Tips for Advertising Your Business
1.) SEARCH ENGINES -- You should try to get your store listed in as many free search engines as possible, especially Google. You can get your store listed on Google at this link:
http://www.google.com/addurl.html
You can also consider buying your listing for better placement; however, search engines are only one way to advertise your store. You should not focus solely on this method of advertising but is is very important. Finding alternative methods of promotion is a very good idea.
2.) WRITING ARTICLES -- Here is a neat way to promote your store. Many web sites are looking for web content / articles ... if you can write well and have some knowledge on any New Age topics, you can place your store URL in the bio or resource box. So when a web site publishes your article, they are also advertising your business! Click the link below to submit your articles and advertise your store for free:
3.) EMAIL SIGNATURE -- Having an Email Signature can be very effective in promoting your business. Just describe your store briefly and include the URL or web address of your store (see your email account for setting up your Signature) -- then every time you send an email to someone your store description and URL will automatically be seen at the bottom of each email you send.
4.) EXCHANGE LINKS -- A links page is great for driving traffic to your store ... just visit some New Age, Metaphysical, Wiccan and Pagan sites and ask them if they would like to exchange links with you. If they do, just add their link to your links page and they will do the same for you. This is an easy and free way to advertise your business! It can also help you get a better ranking with search engines.
5.) MESSAGE BOARDS -- There are many message boards on the net related to the New Age and metaphysics -- if you know something about astrology, for example, you could participate in astrology message boards, giving your expert opinion and tips on the subject, and including your signature (store URL and description) at the bottom of each message you post. Do not post only an advertisement for your store as this is frowned upon and not usually allowed. However, if you are participating in a discussion, leaving your signature at the botton of each post is usually okay.
6.) GUESTBOOKS -- Whenever you sign someone's guestbook you can also leave your URL or web address. This is another easy and free way to advertise your store. But don't spam guestbooks! If you sincerly enjoy a site and wish to tell them in their guestbook, then there is usually a place to add your URL as well.
7.) CHATROOMS -- Like to chit-chat? Great! Here is another way to promote your store. There are chat rooms for every New Age topic you can think of, from Astral Projection to Witchcraft ... there will be opportunities to mention your store's URL.
8.) BUYING AD SPACE ON WEB SITES -- This might be effective for you if you advertise on New Age related web sites. You should target your audience (advertising on a golf site is not going to work). You should also make sure that the site you advertise on has a high traffic count -- a web site with no visitors is a waste of your money.
9.) MAGAZINES & CLASSIFIED ADS -- This can be expensive but you may want to try advertising in New Age related magazines and newspapers. You should find out how large the readership is before handing over your money. You can certainly promote your buisness effectively without spending any money (there are a lot of free ways to advertise) so don't go hog-wild on a spending spree unless you can really afford it.
10.) YOUR OWN CATALOG -- Once you start building a list of customers, you can periodically send them a catalog by bulk mail. You can send your customers a printed catalog four times a year: Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall. You can easily put together your own catalog and have it copied at your local print shop (some dropshippers and wholesalers have ready-made catalogs where you just order the catalogs and just add your address). With bulk mail, you can send catalogs much cheaper. Contact your local post office for bulk rate information.
11.) BUSINESS CARDS, ETC. -- Don't forget you can promote your store on business cards, letterheads, envelopes, flyers or hand-outs, brochures, etc. ... oh, and word of mouth doesn't hurt, either -- tell everyone you know.
12.) SELLING ON EBAY & OTHER AUCTION SITES -- Ebay is one of the best places to sell your items -- PayPal is widely used on Ebay and the stores we can install for you are designed for PayPal. After an auction is over, you can direct the winning bidder to your store so they can purchase more items. You may sell on other auction sites, too.
So, to sum up the obvious -- Promotion is the key to a successful business. Nobody knows your store exists unless you tell them ... so get to work and go tell them!