How Do I Market This?

[JKomp]

I have set up a site www.CardsFrom.com that sells a service that involves a product i.e. greeting cards. I have never sold a product before - how do I go about marketing my CardsFrom website, where do I advertise etc.

Any help and/or advice is much appreciated, I would really like to make a go of this.

[dharrison]

Hi JKomp

I'm assuming that this is on a shoestring budget?

Regardless, you mention in your opening page that your site is targeted at busy business people (good wording!). ;) So where do busy business people hang out? At coffee bars, bars (in general) the gym, salons, internet cafes, train stations, etc. Ask the owners of the venues that attract your average professional if you could leave a pile of fliers (cards or small leaflets) with some basic info and more importantly, the web address. If they seem willing, would they also display a poster as well for maximum publicity?

If you have a bit more to invest, what sort of paper/magazine/publications do they read? Invest in placing an advert in one of these said publications. As a money-saving tip that has worked for me in the past: Tell them you're a new business on a budget and leave them your details. One Essex Business publication contacted me at the end of each month when she had leftover advertising space and were then prepared to come down on price.

These are just a few suggestions and I hope they help (or at least get you thinking).

[JKomp]

Superb ideas, I really hadn't thought of some of those. I will definitely do the fliers thing.

As for magazines, any recommendations?

[dharrison]

Errrrm ... pass.

I'll give that one a bit more thought and let you know.

I'm assuming this is a nationwide service and not a 'local shop for local people' :)

[LnrdRthr]

I think what you should do is create a whole heap of pages, surrounding niche subjects relating to cards. You should also categories them.

If you're trying to make money - on the cheap, then your only real avenue is search engine optimization.

Therefore, you should try to incorporate as many "card" related terms as possible.

If that were my website, the first thing I'd start doing is begin adding categories. I'd add one for all the holidays. Christmas, Valentine'cas, birthday, etc.

Then I'd try to make sure I have at least a dozen cards in each category. I don't think you will get many search engine hits if you just have pictures of cards with links. Try to give each card at least one descriptive sentence.

Also, make sure you name all of your card images after your niche keywords and give them alt tags too. Try to create directory names and file names after your niche keywords/phrases as well.

Once you have done all that and you're happy with the site, you should start trying to get links from other websites that you think people who want cards would hang out/visit.

Regarding the front page, I would lose all of that text and put it on an about page or something. If people hit the main page, they're going to want to see cards. The site must jump out and say "you can get cards here", even before visitors have had a chance to read one word.

[ctabuk]

I was beaten to it, that's great advice, the site is lacking in basic optimisation, and it needs links. Personally, I'd also take a look at e-bay and think about a sellers shop.

[seaboost]

Recently I have seen so many beautiful sites offering greeting cards that I could send out tons of free cards per day. You'll have to offer something different than the rest of them.

[JKomp]

Free cards? Real, quality greeting cards, sent for your with a personalised message inside? Tell me where and i'm there.