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Recently I published a website for a client and a day after she came back to me asking why she has not received any emails or potential clients from her website. I told her that it was because her website is still very new and not a lot of people know about it. I also told her that she would have to e-market her site in order for people to visit it.

5 Most Common Ways People Online (aka “Netizens”) Find Websites:

- Domain Name Type-Ins
Domaining is a multi-billion dollar industry online and it’s no wonder, because many people searching for websites online will type in the most relevant keyword of their search, on the browser’s address bar. This will normally direct them to the.com of the word they had typed-in. For example, if someone wanted to know more about loans, they would type “loan.com” or “loans.com”. If you were the owner of the generic domain name, this particular visitor would fall on your website.

Similarly, if a visitor wanted to buy shoes, they would type “shoes.com” on the address bar or “footwear.com” and if the owner of these websites actually had shoes for sale, they would most likely have visitors that would be interested in buying their products. This is because people who aren’t interested in shoes would probably not type in “shoes.com” or ‘footwear.com” on the address bar.

That said, remember that domain names are key in owning a company or ecommerce website. Registering a domain name like “omgtheseshoesarefabulous.com” would probably not be the right way to go because it’s highly unlikely for someone to type these words on the browser’s address bar.

- Search Engine Keyword Type-Ins
One of the most popular way of finding websites today is by typing related keywords on the search engines (esp. Google, Yahoo & Live). For example, if someone wanted to buy shoes online, they would type “shoes” on the search bar, “footwear”, “winter boots”, “stilettos”, etc. If they were opting for the budget shoes they would type “cheap shoes” or “shoes on sale”, etc.

Website owners that do have shoes for sale should thus ensure that their website comes up on the first page of the Search Engine Results Pages (SERPs). This is because most people looking for specific websites will usually browse through sites that have a high position on the SERPs. You only need to ask yourself how many times you’ve clicked on page 2 of the results page. Most people simply try other related keywords if what they’re looking for isn’t any of the websites on the first page.

Google is currently in the lead, and dominates the global search engine market. Yahoo! comes in second, and MSN Live Search the third.

Remember to use a good number of keywords on your site content. This will allow search engine bots or “crawlers” to find your website and associate these keywords with it. So with time and efficient site optimization, keyword type-ins on the search engines will hopefully come up with your website on a high placement of the results page.

- Website Adverts
One of the easiest way to promote your website is by advertising your banner or text advert on a well-known website within the specific niche. For example, if “shoes.com” was the most popular website for buying shoes and your ecommerce website had winter boots on offer, you could pay for advert space on “shoes.com. This would allow their large number of visitors to see your advert and if interested they would click on it to visit your website.

This is a highly effective means of obtaining targeted traffic. Advertisers normally pay per click (PPC) and many publisher-sites offer advert space that is relatively affordable.

- Web Directories
Web directories are popular for netizens who are looking for a specific website or service. This is because directories offer a folksonomy-categorization of sites. Thus, people looking to buy shoes would probably visit the main category of ’shopping and stores’ > the sub-category of ‘clothing and footwear’ > and finally the niche category of e.g. ’shoes’.

Directory users like to avoid non-related websites coming up on search engines through the misuse of search engines e.g. the well-known “Google Bombs”.

Website owners submitting their websites on high-ranking web directories such as Yahoo Directory or DMOZ.org (open directory project) will also benefit through search engine optimization of their site. This is because if “important” and well known websites link to your site, the better it will perform on the SERPs due to page ranking (PR) – Google’s search engine ranking system.

- Friend Suggestion
Word of mouth is a very effective way to obtain targeted visitors. Although it may sound limited, the network connection of people online should never be underestimated. If you are providing an excellent service or have a great product for sale on your website, simply tell all your friends about it. This can be done via email to all your friends, and get them to tell all their friends about it too.

Perseverance and patience is key in internet marketing for targeted traffic. Do not be afraid to spend money where it matters. Google AdWords is a great tool for both publishers and advertisers. Online communities like forums and networking sites like Facebook are also great places to advertise.

Good luck, and happy earning!

Painting Decorator