WOMENSAVENUE.com

By Terry Williams

Every online marketer who has a web site is always looking for ways to
increase traffic to their web site. There are many ways to do this,
however, one of the most powerful ways is to offer a Free Contest! Why?
Because it’s human nature to want something for free.

Web site contests have been around as long as the Internet has been used
for online commerce. They come in many shapes and forms but they all
have one thing in common. “They are designed to drive traffic to their
web sites!” These contests can work if you take the time to understand
and utilize them to reach your goals.

So how do you go about running a contest on your web site effectively?
Here are four tips you’ll want to consider before deciding to offer a
contest on your web site.

What Do I Want The Contest To Achieve?

Before you decide to run a web site contest, determine exactly what you
want the contest to do for you. Like the old saying goes “Nothing is
ever really free!” Whenever you’re offered something for free you’re
also asked to do something to get it. Now it’s up to you to determine if
what you have to do is worth it, to receive the reward. If it’s too
difficult or the reward is not perceived to be worth the effort, you
decline. So when you offer a contest, you need to be looking at what you
want to accomplish from it.

For example, you might want to get feedback about your product or
service, about your web site, build an in house mailing list, build a
customer base for new product offerings, produce a link to your web
site, build a reputation or whatever reason you may have, you’ll need to
have a clearly defined goal in mind when offering a free contest on your
site.

Once you’ve decided on your agenda for the contest, you’ll have to
decide how to go about producing the desired result. If you’re looking
for feedback then make the feedback form simple and easy for the entrant
to complete. If you’re looking for a link to your site then give them
everything they’ll need and make it simple to accomplish. Simplicity is
the key if you want your contest to be a success.

What Kind Of Prizes Should I Offer?

This is determined by the business you’re involved in and the goal of
your contest. Your prizes should be related to your business and what
you’re trying to accomplish by having the contest in the first place. It
makes no sense to offer a prize that has nothing to do with your
business or the goals of your contest. If your goal is to create a
customer base, then you want to offer one of your products as the prize.
When you make the prize related to your business, you’ll be attracting
the entrants you’re looking for, your target market! You also want to
make sure that the prize is worth the entry requirements. Too difficult
of an entry process or a prize that isn’t of value to your target market
can doom your contest to a small number of entrants.

How Long Should I Run The Contest?

Usually the best time frame is a monthly, bi-monthly or quarterly basis.
The time period depends on the type and cost of prizes you’re offering.
A simple rule of thumb is: The higher the cost of the prizes, the longer
period of time between drawings.

How Do I Let People Know I Have A Contest?

This is a promotion you’re running so advertise it just as you would any
other promotion. If no one knows about your contest then how do you
expect to get the traffic to you’re web site? Advertise your contest in
newsletters, bulletin boards, classified advertising sites, newsgroups,
digests, forums and any other place online that allows advertising. Add
it into your e-mail signature. Get the word out so you can accomplish
the goal of your contest.

A web site contest can be an incredible marketing success if you take
the time to figure out your goals, develop an easy method of entry so
that both parties win, control the cost of your prizes and promote the
contest for maximum exposure. HBM

Terry Williams, the publisher of “Internet Marketing Issues”, publishes
a Free Weekly E-zine that provides online marketing tips, techniques and
secrets that will explode your online profits. You’re invited to learn
all about the latest in online marketing and see why over 1000
subscribers in 10 countries around the world rely on the information
provided in IMI for their online business marketing needs. For a free
subscription, Sub-IMI@intersuccess.com or check out his current issue at
http://www.intersuccess.com/imi/

One extremely effective method is brand marketing through merchandise. Think about it—before the web existed, how did businesses like real estate companies market their brands? One way they did it was to give stuff away—a marketing trick that is still being applied effectively today. How many pens, pencils, and magnets do you have lying around the house, stuck to the refrigerator, placed behind your ear—wherever—that bear some company’s logo or name? If you have ever worked in an office environment doubtless you would have noticed several different slogans on a hodgepodge collection of pens (some that might even still work) and pencils collected over time from seminars, informational fairs, trade events, etc. Brick and mortar businesses are doing it, so why aren’t you?

If you don’t want to market your website on writing utensils or magnets you have several alternatives. Other products that work well for marketing include coffee mugs, travel-and-go cups, mouse pads, bumper stickers, key tags, and stress balls. Let’s not forget another great place to show off your website—on your body! No, I’m not talking about taking drastic measures like tattooing your company URL on your forehead. Clothing advertisements are the name of the game. Clothing is a wonderful way to advertise your website, especially if you have a funny slogan or eye-catching logo. You can have your website address printed on hats, shirts, umbrellas, tote bags, and all sorts of wearable accessories. The best thing about advertising on clothing is that the advertisement is mobile—it goes wherever you go. The next time you get dressed to go out why not wear something that promotes your business? Don’t forget that you can give away things as well—imagine a hundred walking billboards for your website!

There are plenty of companies that will apply your brands to products. The cost is cheap and the rewards can be high, so what are you waiting for? Look through your local phonebook or do an internet search for companies that print to merchandise and then go get branding!

Copyright 2005 Jon Castle

This article can be reprinted freely as long as the author bylines are included.

About the Author
We are each a single drop of rain strafed by the wind to merge with other droplets and thereby form an ocean. For more unconventional home business wisdom, home business opportunities, and more please visit Jon Castle’s website www.AmericanHouseDad.com.