Hey I'm sort of new to the whole site promotion thing, and was wondering if I could get some advice for my new site DNcatalog.com
I just want to make it google friendly. I don't think I have any meta tags yet if it matters

Well...for promoting it does help to have your own webspace. I've never actually used angelfire, but I somehow suspect that there's far far more freedom with your own paid for webhosting package.

Btw - as for promoting - what are you actually promoting to be promoted?? Effectively, in terms of useful content, you have a blank page.

the newsletter

Originally posted by evilspacellama
the newsletter

Yes, but - why should anyone want to sign up for your newsletter?

It you want to promote it, create a professional front-of-shop and write some great copy telling people exactly why your services are so great.

Laud your Unique Selling Point - convince the wavering voters of your professionalism and dedication to your field...

Does that make for a start?

I was talking more about getting my site a better PR, but if that will help, I'll certainly do it

I'm not sure if you can get your site a high PR using a free service. When you view the source, Angelfire has lots of information about their service and the ads placed on your page.

The things that Brian mention will certainly help.

Dave

I could always move somewhere else....I don't know. Why wouldn't I be able to get a higher PR with a free site?

I was also thinking of offering some of the domain names I have for sale to someone who could get me 50 subscribers
Do you think anybody would do that

What a confusing thread heh.

Yes, the newsletter could use some better sales pitch, so to speak, but I think your real question was how to get some PR.

It looks like you have a PR0 right now.

I don't think free or paid web hosting makes any difference whatsoever, in fact, I'd bet money on it.

If you want some PR, my suggestion is that you submit your homepage to a few niche directories first. In other words, do a search for 'domain names' or whatever and look for sites that claim to be directories for other domain name sites, heh.

Have you submitted your homepage url to Google yet? It seems they don't have your site indexed:

Your search - allinurl: "www dncatalog com" - did not match any documents.
No pages were found containing "dncatalog".


Google has a addurl.html page that you can use. Plus if you get into some niche directories Google will find you from there.


Next, work on getting links, links, links.


Bompa

I have submitted it to Google but I guess it hasn't been listed yet.
Exchanged links with Glo-con.com (a real estate site, so it's unrelated)
I only have like 10 subscribers or so though. What else should I do

Do you think that offer of getting me 50 subscribers for a couple domain names has any merit?

To be a serious website, you need paid domain hosting. There are many cheap (affordable) options out there.

A few people have told me this. Do you really mean to be a serious website, or so people take my website seriously. Is it really impossible to make a succesful site with free hosting

It's more for taking your website seriously. Certainly free webhosts do their hosting job - but serious businesses should be expected to pay their own way. It's pretty cheap, btw. If you'd like recommendations try somewhere like the Webhosting forum at www.webhostingtalk.com for suggestions.

As for PR - PR is entirely links based. So, yes, links links links!

PR is a modifier, though, not an absolute - meaning you want some good keyword rich links - and preferably some good keyword rich copytext on your page as well - to help give it any chance of ranking for anything specific.

HOWEVER, on saying that, you could be looking at a competitive field that you could be overwhelmed in by your competition. You may want to look at trying to target a niche market - ie, a geographical locale (ie, local county) or special interest group (take your pick). That can give you a foot in the door to build up to bigger and more directly competitive terms.

Those are all good suggestions, what do you mean by keyword rich links

<a href="URL">targeted keywords</a>

For example:

<a href="URL">DNS catalogue, Michigan</a>

and

<a href="URL">Domains for sale in Michigan</a>

would both be attempts to rise up the rankings of Google and co for the keywords highlighted - presuming your were targeting the geographic location of Michigan. (You could possibly benefit from ensuring you mentioned Michigan somewhere on your page as well, if doing this way ).

Entirely for illustrative purposes, btw.