tips on making your website work for you
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STEP 2: PROMOTE YOUR NEW WEBSITE
Okay, now you've told everyone about your new site. What can you do in order to reinforce your message and further promote your online presence?
+ E-Mail
You've already mailed everyone in your company's collective address book -- what more can you do? Loads of stuff. E-mail provides an ideal way to both promote your site and add value to your customer service. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
1) Staff E-Mail Accounts Ensure that everyone has an @yourcompany.com e-mail address and, more importantly, make sure they use it. Make these e-mail addresses available on your site, and encourage your customers to make business inquiries this way. And remember the golden rule of e-mail: you must ensure that the e-mail addresses are checked regularly -- at least once a day for most small businesses. Not having their e-mail answered will make your customers feel unloved, and will inevitably result in lost business.
2) Create a Standard Company Signature Make sure that every e-mail sent from your company address has a proper signature, such as the Name, Position, Telephone and Fax numbers of the sender, and of course the company URL.
3) Create Generic E-Mail Addresses Most companies will have need for addresses such as info, sales, help, or support@yourcompany.com Again, make them easily accessible via your site, and ensure that they're checked regularly and responded to appropriately.
+ Promote Your Site in Print Here are some ideas that should help most small businesses.
1) Stationery, etc. Include your URL as well as relevant e-mail addresses in: Letterheads Business cards Receipts Warranties Packaging Promotional items such as pens, t-shirts, mugs and bumper stickers
2) Advertising If your company advertises in print media, then it's essential that you get that URL incorporated into your artwork. Your site can act as the perfect extension to your existing advertising efforts. If someone is interested in your ad, chances are that a professional web site with plenty of good quality content will tip the balance over your competition, who list only their physical address.
3) The Storefront If you have one, you can let passersby know that you can now be found online, as well. Your local print shop can probably run off some posters for you. And, if possible, get a sign writer to add your URL to the shop sign.
4) Run a Website-Only Promotion Create weekly/monthly promotions that may be found only on your site. This gives you a great reason to tell people about your site URL. And, of course, if they visit with the intention of checking out the offer, they'll also be exposed to all your other sales initiatives.
previous next
STEP 2: PROMOTE YOUR NEW WEBSITE
Okay, now you've told everyone about your new site. What can you do in order to reinforce your message and further promote your online presence?
You've already mailed everyone in your company's collective address book -- what more can you do? Loads of stuff. E-mail provides an ideal way to both promote your site and add value to your customer service. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
1) Staff E-Mail Accounts Ensure that everyone has an @yourcompany.com e-mail address and, more importantly, make sure they use it. Make these e-mail addresses available on your site, and encourage your customers to make business inquiries this way. And remember the golden rule of e-mail: you must ensure that the e-mail addresses are checked regularly -- at least once a day for most small businesses. Not having their e-mail answered will make your customers feel unloved, and will inevitably result in lost business.
2) Create a Standard Company Signature Make sure that every e-mail sent from your company address has a proper signature, such as the Name, Position, Telephone and Fax numbers of the sender, and of course the company URL.
3) Create Generic E-Mail Addresses Most companies will have need for addresses such as info, sales, help, or support@yourcompany.com Again, make them easily accessible via your site, and ensure that they're checked regularly and responded to appropriately.
+ Promote Your Site in Print Here are some ideas that should help most small businesses.
1) Stationery, etc. Include your URL as well as relevant e-mail addresses in: Letterheads Business cards Receipts Warranties Packaging Promotional items such as pens, t-shirts, mugs and bumper stickers
2) Advertising If your company advertises in print media, then it's essential that you get that URL incorporated into your artwork. Your site can act as the perfect extension to your existing advertising efforts. If someone is interested in your ad, chances are that a professional web site with plenty of good quality content will tip the balance over your competition, who list only their physical address.
3) The Storefront If you have one, you can let passersby know that you can now be found online, as well. Your local print shop can probably run off some posters for you. And, if possible, get a sign writer to add your URL to the shop sign.
4) Run a Website-Only Promotion Create weekly/monthly promotions that may be found only on your site. This gives you a great reason to tell people about your site URL. And, of course, if they visit with the intention of checking out the offer, they'll also be exposed to all your other sales initiatives.
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