Using A Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Service
Once your site is up, you might be targeted by different companies offering search engine optimization services. Be very cautious before signing up with them as there are many scam artists who will take your money, provide little value, and run.
How To Find A Legitimate SEO Company
If you do decide to hire an expert in search engines make certain that you check out their references. Talk to clients who have used their services.
There are some incredibly talented search engine professionals who can substantially increase your site's traffic using legitimate and effective techniques. The problem though is going through poor ones to find a real expert. Your challenge is to find a genuine expert and then be prepared to pay for their services.
After working with numerous SEO experts, the one I can recommend without reservation is MrWebGuru.com.
Don't fall for pitches like...
We guarantee getting you number 1 position placement on Yahoo/Google etc.
These companies might very well be able to get you a number 1 position but it will be for a search term that won't generate any traffic and won't make you any money. The other way they might do it is by purchasing advertising for you and overcharging you for what you can do yourself.
We'll submit your site to 1000's of search engines and directories.
Most of the directories and engines they submit to are minor ones that don't get any traffic. There are only a handful of important search engines that you need to be listed on. And you don't even have to submit to them if you advertise on a couple of quality vacation rental listing sites. The search engine spiders sent out by Google, Yahoo, and MSN will automatically follow those links to your site and you'll get listed without lifting a finger.
We'll email your ad to 28 million people for free.
Doing this will cause you headaches as most of the people on these lists have not agreed to receive what amounts to spam. This does not mean email marketing doesn't work... it works wonders when done correctly. For example, the inquiries you receive during the year for your rental are ideal leads to follow up on with emailed specials and news about your rentals.
We guarantee to get your millions of hits.
This is fairly obvious but the guys who target you with these schemes are experts at marketing. Don't fall for pitches that sound too good to be true. With this one, for example, you'll get hits but they will likely come from a popup window that is never seen. Or, the popup is closed by the viewer as soon as it appears. Sure, you received the hit. The problem is, no one saw your site, and if they did, they didn't care because they weren't looking for a vacation rental.
Remember: You want targeted traffic and there is no more targeted traffic than someone using a search engine to look for a vacation rental in your location.
If you follow the steps...
1. create a search engine friendly site
and
2. obtain relevant high-quality links
...you'll be on your way to having your vacation rental website appear high in the rankings of the major search engines.
Now. Before we move on to the subject of offline marketing, there are two other online methods that are important to mention.
Issue a Press Release
Prepare a press release about your rental or about the benefits of renting homes in your area. Think of an angle that the media and the public would find newsy or interesting. If you're having trouble coming up with an angle, consider an experienced press release writer who will do the writing for you.
Once you have the press release, go to a site like prweb.com and pay them a small fee to distribute it for you.
Added bonus...
The press release will reside on their website and this will act as another incoming link to your site - so be sure to use your keywords in the release!
Start a Direct Mail Campaign Online
After a period of time you will have built up a list of prospects who have inquired about and/or rented your property.
Send them an email and announce a special offer or some news about your rental. Or create an informative newsletter that goes out to your mailing list on a regular basis.
Once the inquiries roll in, the door will open to your best offline marketing opportunities. And that's where we're headed next.
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