How do you advertise your website??

[Liquid_Squelch]

Just a quick question for all my fellow Spoofers.

I have been trying to get my website off the ground for a few months now. Being a cheapskate, I am not willing to pay for advertising.

I am just curious to know how any of you have "advertised" your own websites. I know that I found Spoofie via a search for ING Coupons. That won't work for me for 2 reasons
1. My site isnt' like Spoofie in that I won't have coupons
2. I don't have enough members to probably make a hit on a search engine.

Any suggestions?? Not only am I looking for members, but I'd like to see people actually start USING the message boards. It would be nice to see all my wasted time be usefull to someone.

Basically, my website is for photographers in NY. I went onto the rec groups and advertised there. I am also trying to team up with some stores in NY. If they link to me, I'll link to them.
I've also added my site to any signatures on other photo forums I've been on.

Anyone else have any ideas??

Hey Spoofie, how come no signatures??!? Wouldn't that be fun??
(signatures are a good way to promote your own site)

For all those interested, here's a shameless plug: http://www.photograph-ny.com

 

[Choochoojr]

Hey Spoofie, how come no signatures??!? Wouldn't that be fun??
(signatures are a good way to promote your own site)

That is the reason they were turned off, too many people abusing the rules against self-promo. People were repeatedly posting stupid replies to posts just to advertise their website in their signature. Plus people would create huge signatures that would fill up alot of space. :thumbs_do

 

[Liquid_Squelch]

People were repeatedly posting stupid replies to posts just to advertise their website in their signature. :thumbs_do

Thats exactly the reason why they should be turned off!
(And that is what I figured anyway)

 

[spazntwitch]

I've got my Web site listed on business cards and also in the newspapers local to my area.

 

[clubchick]

have you ever heard the saying "you gotta spend money if you want to make money"?
well, advertising works, and it works well- if it's done properly. so you might take that into consideration. it all depends on how successful you want your website to be, i suppose.

and here's something to consider: why limit yourself to new york photographers?

 

[Kage_]

One suggestion is to talk to other photographic sites that are not in direct competition with your site and ask if they would be willing to do link swaps. You put a link to there site and they will put a link to your site. This also helps in the search engines since they also look at the number of links to your site from other sites.

Kage_

 

[Liquid_Squelch]

have you ever heard the saying "you gotta spend money if you want to make money"?

and here's something to consider: why limit yourself to new york photographers?

I'm not really looking to make money on this... Its just a regular 'ol message board.

And I limited myself to just NY'ers to create a niche.
There are soooooo many sites for photographers. Do a google!
I did setup a New Jersey, and a CT board, but I left them for the other admins to work on. The CT guy decided to let it die, and the NJ guy registered the domain, but never forwarded it at my host. Hey, its his money!

 

[clubchick]

you could always sponsor a runner

seriously, i would recommend you start with business cards- get those freebie ones from vista print or something. then go to trade shows, studios, wherever the photographers are, and pass out your card. it's one of the least expensive, most effective ways to promote yourself.

 

[eabu]

you could spam people with email stating you are the barrister of lagos, nigeria and is in need of an heir to 20 (TWENTY) tons of viagra, but first need them to verify their paypal account on your new york photography site where they will promplty recieve a free new york-strap, otherwise they will have bad luck for 10 (TEN) years.

 

[Rockstar]

you could spam people with email stating you are the barrister of lagos, nigeria and is in need of an heir to 20 (TWENTY) tons of viagra, but first need them to verify their paypal account on your new york photography site where they will promplty recieve a free new york-strap, otherwise they will have bad luck for 10 (TEN) years.

LOL Quite an elaborate plan you've got there eabu! Have YOU tried it? LOL

 

[eabu]

LOL Quite an elaborate plan you've got there eabu! Have YOU tried it? LOL

not yet, i'm waiting for my Cyber TurboSurf Pro Internet Advertising start-up kit i ordered from a show i saw last night to arrive. it was only 3 easy payments of $19.97 with FREE bundle of 238 top of the line computer applications, and it includes AOL! its not offered for the mac right now, but they are working on it. hopefully this will be good enough that Mr. Spoofee will put it on the front page.

 

[morriefisher]

Using the right META tags can get you lots of attention.

 

[clubchick]

you can always go the old fashioned route and print up a flyer about your website and tack it to bulletin boards wherever photographers hang out. the art dept at your local colleges would be a great place to start.