Kicking off a viral/grassroots marketing campaign?

[preneur]

Hi all,

Next month, with the redesign of one of my websites, I want to launch a grassroots marketing campaign. It is for a classic car website, and I want to get the word out the best way that I can. Other than spamming blogs/forums - which i refuse to do, what is the best way to start this off? (The site offers free classifieds ads, picture hosting/sharing, user blogs, global events calendar). All of the features on the site are completely free - but people always assume there is a catch so I want to be careful with how I word anything that is sent out. Any advise or tips/tricks on this would be very much appreciated!

[davids]

I saw this and a few ideas came across.

Run a free auto-responder on how to maintain your classic car.
Other topics perhaps.. How to find parts, how to fix, how to clean, how to "keep it real" and how to make modications without making it look terrible...

Perhaps run one on how to find a "Golden egg" inside a field of lemons? A lot of old cars are just useless in the way of how often you have to replace parts, or how crappy they are post-purchase.

There are heaps of value added autoresponders that could be prospecting tools for your website. The people who read your daily great advice trust you more and more.

Important:
Include your full name, and contact details (you must be real and trustworthy)
Ensure that they are totally confident that you will not sell their details, and all you want to tell them about is classic cars..
Make sure they can go to your website and sign up as a full member any time.. have forums, an email broadcast system, etc so it's "alive".

Just a few late-night thoughts. Hope it helps.

[BusinessAdviser]

I was interested in checking out your site, but after doing so, found out that it didn't really entertain me. I would have liked to have seen a greater variety of cars pictured and discussed.

[preneur]

Thanks David.

Jon - thanks for the honest response. I agree with you, which is why I am right in the middle of development of lots of changes for the site to make it more interactive with more pictures, content, and the ability for anyone to upload their own pictures. Up to this point, every picture on the site is one that I have taken myself - and all the content is mine. So it is basically just a blog. That being said, that site gets tons of traffic so I know there is an interest in this kind of stuff. I am sure the changes that I have planned will make the site much more entertaining - with much more pictures and discussion. I really do appreciate the feedback.

[BusinessAdviser]

Additionally, I might suggest catching a classic car show in your area. You could grab some great pictures and information there that would be of great interest to those visiting your blog. Keep us all posted.

[strangbad]

maybe you should use ancillary products to generate traffic, like podcasts on car care. Also, maybe use sex a bit to sell your business, like those lowrider magazines that have hot girls in bathing suits posing on the cars, definitely use that approach!