| Anybody promoting or marketing products online | | | | are there because they too are interested in the |
| knows that converting web site traffic is the key | | | | same subject. This gives you a perfect forum to |
| to survival and profits. However, for startup | | | | inform a niche audience about latest |
| businesses, this is easier said than done. How do | | | | developments and upcoming trends. |
| you target nameless, faceless customers and get | | | | It also allows you to get valuable feedback from |
| them to visit your website-one of hundreds of | | | | customers and is the best way of assessing |
| thousands that overwhelm the internet? More | | | | market trends and testing new ideas. |
| importantly, how do you know what this invisible | | | | Referral Traffic |
| customer wants? | | | | Referral traffic, which is the kind of traffic that is |
| Web 2.0 advertising and marketing offer | | | | generated from other websites and not search |
| entrepreneurs an effective means of attracting | | | | engines, is sustainable traffic and can benefit your |
| more visitors to their site and interacting with | | | | business tremendously. Some of the most |
| potential customers. It allows startup businesses | | | | effective ways of generating referral traffic are |
| to advertise their existence and promote their | | | | by writing a series of interesting posts, writing |
| products to prospective clients who do not yet | | | | product reviews while asking the site owner to |
| know the business even exists. | | | | link the testimonial to your website and increasing |
| There are several Web 2.0 promotion methods, | | | | customer participation on your site by allowing |
| which if used simultaneously, can bring surprising | | | | them to vote for articles or email the articles to |
| results. | | | | friends. |
| Write great articles | | | | Publish Press Releases |
| People use the internet because they are looking | | | | Publishing attention grabbing Press Releases will |
| for information. Giving them what they are looking | | | | pique the curiosity of readers who are looking for |
| for is the most effective way of attracting | | | | savvy and new information. It's a sure fire way |
| customers. Today on the internet, content is king | | | | to get guaranteed buyers as well as casual |
| and who better to write about your business than | | | | visitors to your site who, with some gentle |
| you. You can turn around and promote your | | | | persuasion can be converted into paying |
| articles on Web 2.0 enabled sites such as Digg, | | | | customers. |
| Reddit, ShoutWire, Plume, NewsVine, and | | | | Freebies & the Art of Gentle Persuasion |
| StumbleUpon. | | | | Give your visitors valuable free gifts in the form |
| Establish a blog | | | | of interesting e-books, helpful hints and |
| Blogging about your product or service is good | | | | informative newsletters. Again, this is not a new |
| for your business. You can either establish your | | | | concept. Using Web 2.0 promotion methods is |
| own blog or join an existing one that is relevant | | | | what makes this process so valuable. |
| to your business. All other members of the blog | | | | |