How many competitions are there running on the net at this time? 1000 maybe? Nah, 100,000 is more than likely and when they pass their closing date there will be just as many to take their place.
So, why are companies so desperate to give away free stuff just for answering a question or two? I'll tell you why...
...because it is an INCREDIBLY effective and very INEXPENSIVE way to get your company name mentioned on hundreds, if not thousands of websites, message boards, forums, blogs and conversations both in the online and offline world, not to mention the good PR it generates - that's why!
Who doesn't want their company name-dropped all over the place for what amounts to mere peanuts when compared to the costs of traditional advertising?
There are thousands of specialist competition and freebie sites whose sole purpose is to inform the rest of the internet when a new competition or freebie offer hits the internet. There are as many mailing lists, newsgroups, message boards and blogs on the same subject and YOUR company name could be plastered over all these when you add a competition giveaway to your site.
But it doesn't stop there.
If you are reading this as a webmaster then you obviously know all the major search engines look upon inbound links as being one of the main deciding factors in deciding which pages rank where in the organic search engine results. All these free, one-way inbound links pointing directly at your website are pure gold dust in terms of increasing your link popularity and thrusting you up towards the top of the search engines.
Whilst everyone else is rushing around participating in link exchange programs, renting links on websites, buying their way into search directories and more costly measures to help get the jump on their competitors, you could be flying up the rankings by giving away something as cheap as a $20 DVD once a month.
Of course, you can also make your generosity work extra hard for your business as well and really milk that competition freebie... Rather than just give one lucky visitor a chance to win something when they leave their details at your site how about some of these ideas to get a double hit from your freebie:
1) Newsletter Competition
A competition give-away to everyone who signs up with your newsletter. Draw an email address from the hat every month and announce it in the newsletter and you'll treble your subscription rate and keep them reading. Want to ensure they really read it? Ask a question about a specific aspect of the newsletter and get people to email it in and draw a winner from one of the entrants. You get more subscribers AND you ensure they're reading!
2) Newsletters again...
Add a checkbox to your competition entry page, order page etc. offering people the chance to sign up for your newsletter (making sure to offer the hook of exclusive newsletter give-aways, freebies, coupons etc. of course) and you've got a bunch of new subscribers. This is a less effective means of building your mailing list but it still works.
3) The Scavenger Hunt Competition.
Get people to browse around your website to give you the answers to a question or two you propose. Think "By how much is the Super Megatron 2000 reduced by this month"? and use these questions to direct people to your latest promotions and offers. Not only do you get all those extra visitors from blogs and comeptition sites like you wanted, but you also show these extra visitors the highlights of your site which will either encourage them to buy there and then or bookmark you for future reference rather than hitting and running.
4) The Repeat Competition Hook
Giving away different freebies in your competitions each month ensures two things. Firstly, competition addicts (of which there are many) will hit your site every month giving you a chance to market your offers to them at least once a month. Secondly, you ensure those search result boosting links continue to multiply every month...
...and so on. If there is any aspect of your website or business you feel is a real hook and worth promoting to customers then a decent competition used correctly is the perfect way to highlight it to a wide audience without spending a fortune on advertising.
But hang on, this isn't the ONLY way to use competitions to your own advantage. Another great way is to not run your own competition at all but to simply SPONSOR a competition on another site. Getting into a small competition sponsorship deal with a high traffic site in a related (but non-competiting) subject area can bring some awesome targetted traffic your way. If they archive their competition results and past sponsorships, then that's another one-way link you got into the bargain as well.
The possibilities here are endless and it's not going to cost you anything more than a few bucks each month in order to start the ball rolling.
So what are you waiting for?
Mark Falco is the webmaster and owner of dvd rental services and dvd rental services.
move in cleaning service Lake Forest ..Writing effective web copy begins with an understanding of what... Read More
Everyone likes to read or get a referral about something... Read More
Assuming that it is legal to do so in your... Read More
So you have your website and you've done everything right... Read More
I just reviewed a new website and I'm in shock.... Read More
There are 3 basic components to capturing leads on free... Read More
Now that you've built your new website you can sit... Read More
Is your business lagging behind?Are you frustrated?Cheer up.Here are 10... Read More
This could be the most amazing article to ever be... Read More
Often, website owners would like to promote their new business... Read More
Google is the most popular and most used search engine... Read More
Holding a contest or sweepstakes can draw a lot of... Read More
We will start with the best, than make our way... Read More
1. Create a free ebook directory on a specific topic... Read More
Most webmasters are familiar with the concept of reciprocal linking.... Read More
Once you have built and uploaded your home business website... Read More
1. Tell people you have a siteThis might seem blindingly... Read More
You have permission to publish this article electronically or... Read More
Every web business should be using testimonials. Testimonials are extremely... Read More
The ChallengeWebSiteMarketingPlan.com was to be a companion site to the... Read More
Many business owners and online marketing experts focus their efforts... Read More
Depending on your site's subject... Read More
Joe Nogood owns a small but thriving gift store. He... Read More
In order to have more trust in your visitors' eye,... Read More
On the Internet, links are very important for websites to... Read More
pet-friendly home cleaners Glenview ..Webmasters are always looking for ways to increase their traffic... Read More
When it comes to website marketing and promotions, you need... Read More
Though it's wonderful to get all those hits to your... Read More
Behind every good web page are codes only the search... Read More
Have you ever wondered why some websites get a thousand... Read More
The following traffic generating ideas do not require costly set-up... Read More
Website owners and webmasters who are trying to improve their... Read More
If you have a website promoting any product or service,... Read More
Have you even been to CNN's website? Odds are you... Read More
Do you want to reach millions of potential customers for... Read More
The best way to avoid being blacklisted by the search... Read More
Every business owner want to attract more orders and have... Read More
1. Create a free ebook directory on a specific topic... Read More
Hardly a day goes by that I don't get an... Read More
You have permission to publish this article electronically or... Read More
One of the best ways to promote a Website inexpensively... Read More
Free content builder. Articles are the best way to add... Read More
The shortcut to succeed in business is to do what... Read More
If you are not getting traffic at your website and... Read More
Being a restaurant owner means you are always interested in... Read More
If you haven't visited the Google Labs lately, they have... Read More
What is endorsement marketing?Endorsement marketing is having famous or reputable... Read More
You have spent hours creating a HTML masterpiece, you have... Read More
Driving traffic to your website can be a time consuming... Read More
How much does an advert in Yellow Pages cost? How... Read More
Web Site Promotion |