Get Traffic By Donating A Prize

Have you started your business… created a product - an ecourse - a newsletter - a free report… set up a website filled with good articles… and yet you don’t have enough traffic?

You’ve tried some of the basics like Article Marketing… Forum Posts and maybe even dipped into PPC advertising - and still you need more traffic.

New businesses start every day. A successful business is directly tied to how many people know that you exist. One of the smartest ways to get your business known is by giving ’till it hurts and then give more.

With all of the ways that we look to market our business we often forget about giving. This means we are giving away something (a lot of somethings) for free to help someone less fortunate than us - but that is not the only goal of the gesture. The goal is to also bring more traffic to our business. photo credit: Emmaline

Donations to charitable events and local events can be of several types:

• Auctions
• Fundraisers (fashion shows, dinners, recitals)
• Local sporting events
• School functions
• Conferences
• Community events (carnivals, parades, fairs)
• Event Goodie Bags
• Contests

Most product donations are made with the stipulation that the business get a mention for the product. The mention can be in a program, on paraphernalia (swag) at the event, or a voiced mention at the event. Either way, people will find out that you exist and want to take a closer look.

These donations can really boost website traffic. Most events have logos created. Ask for permission to replicate that logo and add it to your website under a heading like, “Supporter of this or that event.”

A charitable company is also looked on favorably by visitors as one that gives back to the community. This alone can increase sales.

Make sure the product donated is appropriate for the event. For instance, a fashion show may need jewelry donated for the models in the amateur fashion show. A local sporting team may need new jerseys. If you are into kids’ apparel, you can donate the uniforms.

The sponsors of the fashion show may hold an auction for the jewelry after the show to raise more money. Here, you can design additional packaging for the jewelry like keepsake boxes with your contact info and business name on an address label affixed to the box. Whoever wins the jewelry will also be exposed to your products.

The same goes with the uniforms. Your name would be stenciled on the back as one of the sponsors of the team or on their hats or something. Besides the name would be your website address. This is where another website apart from the company one is helpful. Your domain name will be unique and easy to find on the Web.

• If you are asked to donate products for a raffle, don’t include just the products but also some self-labeled items.
• If you sell candy for your business, put some candy in a mug with your business name and web address on it.
• If you sell home décor, package a pillow for raffle with a pillow cover bearing your website name and address.

Donating a product out of the goodness of your heart pays off in more than just good feelings. Increase traffic to your business at the same time.

Don’t limit your giving to physical products… your digital products can be used as give-aways as well. Every ebook and report you produce is a potential contest prize for your own sweepstakes - or those of related website publishers.

Help each other out promoting contests on Twitter - Forums - Newsletters - Blog Posts. Contests can be a very viral (take on a life of their own) attention and traffic booster for any business.

Website owners are looking for contest/sweepstake prizes all the time… yep… even us Pirates are always on the lookout for something new and fresh to giveaway in a prize package.

All you have to do is offer your services or products - and traffic will be your prize!