How to market a new website

Hi,
I have an idea for a website which I think could be a runner (who doesn't!!??) but the problem is that while building the site isn't an issue I haven't a clue about how to market/advertise it.

As the site would be for people to place ads, obviously the more ads that are on it the more people will go to it and round and round we go but how do you build up that initial mass of ads? I know I could hire an ad or marketing company but it would be a long way off before I could afford that!

Any advice about how to kick-start things would be really appreciated

Well it's hard to be very specific without you having to reveal your business idea... but heres a few tips...

> I assume you are going to make money by charging people to list ad's - much like Daft.ie or Carzone.ie.... so in the launch period perhaps give away the first 100 or 1,000 standard ad's for free to build up the site. If you don't want to do so for free, perhaps offer steep reductions (-75%)

> Advertise your website on Google Adsense - for €500 you could probably drive in excess of 1,000+ quality visitors to your website.

> Start a newsletter; by building up a database of visitors emails by issueing a regular newsletter you can retain your audience over time and help make your initial advertising campaign more effective.

> Signature... most boards/message forums allow you put put a link in your signature after every post; this can generate a fair trickle of traffic if your an active poster on message boards (Note: You CANNOT do this on AAM as it violates the TOS)

> Links - get links to your site quickly - the more quality links the better. If for example your plan is to host ad's for collectable coins - then email collectors websites and request a link in their links section... more links will boost your ranking on google.

> And the best of advice of all... offer a unique product - not another "me too" service - if your offering is any good, then it will succeed.

Hope these general tips help.

Good luck!

Thanks for that. I was already thinking of offering free advertising for a while but the idea of using Google ads and mailing other websites are definitely good ones!

Giving away free advertising is an easy answer that feels like it's working as you quickly get some content on the site and feel busy but it's very hard, if not impossible, to move non-paying customers into the paying customer column.

hey peter it seems every website i go on to now has a "your ad here" in some corner of the screen i would suggest enquiring via these I must say that the likes of facebook and other social networking sites are very good for this.I have found myself using these as they are constantly flashing and when you stay on a page for any length of time as you would on a social networking site.you can help but take notice of the ads,its not like another site that you would just fly through.just my opinion by the way no way affiliated with any of these sites.

Hi, I'm looking into similar 'internet advertising' at the mo, and have found a wealth of information just by googling 'internet marketing' and words like so. there are loads of people out there skilled to help you (even some people starting off in this field may be reasonably priced) - if not there is enough info on their websites to get a feel for what they do and you can take your own initiative from that.. if you want people to place ads then lots of cold calling - pick up the phone and call the people you want to advertise on your website - seems to be the best way forward. Alternatively email/ writing letters.
Do you have a specific target market - do you know exactly what kind of person wants to visit your website? Also if you're localised e.g. in Galway city for example then advertising in local mags such as Galway Now (no affiliation) would be an example. Or free ads newspaper are growing more and more popular.
Good luck with your venture!!

Thanks for all the help guys. I definitely think doing the whole marketing part is going to be the real challenge but lots of good ideas here!! I'll give you all a discount when I get up and running!!