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Free Online Marketing
Everyone's favorite! Online there are many free methods to attract visitors, the most popular of which is link sharing, link swapping or reciprocal linking. You simply encourage other websites to link to you, and link to quality websites that relate to the content of your website. Here are some tips:
- Politely request reciprocal links with other similar content websites
- Make it easy for them to link to you, provide a logo, title, description & link
- If your request is accepted, return the link immediately, don't keep them waiting
- Create a number of small graphics that people can use to link to you with
- Try to organize your links page well, and don't overload the pages with to many links
- Don't hide access to your links page, you should present clear access to it
Many search engines also provide free links. Often by crawling your site automatically like Google. These days manual submission to major world search engines is not really required. Other niche search engines and directories though they do require manual submission and it is well worth researching these and submitting a listing.
Search Engine Optimisation
Generally referred to as SEO - Search Engine Optimization. There is a lot of information available about optimizing your website to be search engine friendly, search the internet for tutorials if you like, however the general rules are;
- Build quality content that is related to your artwork
- Use larger fonts for headings and sub headings so search engines can easily see what your page is primarily about
- Put short, but descriptive titles for each webpage
- Build links to other websites that are of quality and relate to your websites content
- Do not embed links in Flash files or buttons, search engines can't see them
- Avoid automated search engine submission services
For more Art Online Marketing information you may like to post in Art Forum Australia's Art Business forum, and learn from the experience of other Art Forum Members.
Paid Online Marketing
If you are serious about promoting yourself as an Artist or Art Business, show people you are serious by investing in yourself and you'll reap far greater rewards. Online the vast majority of people spend a lot of time seeking free opportunities. Often doing this achieves only minor results and wastes a lot of time in comparison to simply paying a small fee to receive far greater benefits. Many directories offer paid inclusions which are very effective and very cheap! Australia's largest art directory is ART-SEARCH Australia online for over 10 years, their (4) Promotional Listings are featured visually across multiple Australian art websites including Art Forum. They are great visual branding and are also very effective in increasing visitors to art websites.
Online Marketing Myths
It's not just about clicks! Online marketing is as much about the visual as it is about the visit to your website. Look for opportunities where your name and artwork can be visually seen. Do not judge any service on the number of direct-click visitors alone. Look for multiple page placement, visual branding, click-throughs & link popularity.
Google Adwords
This system of advertising has revolutionized the world, it has put more businesses in touch with customers in faster time than ever before! Adwords is available to anyone with something to advertise. You are welcome to advertise your art website by bidding on keywords costing merely a few cents. Try advertising on Google
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