Posts

Well, I presume if you write an article about a specific product, service provided, a person sooner or later they will find out that they have been cited by another website (which is you) and likely they will contact you. If they like your post you should ask a vote in form of a link
for instance: you have a blog where you write miscellaneous things ... or you choose a category which is about blue collar workers, and you write about plumbers, how well they are doing their work, how heavy is their job and how less they earn for it, you include some photos and even a funny but not offensive video (along with links to the source site, hopefully a relevant one)

After you are done you should contact a few plumber's sites to earn some votes or just write write some comments on your article. If they accept it: Great ,
if they don't, well (you should find out why, and improve it if it's needed) you will remain with a good article and sooner or later others will find you.

Hi all.

My company has just lunched a new project that is a city business directory for New York city. So mainly it's a local business directory that will help local small and large businesses to be found on the net. We aim for maximum user experience, user friendly design and to deliver useful information.

My greatest task is to create the best strategy for earning links, referrals, citations or any other methods which will promote our site.
What do you suggest? Where should I start? (I've already thought about a blog)

Thinking as a layman, what kind of information would you expect to find on a site like this?

Even though I'm a great SEO and SEM enthusiast I don't consider myself an expert, so every help is highly appreciated.

Only white hat methods and free of charge ideas, please

I don't really know how beneficial a paid directory is but I'm sure there are lots of free of charge quality directories out there which can help you advertise your business on the internet. To choose the right directory ask yourself what's the purpose of being listed in a directory?
I would recommend directories that are constantly monitored by moderators (unfortunately many of them are automated) they are responsible for filtering out junk listings, spammers and witchcraft, pornographic, harassing content. Make sure you post your business where your clients can review you. Reviews are highly valuable, 60% (if I'm right) of potential customers will choose companies which were reviewed by other clients . And accept negative reviews as well, try to react in the most friendly and professional manner, that will make you trustworthy

Or maybe the first thing I would do is to ask some of my friends - friends (who don't know my business or haven't heard about it before) to review my website.
What catches their attention when they navigate through my site, what do they find important, would they trust my site (eg. will they receive the goods they ordered?)
What was their intention when they clicked on my site and if they found what they were looking for?

Hi,
Use social media advertising.
I'm a girl (in case you didn't notice from my name ) and big FB fan. I also like fashion clothes and jewelries as well. Lately some of my acquaintances shared some great posts on FB. Most of them containing prom dresses, elegant fashion clothes, jewelries or even sporting goods, saying that in order to win the dress in question you must like the company's profile and share the post. It's that simple, free of charge. And if you'r lucky, you may be the owner of a new, beautiful dress. Sounds good? well show me a woman who would reject an offer like this.

Of course I don't have to mention that these company profiles in less then 1 month can earn thousands of likes and shares.