Hundreds of new websites appear on the Internet any given day. Simply investing in a website is not enough. You need to publicize it, continually, at every opportunity in order to attract visitors to your site. Plan how you will launch your website well in advance. Planning and organizing the event as part of a launch campaign will lead to a successful launch and greater recognition of your site.

In the early stages of setting up your website, Zarr can help you secure a relevant URL. “URL” stands for Uniform Resource Locator, which means your domain name or website address. Once you know your web address you can include it on the next print run of your letterhead and business cards. During the development stage, Zarr can create a holding page to show visitors that the full website is coming soon and they can register to receive notification that your site is about to launch.

One of the best ways of officially launching your website is to host an event. Book an accessible venue, such as a hotel, gallery or village hall and send out invitations to all your existing customers. Ask them to bring along a friend who may be interested in your business.

Attract new customers using some novel and creative marketing. For example, when Zarr launched their original site they handed out lollipops on Tower Bridge in London. The lollipops had labels with their web address on it. It created curiosity. This was enough to generate a hundred new visitors to the site. You could offer incentives to attend the launch or to log onto your site. An example would be introductory gifts or discounts for the first fifty visitors. You could produce and distribute leaflets or bookmarks, for example, with your URL.

Ask friends and family to help out on the day, decorating the venue, meeting and greeting people, offering drinks or hors d’oeuvres and, most importantly, talking enthusiastically about your business! Have some literature about your business on display and offer guests something to take away with them with your web address on it. This needn’t be expensive-you could make up gift bags yourself. Think of all the people you know who could help contribute to the success of the launch and ask for their help.

Zarr can help you prepare with email newsletter of your launch. If you already have a database of customers this is a cost effective method of advertising your new site. You prepare the contents and Zarr can design and distribute a striking HTML newsletter to stimulate interest in your new website.

There is another method of advertising that takes time, rather than money. Use your existing networks: contact other relevant business owners with websites who may be willing to include a link to your site in exchange for a link to theirs. This, in conjunction with search engine placement, can help increase website traffic.

The local media can help too. Contact your local newspaper to see if they would do a story about your launch. Make it easy for them by writing the copy for a brief article yourself. Include any human interest or business angle, particularly if it positively affects the local area. Bullet point any facts regarding your business or your website. This helps journalists save time.

With a larger budget, you could advertise nationally, for example by contacting a relevant magazine and seeing if they will do a feature article on your business. Find out what opportunities may exist in trade magazines.

Repetition is key. Research indicates that the average person must hear your business name five times in order to remember it.

Finally, remember that the content of your website is important. Zarr will develop and design a highly functional, professional website, using your contents. Focus on your potential market and what will appeal to them. Succinct, informative contents will encourage visitors to return to your site, regularly updating your website contents will help improve your search engine rankings.

Remember, generating interest and curiosity will get your website noticed. Follow on Zarr’s success, and be creative when launching your website.

Launch in Style
To discuss ideas on how to launch your website please contact Zarr to discuss your requirements.