Build traffic with a competition...

OK, so I said that yesterday was the last of the ideas, I was wrong. Here's something else that I was suggesting to a customer. I'll describe it as I described it to my customer for his promotional items website.

Basically, what I suggested is that he run a promotional items competition. He invites his existing customers to send in ideas as to how they have used his products. This could be descriptions, images, videos etc. It doesn't matter - it's whatever he wants to use. It could even just be the most unusual place to give out his products, the most unusual model to build etc. It doesn't matter - all that matters is that there is a competition (and simple prize) that interests his customers.

And the competition doesn't need to be restricted to just his customers, as long as the entrants are using the right products. More about this in a minute...

So he gets the customers posting their entries. Each of these forms a separate webpage (more content...). But he's the important part - customers and their customers vote for the winners. This is vital! That way, customers who have signed up and entered the competition then tell their contacts about the cocmpetition so that they get votes. These people visit the site and vote.

You can incentivise the voting to encourage more votes by offering a prize for those voting as well. So to be able to award thee prize, and to make sure that people are only voting once, you capture email addresses.

So, what do you get from this exercise, rather than just a bill from your web designer for the work!

For a start, customers are returning to your site so they have you in mind. It's an excuse for you to email them and remind them you exist.

Second, the customers are telling people about you, so they are spreading the word about your site. There's a chance that your customers' contacts could then become your new customers.

Third, you get to capture a mailing list of your customers' contacts and can email them competition updates - and remind them you exist.

Fourth, some of your customers will be keen on the competition and link to your voting pages from their websites - one way links.

So, keep the voting rolling and maybe reset the counters every month or so. That way, your customers keep the votes rolling in and the benefits continue.