How to Advertise on Facebook to Increase Website Traffic

I tested out Facebook Ads recently and thought it was an effective strategy as well as very easy to set up and maintain. If you ever want to test out online advertising to increase your website traffic and get more customers, I’d recommend starting with Facebook Ads.

Facebook advertising is an effective way to attract targeted customers. That is, if it complements your business and you can segment out your target audience (your ideal customer) within Facebook. Compared to Google Adwords, MSN Ad center and Yahoo paid advertising, it is more simplistic and less time-consuming. Facebook can be a good way to get your feet wet and test the waters and also be on the forefront of online marketing.

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How to Discover Key Words for Search Engine Optimization

First let’s understand why we need to research key words.

It is commonly known that many businesses try to improve the key word density within their website. They are optimizing their site for the search engines. In the end, they expect to get more site traffic and customer conversions.

From my experience, you cannot assume or guess how people search for your product or service, and leave it at that. If you do, I am sure your website traffic will be limited and you may have a hard time growing site traffic and your customer base. The most surprising key words can actually get you site visitors who convert to customers. Each business is unique. I have been through the key word discovery process a lot and have constantly been surprised at some of the key word strings that can bring website visitors. Once you discover some search strings, you can ultimately optimize one page within your site and receive even more customers.

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Comparing Website Optimization to Search Engine Optimization

It is important to note that website optimization is different than search engine optimization. I sometimes hear people interchange them – thinking they are the same thing. If you search on the net for website optimization, you will also get results that equate it to SEO. Guess what? I think they are wrong! Many larger online retailers know the difference between the two, and it was clearly dissected for me at last year’s Internet Retailer Conference in San Jose. I really think all website owners have a lot to learn from multi-channel merchants online as they already have this down to a science.

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Multi Dimensional Online Marketing Tips

Recently, I went to Vancouver’s Massive Trade Show and Conference. Two conference tracks I attended are the Online Marketing 101 track (with Chris Breikss from 6s Marketing, David Scott from Entellium, Fred Vallaeys from Google, and Joanne Acri from Yahoo) as well as the New Media track (with Monica Hamburg, Warren Baxley from InterCall, Rebecca Bollwitt from E-xact Transactions, Linda Bustos from Elastic Path). They all had great suggestions for website owners, as well as beginner and advanced online marketers!

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Search Engine Submission Budget for Small Business

My experience suggests that, as a new site owner you may need to be cautious with regards to search engine submission companies. Once a published e-mail address is on your website, you can very likely be bombarded with sales e-mails like: “Get your website listed on hundreds of search engines for only $49.00!”- Seriously, run very fast, and don’t respond to those messages- you’ll get 10x the amount of spam in your inbox if you sign up with them. And the promises of such offers are exaggerated. It is not as easy and fast as they claim!

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