Web site Promotion | Website Development

There are thousands of would-be consultants and advisors who would have you believe that web site traffic promotion is akin to either some kind of witchcraft or requires a PhD in some kind of arcane technology. Neither one is true. Web Site traffic promotion is actually very straightforward and simply requires one to keep focus on what’s really relevant to get traffic and not get caught up on all the esthetics and urban legend of the internet. There are three simple rules: Merchandise, Advertise, and Analyze.

Merchandise. Merchandising is the process of readying your products and services for sale. In a large store like Wal-Mart, for example, it governs how goods are displayed, priced, and described in-store. On your web site it’s the same game. You have to prepare your goods and services for commerce – within your site -- by making them easily found, attractively positioned, and appropriately priced.

Advertise. You don’t get traffic by waiting for people to come to you. You must tell them where you are and what you’ve got. On the internet, web site traffic promotions depends on three advertising activities: submission to search engines, online advertising (PPC, email promotions, etc.), and conventional print advertising (print ads, stationery, signage, etc.)

Analyze. The most important rule for web site traffic promotion is often the most commonly overlooked. A good marketer is always reviewing the results of their efforts and making adjustments or new tests with their merchandising and advertising. In Wal-Mart, for example, products may be shifted between deep in an aisle to the so-called “end cap” of an aisle or moved to Point of Sale (i.e. the cash register). Everything you do in internet marketing must be measured and analyzed for improvement. It’s the only strategy that wins.

So forget all the so-called experts and, instead, just focus on the three simple rules for web site traffic promotion: merchandise, advertise and analyze.