Am I on the right track?

orchids · Posts: 29

I've just spent the last 3 hours setting up SIMPLE free websites (any I can find and belive me, they're out there) with an "Enter" link that kicks to my store. Am I wasting my time? Any opinions? I'll be happy to share the ones I've listed with if anyone is interested.

Thanks,

TheCookieLadyCafe · Posts: 282

orchids · Posts: 29

Thanks for the input. Give me a little bit and I'll put together a list and pm you. Are you sure you have the time? I thought I'd do a banner page on each one of mine to share banners and links back and forth (if I knew how to create a banner??) for anyone interested.

zickit · Posts: 21857

orchids · Posts: 29

In this case, I'm not looking for search engine input. I'm looking for those that "stumble" on the website or group of websites or those that use certain websites for whatever reason and find them there. My attitude is the more presence in the more locations, the more chance I have of getting a sale. Maybe I'm wrong here, but I'm after a different demographic for now. Not everyone searches for a product before they buy, I'm after the spontaneous purchaser in this particular case. I have listed my site with as many search engines I as I can locate, done what the experts recommend. I'm simply trying yet another avenue for promotion.

I do agree with you, however, that if I were using these as my only method of promotion I would have to promote every website. This is simply a free alternative.

I do appreciate you and your input, please don't take any of this the wrong way. I am grateful to all I've learned from you - weather you know it or not (I read alot and don't respond, just absorb the info).

zickit · Posts: 21857

I don't get it

TheCookieLadyCafe · Posts: 282

Not to be a wise____, I think sites like Stumble-upon are NOT search engines nor are my space, and blogs and Flickr all places where I see links to sites selling goods. I have "stumbled upon" eCrater through one of thoes sites mentioned. Laughing

LOVE eCRATER!

Josh, Jordy & The Cookie Lady…Proprietors: Purple Puppy Paws Products

orchids · Posts: 29

Good question. I must admit I'm not really sure. I found this website http://city.with.us/ because I was responding to an email from a client. In doing so, a popup came up (I don't block them) and I inadvertantly clicked on it thinking I had hit "send". I haven't traced where it came from. As it turns out it looks like there is some, albiet small, possibility for exposure. Everyone is a customer as far as I can tell and the more exposure I get, even on these rogue sites, is better than no exposure at all.

To give another example, if I"m on one website that has a link to another, and if I"m bored I'll often flip through links until I find something that catches my interest. I view the web as a huge magazine and ofen find things I want but am not looking for at the time just by browsing different sites.

I'm not suggesting in any way that this method should be one's only advertising avenue, only that its inexpensive (free) and takes me very little time to get my name out there - perhaps 10 min. per site. I'm using it in addition to the traditional methods.

I believe I read on this forum over and over "promote, promote, promote" (forgive me, I don't know who said it). I'm really want to make my business work (as I assume everyone does) so I'm going to utilize any method I can afford to advertise. I've listed on craigslist, joined web rings, and put free ads on the free classified sites. I've posted on forums of anything I can get away with. I don't want to wait 8 weeks for the engines to find me, its up to me to find my customers.

Yep, I spend hours doing it, and for now its ok. I'm single, work full time, and spend my evenings (ok and some parts of my work day) working and hopefully in the long run it will be worth it. I come home, take care of my orchids and my animals, and curl up in front of the tv with my laptop and work until I can't see anymore. I do know that I won't know if it will work or not until I try.

ljstores · Posts: 984

Baysbeauty · Posts: 45

Let's see, I believe in promoting your site and or sites to search engines and
I also believe that having a myspace, & blogs are also good to drive traffic
to your site and just whatever else you can get out there. I am in the beginning
process again so I'm still learning as I go.

I know I started my website last month and within two weeks I was on
Google & Yahoo. I'm still working on it and if you would like to see it, your
can find it at www.baysbeauty.com.

This is a great place to add your url's: http://www.google.com/addurl/

By the way, I love Big N Tall Mens Website!

zickit · Posts: 21857

Baysbeauty · Posts: 45

As a matter of fact Big & Tall, I have saved your site to my favorites as I have a tall husband and I think you just might have some items that he
might like. Nice Site!