First Steps to Getting Noticed on the WWW

First Steps to Getting Noticed on the WWW
Published Date: 2003-10-09 02:23:15 WorkOnInternet.com

Thought I'd share a few hints in the area of marketing on the www, based on our experiences over the past "lucky seven" years....

In listing our various web sites, we only concentrate on the major (12 or so search engines) and directories, like Open Directory, who supply their database to many of the big SE's (see I'm learning "tech/geek speak" terminology already). Even as "newbe marketing bunnies with our L-plates" on ignored the various marketing messages sent to us promising to submit to thousands of mostly irrelevant search engines. I've found that I check our listings in the search engines every two months or so and do resubmit - just to the MAJOR search engines Though I don't try it with Alta Vista and especially Yahoo (as we are already high up there with our creative writing courses). I don't dare risk them chucking us out, though I don't think they will! We had some difficulty with HotBot and Lycos (especially) and Open Directory in getting listed, so I did re-submit from time to time and they then seem to get listed. Alta Vista seems to take a while - about 6 weeks. Believe Lycos is "winding down" in listing sites incidentally and Infoseek takes a while also. So suggest checking your listings occasionally and resubmitting (INDIVIDUALLY). I don't think any of the major search engines see that as spam.

We also submit to the regional Yahoo (Australia and New Zealand) and find we get listed quite speedily. I bid on key words with Go To for 'writing courses', but we've found the traffic from them to be minimal. Things change so fast on the net and especially with the policies of the search engines. Many have "gone by the way-side" in recent years. Getting this info out now...before it's outdated, as things happen so fast on the 'net', "Speedy Gonzalez Craig"!

A thought, sorry question, on which to end...

With all the comments and articles about search engines and so many people spending so much time and effort "trying to get the better of them" (designing with metatags, etc - 'total non- techno me' has no idea what they are, btw), why don't more web marketers rather spend their valuable energies in activities, which they CAN CONTROL to some extent?* Once you have posted to the major search engines, monitor your positioning from time to time (say once a month) then LET BE. You'll never beat them, because their policies change all the time. Start concentrating on MARKETING and carving out a unique niche for yourself on the net with your particular products.

* Like writing articles for the www in your area of business, for instance. The MAJOR search engines pick up your web site from the links in the published articles...and the more links, the better. Incidentally, WRITING ARTICLES is our main internet marketing strategy for "branding" our products...and best of all it's FREE. "Cheapskate!"

This past seven years has been a long learning curve for us at Eagle Productions (NZ) in association with our overseas associates, seeing what works in internet marketing and what doesn't in getting listed with the major search engines ... like the lessons of life itself.

Hope this info may help you readers "out there in cyberspace". Go for it and good luck.

Craig Lock http://www.craiglock.com

"We can all use the internet to reach out to the "global community" and build a better world in this new "Information Revolution" that is upon us. Let's use it wisely, respect our diversity and unique cultures; but celebrate a new world in union. One where, like your founding forefathers in America, you can first celebrate the Independance Day of the strong burning creative spirit that is within you. If set alight, it is one that will make your personal VISION of the future a REALITY."

Craig Lock The various books* that Craig "felt inspired to write" are available at http://www.nzenterprise.com/writer/books.html and http://www.bridgeniche.com

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