Internet Marketing Tycoon

**camperjohn** · 11-15-2004, 08:18 PM

Hi, I have a new site up, and it seems to convert well. But I've run out of ideas on what to do next. I would like to ask for suggestions on the best way to start promoting it.

Here is my site:

http://www.homepagepal.com

1) Should I make a link share program?
1.1 ) Should I sign up for other peoples link share programs? (This I found to be useless)

2) Should I just buy traffic from google?

3) Should I mindlessly post links in every forum I can find that says "Hey check this out"..?

4) Should I focus on making the site better?

I have a tonne of things I would like to do with the site, from back end to marketing to ads. I just want to know how to make the best use of my time.

The cool thing about my site is that I keep about 0.5% of the traffic that comes to me. If I get 200 users one day, I get 201 users the next day...then 202 the next..then 202.01, then...Since 1/200 users usually set my site as their homepage.

john at mccarthy.net

**hcolor** · 11-16-2004, 08:39 AM

1. It is a good idea to have wel organized link directory. then you will be ableto exchange traffic with other sites.
2. google traffic is a good option but it is a little expensive then traffic ocme form other sources. Try to find affordable Pay Per Click search engine that will not cheat you.
3. Participate to forum discussions related to your business. When you help other forum members your trade mark is going to become more prestigious
4. Site is good enough! Focus on bringing targeted visitors.

Regards
Dimitar

**Jamesanderson** · 11-16-2004, 12:02 PM

I’ve just got to start by saying what a great site, fantastic idea that is perfect for a lot of domestic users.

In all honesty I think its not going to be as easy to conduct SEO for your site as a normal type of site (if there is a normal type). The main problem I see is that the amount of natural traffic a site can receive is governed by the number of searches performed for your product or service. In your case you are offering something that people do not know exist so would have to create a market for it.

However I do not see that this should be a major issue and you should be able to overcome it by using some other methods.

First step I would take is to work on the conversion rate, may be explaining what the service is straight away. Show an example of what can be achieved and spell out what the advantages are. I think if your site done this on the home page conversions would increase, as I said I really think this something that a lot of people would like to use.

While I had a little play with it I noticed that a number of sites I entered produced a thumbnail of the BBC website, you really want to take a snap shot of the page so the user has a visual representation of the link. However I’m not well versed enough in the copyright laws to tell you what the implications of this would be but can’t help thinking you would be infringing on something.

Getting traffic

This is the harder one but I’m sure it can be done its just going take a little thinking outside of the box.

Using press release sites may be a good idea but I think writing some articles for a couple of large ezines would be better. It’s just a matter of which ones to write for that will offer a good return? Just keep plugging away at it to let people know that you exist, I’m sure that this type of service would have a snowball effect with every user telling a friend.

A banner exchange may work well especially considering that you can place adverts on people’s home pages (genius).

As for pay per click programs again it comes back to demand.

Link exchanges can create traffic referrals but only on certain types of sites. I would try to find some good quality resources sites that offer links to free web resources.

Competition

I have only heard of one other service that offers a similar one to your own but unfortunately it’s called the favourites button located at the top of my browser. Fair enough it isn’t exactly what you’re offering but it is very similar and many people will be happy with it. You need to make your service stand out and offer more if your going to obtain the custom of these poeple, you need to make them think that they can't live without it!

I hope you succeed in making a market for this service and I’m still milling over whether or not to create my own custom home page.

**Phaedrus** · 11-16-2004, 04:28 PM

When I clicked "Get Started" all I got was a bunch of code.

**camperjohn** · 11-17-2004, 12:49 AM

This is good info. I agree the website doesn't really fit into any catagory.

Can you tell me which websites produced a thumbnail of BBC? The thumbnails are generated by taking the root of a website, and returning the real website later after it is captured. So if you entered www.mysite.co.uk or any variation, or would return the thumbnail for co.uk until the servers take a screenshot of www.mysite.co.uk. Screenshot updates take about 24 hours.

I also agree the front end doesnt really explain it enough. I need a web designer. Programmers can't write good ad copy.

Any suggestions on how the front end should explain it? 3 page tour? flash animation? Hmmm..

JM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jamesanderson

I’ve just got to start by saying what a great site, fantastic idea that is perfect for a lot of domestic users.

In all honesty I think its not going to be as easy to conduct SEO for your site as a normal type of site (if there is a normal type). The main problem I see is that the amount of natural traffic a site can receive is governed by the number of searches performed for your product or service. In your case you are offering something that people do not know exist so would have to create a market for it.

However I do not see that this should be a major issue and you should be able to overcome it by using some other methods.

First step I would take is to work on the conversion rate, may be explaining what the service is straight away. Show an example of what can be achieved and spell out what the advantages are. I think if your site done this on the home page conversions would increase, as I said I really think this something that a lot of people would like to use.

While I had a little play with it I noticed that a number of sites I entered produced a thumbnail of the BBC website, you really want to take a snap shot of the page so the user has a visual representation of the link. However I’m not well versed enough in the copyright laws to tell you what the implications of this would be but can’t help thinking you would be infringing on something.

Getting traffic

This is the harder one but I’m sure it can be done its just going take a little thinking outside of the box.

Using press release sites may be a good idea but I think writing some articles for a couple of large ezines would be better. It’s just a matter of which ones to write for that will offer a good return? Just keep plugging away at it to let people know that you exist, I’m sure that this type of service would have a snowball effect with every user telling a friend.

A banner exchange may work well especially considering that you can place adverts on people’s home pages (genius).

As for pay per click programs again it comes back to demand.

Link exchanges can create traffic referrals but only on certain types of sites. I would try to find some good quality resources sites that offer links to free web resources.

Competition

I have only heard of one other service that offers a similar one to your own but unfortunately it’s called the favourites button located at the top of my browser. Fair enough it isn’t exactly what you’re offering but it is very similar and many people will be happy with it. You need to make your service stand out and offer more if your going to obtain the custom of these poeple, you need to make them think that they can't live without it!

I hope you succeed in making a market for this service and I’m still milling over whether or not to create my own custom home page.

**Jamesanderson** · 11-17-2004, 07:07 AM

Flash would be very good if done correctly. This could outline the whole experience demonstrating the advantages with a step by step animated guide showing how to use it. I think the important thing to consider if you go down this rout is that your target audience will probably not be as computer savvy as the likes you find on this forum, so spelling it out will be paramount.

You could insert another column in-between the two you have already with big letters “What is Home Page Pal” that takes you on the tour. Although something else that offers a greater explanation would probably serve users better.

With this in mind you could have both, a nice attention grabbing headline with some text explaining what the service is and another headline underneath to take users on a tour.

Promotional text

Copywriting will be an important part here as it will be one of the main contributing factors towards conversions. You need a great headline that grabs attention and more importantly gets the potential user thinking. I’m sure if you think hard enough you will come up with something, if not search google for advert copywriting. Here are few I have just thought of (please be kind).

The best on the web a click away

The best on the web one click away

All your favourites on one page

The paragraph underneath will need to quickly explain the service and cause more intrigue. Here goes

What do you use as your home page? Ever wanted to use more than one? With Home Page Pal you can create your own home page with all your favourites in one place ready for you every time you go online. With Home Page Pal the best websites are always just one click away.

I think something like the above will do you well. Also nowhere on your home page does it say that the service is a free one!

The websites that come up as BBC were

www.flash-solutions.co.uk
www.podiumsolutions.co.uk

hope this helps

.

**camperjohn** · 11-17-2004, 05:41 PM

Yes it is correct that the root image for a website come up. Since there are a billion^64 websites out there.

However, after you enter your website and drop it onto the form, the server takes a screenshot of the actual website url and sets that as your image. The idea is that your homepage will show thumbnails of all your favorite websites.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jamesanderson

www.flash-solutions.co.uk
www.podiumsolutions.co.uk

hope this helps

.

**Republikin** · 11-17-2004, 06:56 PM

This seems to me like a product that ISP's may be interested in offering their users. I know that just about every ISP try's to set the homepage of the user to their own page, this would give users a choice and a reason to keep coming back to the ISP's website (that is if you created a modular co-brandable service like this)

**andrews_john** · 11-18-2004, 07:27 AM

What would you say about my way - http://www.webmaster-talk.com/showth...3836#post93836 ??? Do you find it's possible?

**neorunner** · 11-30-2004, 03:04 AM

A few things:

1) Great Site! I might even consider using it myself.

2) If you could just implement some sort of search and news feeds, it would be all many surfers would need. I would certainly consider using it if it allowed me to search the web.

3) PPC Advertising would be a good way to get your site out to the masses. I would definately stay away from google adwords, as they are VERY EXPENSIVE.

4) I wouldn't bother with paid promotion until you have a better main page. Your page doesn't really describe what it is you do. I don't think a web designer would do this justice. Usually they are all about graphics and layout. What you need is a professional ad write. You need to tell your visitors about your service in emotional terms, not dry technical terms. Remember, you only have about 10 seconds (max) to attract their attention, and convince them to stay on your site. After that, they will move on.

I have started a PPC Search Engine. Once your site is ready, I would consider sponsoring it. We could work out a trade. Also, Webesearchin is a good place to start a paid PPC Search campaign.

Good luck in your online venture.

Neorunner

**neorunner** · 11-30-2004, 03:10 AM

doh! When I tried to sign up, it gave me a buch of script. Please let me know when that is fixed.

Neorunner

**camperjohn** · 11-30-2004, 07:51 AM

Hm, I tried out my site from scratch (deleted my cookies and files), and could'nt get it to screw up with the text.

What browser are you using? What page did it screw up on?

**CAL** · 11-30-2004, 09:04 AM

I get it too!

This page: http://www.homepagepal.com/edit.php

and I'm using FireFox

**camperjohn** · 11-30-2004, 11:32 AM

Dammit why do these browsers have to be compliant! Why can't they just be non-compliant like IE! :-)

I had a header to expire the page early, and it was also telling the brower that it was text only. IE aparently ignored this. I mostly use IE so I didn't see it. So I lost some FireFox users...

Fixed.

**Altari** · 12-02-2004, 03:12 AM

Firstly, this site is great. To be honest, I just got my mother in law a computer, and she's nearly blind and not computer literate, so I'll be passing this along to her.

Secondly, just a question, it says "wait until server captures an image on next update." When are the updates?

As far as marketing, have you considered some of the double opt in advertising sites/mailing lists? The rates are generally quite reasonable and they offer you targetted advertising. This site would be incredibly useful to affiliates of those sites, as they are generally members of many at a time.

**camperjohn** · 12-02-2004, 03:59 AM

1) The server updates are basically when I press the "capture.bat" button on my desktop. ;-) So far the capture is almost perfectly automated execpt for a few issues. So until I figure those out, I just have a batch file that does it when I click on it.

I am the human cron job!

2) How do I go and find these double opt in's? Can you point me to a website?

JM

**camperjohn** · 12-02-2004, 04:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by camperjohn

1) The server updates are basically when I press the "capture.bat" button on my desktop.

I am the human cron job!

God it makes me think of an old twilight zone episode where there is a human inside a cardboard box with a sign that says "Talking computer - only $1, ask it any question, step right up folks"...

**ServeTraffic** · 12-03-2004, 05:41 PM

very nice, awsome idea.