Dogbark.com >> How To >> Promote Your Site

What's the best way to get on search engines? We wish we had a magic formula for this one. At this point the only thing that seems to work is spending a lot of time going to each search engine and submit your site "add URL". Paying homage to the search engine gods may provide some help as well.

• Search Engines.

Been there, done that? You may want to dig a little deeper.

• Direct Mail.

Send a letter or postcard to your target market. Postcards are economical and don't take a heck of a lot of effort to send, or read. We use Modern Postcard for our postcards. They will even use your list and send out your cards for less than the cost of postage.

Purchase a mailing list from a company who does that sort of thing. Workbook actually sells their list. That's a great creative industry resource. Their list is pretty reliable.

• Email.

Don't do it. Just don't even think about it. Most likely what you are thinking about is SPAM and if you do it we will terminate your service with us with no refunds. It's honestly not worth it. For more information please check our policies or call us at 1.877.864.7929 before you chance it.

Exceptions? Well, if you have a place on your site that says "sign up for getting email from me" then you can use people that opt to do that. That's called "opt-in" but anything else is going to make you a SPAMmer.

• Trade Publication Advertising.

Be careful with this one. Just because you gathered hundreds of email addresses from all your friends doesn't mean that sending them all an email about your site isn't spamming. If you want to use direct email as a form of advertising be sure to use a reputable "opt-in" email list service. Opt-in means that people actually requested info related to what you wish to promote.