Brand new website and $2k, what do you do to maximize exposure?

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Brand new website and $2k, what do you do to maximize exposure?

zuko105

3:49 pm on Jun 27, 2008 (gmt 0)

Let's say you have a website service (social networking, bookmarking, photo sharing, whatever) that you want to get registered users for. Assuming the following:
-service to the user is free and provides utility that other websites do not.
-website is done, User experience is at say 80% and hosting cost is not an issue

What do you do to promote it with only $2k (US)?

I realize that some extremely talented people here won't even need money to successfully promote something like this.

What are your ideas?

Insomniak

5:08 am on Jun 28, 2008 (gmt 0)

Id put maybe $500 into organic SEO like link building and the rest into google and yahoo ads.

kceleb9

2:38 pm on Jul 2, 2008 (gmt 0)

One VERY important point - however you spend it. Spend it gradually. If you use ads like google - you need to start small - test - and make sure you have enough $$ to get through optimizing your landing pages... tracking conversions etc. it is VERY EASY to blow through $2k and get not much for it on Google or any set of ads.

I would hold back on spending till you understand your user and conversion process. Especially if UI is at 80% - you need to be at 90+% to get effective $$ usage.

In early going - I would strongly look at link building - unless you have an INCREDIBLY unique niche - in which case people wont search it anyway - don't spend all your time on SEO. COnsider some link building with good reciprocol sites - that have an audience at the right stage you need them.

For free services in particular - ADS ARE DANGEROUS! you may waste bucks and even get sign ups - but wind up with just "tire kickers" - as opposed to serious long term users.

[edited by: caveman at 6:16 pm (utc) on July 2, 2008]
[edit reason] Edited per TOS #13, 20 [/edit]

idolw

2:46 pm on Jul 2, 2008 (gmt 0)

if it is social networking and it is really cool I'd be trying to bribe some bloggers and probably pay for signature links in forums related to my niche.