What are the best ways to promote a service or product online?

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   carol7777posted 12 years ago

   What are the best ways to promote a service or product online?
   
   I know this is a huge question with many possible answers.  I am curious as to all we do online and what has worked for you the best.

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   SidKempposted 12 years ago

   I've researched this for about ten years now. I would recommend three experts: Jeanna Pool and her book, Marketing for Solos for overall small business marketing; Clay Collins for cutting edge web video marketing, and Danny Iny of Firepole Marketing for the best way to build a blog and an audience-based business. For more, please read my hubs on online marketing and small business marketing.

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   shanmarieposted 12 years ago

   You are right that there are many possible answers, and those answers change often as the rules of internet market and search engine optimization seem to change often.  Search engines use keywords that people search for to locate relevant websites, so one way to promote a site or product is to create webpages that use the keywords you want to target.  These pages are on your own site as well as other sites.  Then there are methods such as back linking specific keywords to other pages on your website and in linking those keywords to other relevant websites in an effort to get other sites to link to you as well.  All that said, for me, I've found that the social networks go quite a long way.  Twitter just seemed to take off on its own and still gains me new followers on a daily basis whether I use it or not.  However, social media requires time spent to answer and interact with your fans and to network in order to effectively get the word out.  Not sure my ramblings here make sense, but this is my experience.

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      carol7777posted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I will have to pay more attention to Twitter..many find it valuable. I know I have lots of work to do..and understanding is the main key word object.

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   wqaindiaposted 12 years ago

   Try business directories too like Sohoos . Put the link on your website and Google the link like Find Us on Sohoos . It really works.

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      carol7777posted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Thank you so much

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   Wulf Dreamwalkerposted 12 years ago

   I  have a facebook page as well as a blogger page and a pinterest page . I also promote myself via Linked In in several writers groups there. I also have some friends that are passing on word that I am a freelance writer and have actually gotten one or 2 small jobs that way. am fairly new to freelance writing and have only been doing it for 1 1/2 years. I recommend  such sites as Elance or Odesk or Guru for beginners to get a foot in the door. Freelance writing is not an easy field and it is highly competitive. Also learn as much as you can about grammar and spelling and as a suggestion here are several books I keep withing easy access and reach for my writing. The New Websters Deluxe  Desk Reference Library which contains a copy of each of these books; a Spelling dictionary,  A Grammar dictionary,  A thesaurus, a Fingertip Fact-finder and of course a regular dictionary I also keep a more current and up to date  copy of a dictionary close as well. I also have several other books pertaining to the craft of writing for use as reference and guidelines close by.Until one is established and has a regular set of customers it is gong to be hit and miss  but one thing I do is If I write and submit an article to one place and they reject it I save it rework it and use it down the road after I have rewritten it.

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      carol7777posted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Great answer here and thanks for taking the time to help. I am going to reread this more than one time.

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   heidithorneposted 12 years ago

   It's a combination of things. Paying attention to SEO (biggest driver of traffic for a few of my sites), social media (particularly Twitter; YouTube to some degree) and public relations (guest blogging, participating in online events, etc.) have been the biggest drivers for me.
   
   AdWords did drive traffic, but not always sales, making it very expensive for small businesses like mine. So I reduced my AdWords campaigns in favor of SEO and social media efforts.

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      carol7777posted 12 years agoin reply to this

      great advice and thank you.  Guest blogging..Does that include commenting on other people's blogs.

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      SidKempposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Hope it's okay if I chime in. Guest blogging is different than commenting. It means actually being invited to write an article on someone else's blog. Highly recommended once you have a blog or site of your own, and want to get well known.

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      heidithorneposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks @SidKemp for chiming in! Yes, indeed, guest blogging is writing a post for a blogger's site. It has been good for me.
      
      However, Carol, one way to get known by bloggers is to write insightful comments on their blog posts. So do both!

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   carlajbehrposted 12 years ago

   The outlets are many, particularly with social media.  I recently wrote a hub on the best days and times to post on Facebook.  Based on research and by industry, there are certain days that are better than others to post your business/service or product.

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