Click here to Download PDF format  The average website does not generate more than 3-4 hits a day. This is attributable to the nature of the Internet, where a new domain name is registered every four minutes. The search engines have a tough time keeping their index up-to-date. To really drive traffic to your website you need to advertise on the Internet too. An advertising or promotional campaign for your website can only be taken up after a careful study of your products and services and the intended target audience. We, at India Domain Web Services take pride in the websites promoted by us. Most website owners are very reluctant to spend money for advertising on this media, like yellowlegs, the true reach of your advertising campaign is not readily or clearly perceivable. Here are some contributing factors and ways of promoting on the net to maximize the number of hits to your website. Website Design Surprised that this figures at the top of the list?
Yes, your website design contributes a lot to your website exposure. We can drive traffic to your website but if it is not easily navigatable, does not show all the options on the top page, is not downloadable fast, all your efforts are a waste. Most users are more interested in getting to the information that they want, rather than in the aesthetics of your website. Also the design can win you awards and links from other websites generating more traffic How?
Website design, which have areas that are clearly identifiable as click able areas, with most used pages quickly accessible from the main page. The first page should be quickly downloadable with lesser graphics and with text that informs the user about the purpose of the website. Easy navigation with indications as to what area the user is currently browsing, and a site map or search feature if possible. A feedback form (a must) so that the user can interact with you, just an email link won’t do, as most users are reluctant to compose a mail and send it. People would rather fill a readymade form than write an email. Example
Our own site www.indiadomain.com, which uses JavaScript with a menu bar at the top for easy navigation and quick download. Search Engines We do register with 500 search engines but the truth is only the top 7 search engines contribute to 95% of the Internet traffic. Yahoo, AltaVista, Lycos, Info seek, Excite, WebCrawler and Hotbot are the only major search engines which most people use and aware of. These take anywhere from 2-20 days to index your website. Exposure requires that your website is indexed on the correct keywords that your ‘user’ is searching on and not your website's name. Each search engine has its unique eccentricity and way of indexing a site. To get maximum hits you need to be on the TOP 20 hits on related key words as used by the users. How?
By using of Meta tags, keywords and description in your documents, keywords in your page title and description, repetition of keywords in your documents. Submitting of all pages in your site, instead of just one page so that all products pages get equal exposure and translate to more hits for your site. Follow up and check with the correct keywords to ensure that your page has been indexed as intended. Finding other regional/ geographic search engines and specialized directories for your product or service for submission.
Example
Of the 30 odd training institutes in Hyderabad with websites the only website that responds to the keyword 'Hyderabad Informatics' on YAHOO! Is Continental Informatics India Limited (www.ciil.com), an India Domain client. Website content or referral Links website content is a major contributor to traffic. If you can provide free information or service or advice that might be useful to a casual visitor of your website, the information can be used as a page for advertising your products or services and as a ‘Non- commercial page’ for obtaining referral links for other related websites. Referral links are the major source of the traffic for any website. Your website should have content that can attract people interested in services or products similar to your own. If you cannot do this, the other way is to have links, only page so that you can exchange links with similar websites. How?
By having Internet only discounts or special promotional packages or on your website and marketing the same through traditional media also.
Having a links only page for exchanging links with related websites. You can also use this page for providing your website visitors with useful links.
Finding related websites that interest your users or free information sites and Emailing them for links. Example
www.icrmica.com a Mica export companies and an India Domain client offer at least 10-20 pages of general info about mica. The pages are indexed with the search engines to lure users to visit the website for info about mica and then interest them in our client's products. Newsgroups, Mailing lists and Direct e-mail marketing Newsgroups are too extensive and numerous and form a major part of the Internet culture. Newsgroups are like bulleting boards for users to share information. Most newsgroups and mailing lists allow new site submission related to their discussion content can also increase dramatically the number of hits to your website. Directly emailing users whom might be interested in your website content. Direct emailing is very useful if the target audience is chosen carefully. How?
Finding the correct newsgroups using services like www.dejanews.com to send mailings regarding your website's address and contents
Finding mailing lists from our records and those what we participate in and by
Using the search engines for e-mailing the mailing list users regarding your site.
Finding email addresses of people from search engines or other related regional or product specific websites and mailing them.
Example
The Marathi newspaper www.lokmat.com, one of our clients was promoted on the newsgroup soc.culture.indian and alt.languages.Marathi and was promoted on Maharashtrion mailing lists to attract a large number of visitors.
"Send a cake online to Hyderabad’ www.countryoven.com was promoted on the newsgroup soc.culture.indian and soc.culture.telugu
NRI Dependant services (www.parivar-india.com) was promoted on the newsgroup soc.culture.indian and soc.culture.telugu Banner Ads on websites website banners are placed at the top of most homepages with attractive messages and links to your websites. Banner ads from a major form of advertising. Banner ads can be in two ways. One is through banner exchange between websites by services like banner swap, the other is paid advertise banners on popular websites. Most of them charge by the number of times your banner is seen by people.
How?
We can buy banner space on popular websites like newspapers, search engines etc who will charge you the number of impressions of your banner.
We can design the banner ads and signup for services like Link exchange (www.linkexchange.com) in the appropriate category.
We can also sign you up for regional banner advertise site like www.indiaadvertise.com Promoting your website off line Not only online on the Internet, your web address also needs to be exposed to your clientele through traditional media like advertisements, brochures, TV ads etc. You need to drive your regular clientele to your website for more information or updates and latest news. This can help you very well when the other media due to their space restriction .
How?
Your other brochures, publicity material, visiting cards, bulletin boards should prominently display your website URL.
Include your website address in your print advertisements with words like ‘ refer to our website for further details’.
Conduct promotional events for your website in other media.
Example
Haldiram foods (www.haldirams.com) prominently display their web address not only on their brochures, visiting cards but also on their products like snacks, Bhujia packets, sweet packets etc. | 
