Alternatives to SE postings for business

We are looking to enhance ourselves on a larger scale. We have, up until now, been relying on SE postings to generate most of our business and now we are looking for ways of both generating more traffic and 'leads'.

We have some adspace to sell, we have looked at some hard copy marketing, but I was wondering if you all had some ideas as to alternative options for generating traffic, leads, customers etc.. I know this is the one million dollar question. We have what I would call a marginal marketing budget. AC, please do not respond with spamming gmail accounts

Would targetted emails work (some may call it spam)?

 

Opt in email could work...

Otherwise I don't personally think it's worth the cost...(Both financially and to the reputation of the site)...

Adwords, Overture etc may well be a good avenue...

Banner ads on competitor sites (Worth a try at least )

Press releases...

A few options for you to take a look at...

But not email - (half of me enev thinks that any email, unsolicited or sot will all be grouped into the users mind as spam)...

Hope it helps

<edit>I just thought...

I know a guy who specialises in online/offline marketing...

I can get him to throw some suggestions your way if you like...

He's come up with some prett good ideas for me in the past...

Let me know if you are interested...

</edit>

 

I know I'd be interested. I want to get past relying on SE;s for my traffic/sales. I've been buying ads on related sites but for the price I'm paying - I don't exactly get a position where I will drive the buku traffic to my doorstep - even on sites that are super related and one would think I'd get a decent amount.

 

I've had good luck with guerilla marketing in the past.. It's a lot of hard work, but sometimes the simplest of things (like distributing flyers door-to-door) end up being the most effective. If you don't want to do it yourself, pay some high-school kids to do it for you!

 

I think its totally dependant on the type of business. I posted about finding related web sites to advertise with via google content ads, but spoke to one webmaster about this who mentioned that the consistent sources for his content traffic don't relate in this way. Every business is so totally different. If its for the regional computer repair site, you should be(if you aren't already) be optimized for all local phrases.

Then there are many many ways to get potential customers to find you.

 

If you can get article/s in the newspaper/s it's excellent exposure. What site are you talking bout I'll try an think up some hooks for you.

 

Do you ask for referrals from your existing clients?

 

OK... this might sound outlandish, but... read your local paper for a few weeks. Find an AP writer who is friendly to your cause. Then spend some time trying to get in touch with that reporter about a story. An AP link will do wonders for your traffic and pagerank.

 

I think now a days there are different ways to reach - the popular and effective one being search engines and social media; but since there are people not connected to online networks, especially in the developing world, a combination of traditional and the ones cited above are being used. Coming to what Cartman said, I would like to know what this guerrilla marketing is: can you tell what it means actually?