Search Engines
Developing a list of keywords and indexing your web site with search engines is a standard tool in marketing your web site. However, it is not responsible marketing to depend upon this as the sole means for marketing your web site because of the massive numbers of web sites registered with search engines. Your web site may be one of thousands that come up in response to the keywords that you have selected. 

As part of development, Break Loose Media will register your site with the 6 top search engines: Yahoo, Alta Vista, Web Crawler, Excite, Infoseek and Lycos. Break Loose also will program an unlimited number of keywords into your web site, which the search engines seek out to determine how to rank your site. If you desire registration with additional search engines, you can go to that search engine’s web site and register free of charge. 

There are also various services that offer to register your site with multiple, often hundreds, of search engines for a fee. Break Loose can provide you with a list of such companies if requested. Caution here: It is usually more important to be ranked high in the most frequented search engines (see next item) than to be listed in a large number of search engines where you may not be listed near the top.

Search Engine Ranking Specialists
As the number of web sites listed on a search engine under any given keyword increase daily, the demand for high rankings under those keywords also grows. 

In response to this need, there has come into existence many companies who specialize in working with a web site's keywords and the varying ranking algorithms to ensure that a web site is ranked high --usually in the top 10-30 web sites listed. Typically there is a setup fee and a monthly fee, which are required to keep your site ranked high as other new web sites continue to register under the same keywords. Most companies guarantee results. That is, they guarantee that your site will attain these rankings on a certain number of search engines under a certain number of preferred keywords. 

It's important to find out the specifics of these guarantees and to receive status reports, so that you don't have to continually verify that these companies are doing what they're saying. Break Loose Media can provide you with a list of such companies or serve as your liaison.

Directories/Listings
There are a variety of web sites dedicated to listing companies of similar purpose and organizing them alphabetically, geographically, etc. For a small fee (usually not free), you can list your company -- with a direct link to your web site -- in their directory. For instance if you are a mortgage company, you might find a directory that organizes mortgage companies by geographical location. Or a gift basket company might find a directory listing companies selling a variety of gifts, with one page dedicated to gift basket companies. 

Capitalizing on the established traffic of these sites is often an effective way of bringing visitors to your site. It is a good idea to request information on visitor statistics when considering placing your site in a directory, so that you know how much traffic you’re paying for. Some directories may offer click-thru information, which tells you how many visitors are actually clicking on the link to your page. Finding directories with which to list requires time browsing the web. Break Loose Media can help you find directories that may be a suitable place to list your site.

Banner Ads
Many web sites with high traffic offer to sell space on their web site for placement of banner ads. For instance, if you are a woodworking company, and a major woodworking industry publication has a large web site with a lot of traffic, you may choose to place a banner ad on one of their pages. A visitor can click on your banner ad and link directly to your web site. However, as with directories and listings, you should try to obtain visitor statistic information before purchasing such space, so that you know how much traffic you banner might receive. Remember that placing banner ads requires time browsing the web to locate appropriate sites that are selling such space. The first web site to offer space may not be the best option. 

Break Loose can help you find sites that may be a suitable place to locate your banner. Some web sites will charge by the month; others charge on a click-thru basis, meaning that you only pay them when someone clicks on your banner (located on their page) thereby linking to your web site. Your banner ad will be required to adhere to the specific physical and memory size specifications of the web site where you decide to post. If you do not have a banner ad already developed, you will likely pay a few hundred dollars to have one designed. Break Loose Media offers this service. Click here to view banner advertisements that Break Loose has developed for clients.

Mutual Links
You may choose to establish a links page on which you link to other web sites that agree to link back to you. Again, you’re capitalizing off of their traffic. Make sure to choose links that will truly offer a service, such as valuable information, to your visitors. Don’t just link to anyone who will link back to you.

Newsgroups
Newsgroups are an Internet feature separate from the World Wide Web that allow you to choose a category and post or view recent "articles" placed there. Articles often are marketing-oriented and can include links to web sites. This is a free service.

Direct E-mails (Bulk)
Although social acceptability of this method (also known as "spamming") has been hotly debated, many companies claim distributing mass e-mails is an effective way of finding leads. There are a number of companies offering massive lists of current email addresses "for a small fee," to which you can send information about your company and products, with a link to your web site. Some consider it another form of junk mail. If you decide to use this method, you'll want to make sure you're getting a list of current email addresses: Email addresses change frequently and the more updated the list you purchase is, the fewer error emails you'll receive back.

Direct E-mails (Opt-In)
Opt-in emailing is considered more socially acceptable than bulk emailing, because it uses lists of internet users who have opted to be included on lists so that they may receive product/service information in various categories. For instance, if a visitor enjoys keeping up with technology and purchasing new technology products, he or she might opt to be included in a list of internet users to receive such information.

Non-Internet Promotion
Listing your web site address in all forms of customer contact is an essentially free and easy way of reminding the world of your Internet presence and that you have established one more medium to serve them. Be creative with the media you choose. Include the following in your plans to announce your Internet address: