Any advice on blogs or online magazines I could contact...

[robousy]

Hi folks,

I have recently completed my website Citizenshipper.

CitizenShipper connects people who want something delivered (a CitizenSender) with people who can do the delivering (a CitizenShipper). You can think of it as a freelance courier service where anyone can sign up to make the deliveries, or to have something delivered.

Users are connected via a zip-code matching program and automated emails. The emails are sent out when a 'CitizenShippers' pickup and delivery locations match the 'CitizenSenders', or are within a pre-selected proximity of the locations.


Advice I am looking for

Now the website is finished I really want to raise awareness of this free service. I am thinking that I should probably contact online business magazines, blogs etc...but at the moment I will just be googling 'blindly'.

If anyone has any specific websites or contacts they think might help I'd be so happy to hear from you.

Richard

(CitizenShipper Founder)

[ShaneeK.]

This is a very innovative idea. I think that in addition to adding more keyword-rich copy to your site, that you might want to start your own blog as well for SEO.

To drive quick traffic to your site, I would think about online advertising using PPC. This would capture people searching for a related service, and you could post ads on high traffic sites like cnn.com, nytimes.com etc to build awareness.

Good luck.

S-

[robousy]

Thanks for the advice ShaneeK. I recently started a blog, but am not too sure what exactly to write about, or why a blog will help.

Also, I definitely think about ppc, but I'm on a small budget right now.

Thanks!

[Librazoe1982]

You could show your website to more people by link building. Rating HQ is one website you can join. The website is for people to list business, products, else and write their opinions. Other people can comment too. Anyways, you are off to a great start by mentioning it here and telling us about it. Good Luck.

[chrispalko]

I read something on here about a press release helping drive new traffic, you should search for it.

Anyways, good luck with your idea, it sounds good.

[robousy]

Thanks for the tips LibraZoe1982 and chrispalko. Great advice! Well, I have a hot cup of green tea and I am dedicating the rest of the evening to following up on your words and doing some additional research!

[flnazrael]

- pr.com, openpr.com, etc. With pr.com do the paid option with at least one link to your site embedded and a high syndication level.

- Blogs aren't always a good idea - sometimes it's kind of pointless. In your field you may end up writing the same thing every post.

- Do some foundational link building in decent directories - business.com, Yahoo Directory, dmoz.org, Ezilon, JoeAnt to name a few... but be careful who you shell out money to beyond that.


- socialmarker.com

[MichaelMelen]

great concept, really excited to see what comes of it.

Get in touch with some popular blogs - Springwise: new business ideas for entrepreneurial minds. , Mashable! - The #1 Social Networking and Social Media News Blog etc.
Also do some social/viral marketing.

[robousy]

This is a very innovative idea. I think that in addition to adding more keyword-rich copy to your site, that you might want to start your own blog as well for Search Engine Optimization.

S-

To be frank, I had the idea, and paid a professional for the development, but apart from some basic HTML I'm not all that net savvi!

I know how to update the site (and have made some basic changes already), but could you elaborate on adding keyword-rich copy to the site. What sort of things would I write, and on what page?

Thanks!

[robousy]

Thanks for the advice flnazrael. I'll act on that tonight. Yes, I knid of wandered just how useful blogging would actually be.

BTW, I just took a look at socialmarker.com. Nice idea!

Also, MichaelMelin, thanks for the postive remarks.

[sk8ramp]

Adding a blog is the way you add keyword rich copy to your site, they are one and the same really. To add a blog you would want to upload wordpress. Once it is up it is really easy to use, and that is where you would want to add content either by going to some free article sites and pasting posts or creating your own original content on your subject.

The other nice part of a blog is that if you write or have written posts of interest you can then take them to article submission sites. There are also a lot of blog communities where you can network and submit your feed.

I have set up quite a few blogs, if you stumble and have specific questions feel free to pm me.

[robousy]

Hmmmm, thanks sk8ramp.

So let me check I'm following. I actually have a wordpress account. Are you saying that I would add a 'blog' link to my website. It seems a bit strange and maybe unprofessional, I mean I haven't seen that many websites that are selling or offering a service which also have a blog (maybe I just haven't been looking).

Essentially I'd have my usualy tabs at the top of my webpage, 'my account', 'contact us', 'faq' etc...but then I'd add a 'blog' tab.

Have I understood??

Rich

[sk8ramp]

Right, but I would call it "articles" as opposed to blog. Relevant articles are going to help a ton with search engine traffic and they will also keep readers staying on and coming back to your site.

Just make it professional, not a blog about what you did Friday night.

Here are a couple of resources:

Free Articles ArticleSnatch Article Directory

Free Articles Directory | Submit Articles - ArticlesBase.com

You could use articles on the shipping industry, car reviews, gas mileage etc.

Content is King when it comes to SEO

[robousy]

lol, ok I'll keep out my social details from the 'articles'.

Cheers again, really great advice. Ecpecially adding articles on shipping and gas.

I'm such a noob when it comes to marketing so this is a great learning experience for me.

Rich