One of the very first steps in promoting your Web site will be to announce the Web site to all of the major search engines, indexes and "What's New " lists. This will put your Web site address and description in all of the indexes and directories that can be searched by key words or names. More Media handles all Web site announcements for customers and includes this service in all of it's proposals.

One of the best ways to develop traffic, more specifically qualified traffic, is to have links on other Web sites that have similar customers. Companies that have similar customers, but are not competitors, will often trade links. This saves money, because you do not pay for the link, and both companies are benefiting.

Web sites that have heavy daily traffic can sell links, banners, or ads on their Web site. The cost of buying a link, ad or banner will vary based on the amount of traffic the Web site pulls. More Media can help you choose Web site links that will pull qualified traffic to your Web site. We offer link and online ad placement services.

Off-line marketing can be used to notify customers and potential clients that your organization has a Web site on the Internet. This message needs to be continuously reinforced on all of your traditional off-line marketing and advertising.

Here are some tips on how to promote your Web site off-line:

• Put your Web site address (domain name) on business cards, letterhead, envelopes, press releases, promotional literature, display ads and packaging.
  
  
• Cross-reference your Web site with traditional marketing promotions. You can do this by noting that additional information can be found at your Web site, and vice versa.
  
  
• When you launch a new campaign or promotion, it should be tied into your Web site, as well as traditional marketing media. The same themes, pictures and messages should appear in all of your on and off-line marketing materials.
  Information on special events should be available at your Web site. You could even unveil a new product or service online.
  
  
• Hosting an online contest with prizes will encourage traffic and registration by Web site visitors. This is a great way to acquire important demographic data on your customers.

Once visitors have found your Web site, what will encourage them to return? Developing repeat visits is one of the most important goals a Web site should have. The design of the Web site must incorporate some kind of functionality. This could be a schedule of events, information that changes regularly or a feature that can be used often.

If the information on your Web site is static and unchanging, visitors will not return. Changing information on a regular basis is one of the tasks associated with Web site maintenance. Someone will need to be responsible for updating information on your Web site regularly. Visitors will return regularly if the information or features at your Web site have value to the visitor. You must first understand the needs of your target markets before you can determine what type of information or features will be of value to them.