| If you're reading this article, you've probably discovered | | | | website, services and products to a specific niche. The |
| that simply building a website is not enough to ensure | | | | best part is that most of these places don't require a |
| success with your small business. Competition on the | | | | link-back and your listing is permanent. The resources |
| web is fierce. Rising to the top of the search engines is | | | | listed are provided as a service to their members. In |
| often a combination of web-savvy marketing, link | | | | fact, many of these companies will also send out a |
| trading, and understanding the intricacies of complex | | | | yearly print version of their vendor list. Your link |
| ranking algorithms for search engines. You may have | | | | popularity will be affected as well, since associations |
| already spent a great deal of time optimizing your | | | | and other professional organizations are typically linked |
| pages, creating content, and building your email lists. It's | | | | to by their members.(making them a "popular site" in |
| easy to get overwhelmed in your web marketing | | | | the eyes of the search engines...) It really doesn't |
| endeavors, especially if you're a small business or a | | | | matter what you're selling - a quick Google search will |
| business moving online from a brick-and-mortar | | | | turn up links to a plethora of vendor lists in various |
| location.Don't worry - the marketing tools that you're | | | | industries and niches.How to Do It:Step 1: Using your |
| about to work with will enhance your search engine | | | | keywords, prepare your descriptions ahead of time. If |
| rankings AND attract more visitors, and they don't | | | | you've worked with link exchanges, you'll probably |
| require any extra coding or hard core marketing. You | | | | already have a few descriptions in mind. The link title |
| can accomplish a lot in three days - maybe enough to | | | | should contain your primary keywords. (Not necessarily |
| take the rest of the week off!Day #1: Use Craig's List. | | | | your website or company name!) for example, if you |
| ( is a simple, but rarely used, tool for those that are not | | | | sell magic supplies, you'll probably want to use the |
| so tech-savvy. If you're not familiar with Craig's List, | | | | word "magic supplies" in the title.Step 2: Find the |
| here is a bit of information: it is one of the most | | | | directories. Keep in mind, a lot of government website |
| highly-trafficked websites for thirty-something's and | | | | use these terms as well, which is great if you have a |
| twenty-something's on the web. CraigsList announced | | | | service or products to sell to the government - you |
| last year that they were currently serving over 75 | | | | can print out the paperwork to do later. Otherwise, |
| million page views per month. The site is ranked | | | | ignore the .Use Google (of course!) to find specific |
| among the world's 125 busiest websites (Alexa). | | | | niches. The following terms will help you find what you |
| Almost all ads are free (only employers pay to post | | | | need. Substitute your market or service for the word |
| "help wanted" ads in some areas), and highly trafficked | | | | "keyword" to find the directories you need.- "vendor |
| in major cities such as San Francisco, New York, and | | | | list" keyword- "keyword" vendor list- "keyword" |
| DC. Craig's List adds instant link popularity - a friend of | | | | supplier list- "supplier list" keyword- "vendor directory" |
| mine started a literary website and found himself with | | | | keyword- "keyword" vendor directory- "supplier |
| over 800 hits a day from several well-constructed | | | | directory" keyword- "keyword" supplier directorySome |
| CraigsList ads that were "googled".How to Do It:Step 1: | | | | of the website will require you to email the information, |
| Write the ad first. 50-100 keyword-rich words work | | | | while others simply have a form to fill out and wait for |
| best, along with a link using your target keywords. | | | | approval. It may seem a bit tedious, but if you turn on |
| Craig's List accepts html tags and allows you to upload | | | | "auto fill" through your browser, you'll find it easier to fill |
| images. If you are an online retailer, consider advertising | | | | out a lot of forms in little time. Remember, a permanent |
| one product as a test with a link to your website's | | | | link from a respected authority is a powerful thing!Day |
| entrance.Step 2: Decide which region you are posting | | | | 3: Get Froogled ( you sell a service or information |
| in. If you are a national company, try out a major | | | | product, it's time to try out Google's newest feature: |
| metropolitan area. If you are regional, stick to the area | | | | Froogle. Froogle allows you to upload images, product |
| you service.Step 3: Find the appropriate category for | | | | descriptions, and physical store information to its |
| your ad. Don't spam the forums, the Craig's List | | | | search engine within 24 hours. And remember, as a |
| Counter Culture will resent you! If your website | | | | Google product, your website unofficially has a chance |
| advertises a massage business, choose "therapeutic | | | | of increased ratings - after all, Google googles Fro |
| services". If you offer classes, choose "lessons". If you | | | | ogle! (say that ten times fast!)How to Do It:You can |
| don't fit into a specific category, choose "small | | | | find all of the step-by-step information on using Froogle |
| business ads".Step 4: Write a specific, | | | | at its respective homepage.If you don't sell specific |
| keyword-minded headline - don't try to be too vague | | | | items, however, Google isn't going to approve your |
| or clever. If you offer freebies or coupons, mention this | | | | listing. If you're a service provider, you MAY be allowed |
| in your ad.Step 5: Post! And make sure you check | | | | to create listings. For example, you can't list vague |
| your email to confirm the ad. (You can always tweak | | | | graphic design services but you may be allowed to |
| the ad as long as you keep the email.)If you have time, | | | | use a "logo design package". You may also be able to |
| create an additional ads. You'll have to change most of | | | | publish a report or eBook and market it alongside its |
| the content. CraigsList's software is intelligent with | | | | print competition.If Google doesn't accept your product |
| recognizing duplicate content. If you are compelled to | | | | feed, it may be worth it to open up an eBay store. |
| place a second, third, or 30th ad, change up your | | | | Ebay stores are automatically added to Google's |
| keywords and rewrite the ad. Craig's List erases ads | | | | feeds, and although they cost a little extra money a |
| after 30-60 days, so be prepared to post again in a | | | | month, it may be worth it considering the sheer |
| month or so. It's worth the effort - if not for the direct | | | | numbers of searches Froogle is already claiming.Once |
| response, then at least for the link popularity. Craig's | | | | you've put these powerful tools into motion, keep a |
| List is one of the first websites in line for the infamous | | | | eye on your rankings and your website statistics to |
| "Google dance."Day #2: Become a VendorOkay, | | | | see what's working and what isn't. Take a breath |
| you're probably thinking, I already AM a vendor. My | | | | before you get back to your enormous to-do list. |
| question to you is, "Why aren't you listed as one?" I'm | | | | Congratulate yourself for being ahead of the game. |
| not talking about the internet directories or link | | | | After all, up to 70 percent of small businesses are still |
| exchange websites that list thousands of vendors | | | | without a web presence. Take some pride in building |
| under the term "resource directory". What I'm referring | | | | your business in a global market.And get back to your |
| to, specifically, is what associations, trade publications, | | | | weekend, instead of your work. :- )Melissa Brewer is a |
| and commerce websites term as a "vendor list". | | | | freelance copywriter specializing in original web site |
| (Sometimes also called a "vendor directory".)Vendor | | | | content. |
| lists and directories are great tools to market your | | | | |