Sales Without Search Engines

Imagine one day you flip on your PC, log on to the Internet andgo to google.com. The browser alerts you and says that there is nowebsite found at that address. No problem you think, as you head onover to Yahoo.com. Same thing. No website found at that url. Nowsomething seems fishy, go to MSN.com because you know Microsoft willnever run out of money, and their search engine will be up. Nope,instead you get another alert box telling you that there is no websitefound at that url.

Imagine that!

Yes, imagine an Internetworld where no search engines exist, and anyone trying to make a livingonline selling a product or service has to be found.

Where would you start? Where would you list your site(s)? How would you get your site found by your potential customers?

Thisis the mentality you should always take when promoting your website.Sure, it'd be great to have top rankings in the search engines, and getall of that free targeted traffic coming to your site. But just aseasily as you achieve that ranking, you could lose it overnight - witha simple filter change in the algorithm.

I'm sure you've heardof the "Florida" update that caused many site owners panic attacks astheir previously highly ranked sites fell off the face of the Internet.They lost sales, traffic and dreams of Internet riches.

Why?

AsI heard someone famous once say: "Don't place all your eggs in onebasket" - yet too many website owners do. They are obsessed with a topranking in Google instead of building a brand name people willrecognize and trust. Top rankings in the search engines should be partof your Internet marketing strategy, but dedicate only a portion ofyour efforts to that. You should equally spend your time pursuingpartnerships with other non-competitive sectors of the Internet.

I'msure you've seen a web-ring. To refresh, they are a group of relatedsites that link to each other. Internet marketing is the same concept,but on a much grander showcase. You can advertise your site in thecostly Pay-Per-Click Arena, and if you have the budget to do so, by allmeans, that is the quickest way to get found. But keeping in mind thatsearch engines don't exist, what would you do to get the word out?

1.Press Releases - While they should be reserved for newsworthy purposes(new product/service, acquisition, attending Trade Show or Convention,etc.), they are a great way to get people to visit your site when theyare looking for information relating to your product or service. It'salso a great way to build your brand name and to become known as anauthority of information in your field.

2. Directory Listings -Quite simply, this is the easiest way to get your site indexed bysearch engines. There are many free directories that you can get yoursite listed in, and there are many fee-based directories that are worththe price of adding your site. The added value is that since your siteis listed categorically, it helps to re-enforce what your site offers,since it will be found with similar sites.

3. Articles - Exposeyour expertise! While article writing is not easy, it is an extremelyvaluable asset to your site. By writing, you are creating uniquecontent found nowhere else and we all know how much search engines lovethat! It also gives you another way of explaining a product or servicewithout coming off as a sales pitch. Another added benefit of writingarticles is that it's a great way to naturally grow the size of yoursite in an organic way, and will in turn, make your site become a "hub"of relevant information in regards to your industry.

4.Newlsetters - This should be your site's bread and butter. The peoplewho have signed up for your newsletter already feel that your site wasworth their time to give you their email address, so these people havealready place some trust and value into what you have to say. Thenewsletter is where you can promote new products and services tointerested users without risking any intrusiveness factors. This is thebest place to make a sales pitch to your perspective readers!

5.Blogs/RSS Feeds - While to some people this is already old-hat, thereare many users out there (think AOL users) who have no idea about howto customize the content they want to read. There are many areas to getyour blog listed, and it gives an inside point-of-view into the innerworkings of your company or personality, thus giving yet another wayfor a user to identify with you or your site.

I think it's safeto say that the search engines will always be around, but to focusentirely on them and ignoring the other resources could be a costlybusiness mistake.

Just remember to keep your eye on the prize ofonline success, and customers coming from various outlets, not just thesearch engines.

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