Setting up website and creating "links"

travel_freak

Hello,

I have just managed to set up my first website (free) on Windows Live for a small business I run - am very excited!

I wonder if anyone could tell me how I go about creating "links" to it on other websites? I have some online adverts running on Yell.com and others so thought I might try to add a link to the website on these ads?

I read the blurb on the set up pages on Windows Live which said the more "links" you have the better the chance of people finding your website when they go a Google or MSN search. Please does anyone know of a way of placing links to achieve this?

I guess there are options to pay search engines in order for them to put your website near the top of the list - does anyone know what the cost of this works out as and is it a worthwhile thing to do?

Sorry to ask so many questions but I'm new to all this.

Many thanks in advance.

Regards,

Badger_Lady

Hia - it's all quite complex, there are so many options. It might be worth you investing in a book that explains how to start up on SEO (search engine optimisation) to raise your profile on search engines, and affiliates.

Basically, your site will benefit from other people linking to you. You can pay for Google Adwords, whereby you and your competitors bid for top position. These are more expensive and less effective than "natural search".

To improve your "natural search" by getting people to link to you, you usually have to offer a link swap. Contact the owners of sites that could mutually benefit, and offer to link to them if they link to you. There are also some "middle man" sites that will arrange this for you.

You also need to make sure your website's code is optimised for search engines:
- A clear, simple directory (i.e. website.com/home, website.com/products)
- Key search words used in your text, particularly if hyperlinked
- Clear copy, not full of repeats (which you could be penalised for)

Remember that changes can take a while to be picked up by search engines, as the spiders and robots trawl through the mighty interweb - unless your website is instantly successful it will be some time before they come across it.

What are you promoting on your website? Who are your target audience, and how much are you willing to invest in your online marketing?

zenmaster

I have found WebCEO Free Edition to be quite useful.

It will assist you in identifying and optimisation of keywords and search engine submission and give you an insight into how it works

I doubt that it will achieve the same results as paying someone to do it but I feel it's a good start and you would gain some knowledge from using it.

It's totally free but they do nag you by email to upgrade to the paid for version, but not excessively - about once a month.

Also to register with some of the search engines you need to provide and confirm an email address and you do receive periodic emails from them. Again, it's not a huge amount of spam, but you might find it annoying so I would suggest setting up a unique email account specifically for the purpose and only access it when you use the submission tool.

travel_freak

Dear Badger Lady and Zen Master

Many thanks for your helpful replies - yep, I'd agree it certainly is complex! At the moment it's all a bit like double Dutch to me but I will follow up on your suggestions - I think a book could be a good starting point so will head off to the library and will look at your link too, Zen Master.

At the moment the business is kind of fledgling so I'm not really looking to outlay a lot on it at the moment.

Kind regards,