enlist the help of your satisfied customers, favorite bloggers, colleagues and friends in your marketing plan both on and off the internet. 
Incoming links from respected websites will put you higher in search engine results and will help your audience find your site. Start requesting as many exchange links as you can while your site is still under construction. Make use of “web portals” for your area or industry.

Web Video: We can help you create a short 3-5 minute video. Or, learn how to create your own video blog. Make short videos about tips and services from your own computer.

Social networking: Use sites like Facebook and LinkedIn to draw attention to your website. Leave comments and add posts to many blogs that links back to your website.

Valuable content: Add valuable free content to your site that people and search engines will want to share and index. Keep your content fresh.

Blog component added to your site can raise your ranking in Google over a few months, especially if it’s updated frequently. Fresh content attracts repeat visitors. Post on other blog with a link back to your own blog. Recyle ideas, tips, writings you’ve already done or have to do anyway.

Traditional marketing materials: Sometimes direct mail and paper communications are essential. We can design ads, postcards, flyers, posters, bookmarks, business cards, brochures, sales sheets. We support our favorite local printers and encourage use of recycled paper and “green” printshops.