If you're running a website geared towards consumers you're going to have to take into consideration how, exactly, you plan on handling your website promotion campaign. After all, no one can come to see you if they don't know you're there! Fortunately, the Internet provides an almost unlimited number of options for marketing and promotion that will allow you to give your sit the greatest amount of exposure with a minimum of cost or hassle.



Method 1: PPC Advertising. I'd love to say that it doesn't work and you don't need to spend the money to launch your own pay per click advertising campaign, but I'd be lying. PPC advertising provides you with an incredible amount of exposure for a very small amount of expense and effort, particularly if you choose to work with AdWords and major search engine Google. Just be sure you put a limit on the amount of money you can spend in any given week-you'll be amazed at how quickly you'll burn through your budget if you don't!

Method 2: Viral Marketing. There's nothing quite like word of mouth, and that applies to website promotion as well. Blogs, e-mail signature tabs and other people's webpages are golden nuggets for getting the word out about what you're trying to offer, and if you play your cards right you should be able to do it for no expense whatsoever. (But if you decide to launch an official affiliate marketing program be sure to pay your affiliates. You'll watch your profits drop exponentially the first time you don't!)

Method 3: Social Marketing. Like viral marketing, social marketing is a great way to get your website out into the public eye without a huge amount of expense. In fact, using social media giants MySpace and Facebook will allow you to do it for no expense at all! If you choose to go the route of social marketing, however, take care to clean up your personal pages first. You don't want to be among the rapidly growing number of marketers out there who have clapped themselves on the back for launching a successful social media marketing campaign only to have it fall apart because they forgot about the spring break photos they posted on their personal MySpace. (You know, THOSE pictures…the ones you hope your mother will never see!)

Method 4: Search Engine Optimization. This is the giant in website promotion, because optimizing your site for the search engines is going to be the best step you can take in increasing your potential consumer base. A recent informal study showed that 98% of Internet users use a search engine every time they log onto the web looking for information, and of this 98% over three quarters used Google. Following Google's optimization protocols (which are listed clearly on multiple sites on the web) you can make your website available to your target audience every time they log on to the net.

Method 5: Article Submission. When you optimize your site you're going to want to do so with something known as an SEO article. If you aren't familiar with the term now you will be when you're done! There are other companies, however, that allow you to write and submit articles on your particular niche in exchange for a quick plug for your site. This includes sites such as Ezine Articles.com. Article submission not only increases your site exposure, it establishes you and your business as a subject matter expert in the eyes of the public. 100% of customers would rather work with someone who knows how to get the job done, so setting yourself up as a SME can only work in your favor.

Website promotion is a vital step in Internet marketing success, and it's essential that you do everything you can to increase the number of people who see your site on a daily basis. The numbers are on your side! By following the methods listed above you can watch your customer base and your profits increase in no time.