What's the best way to promote a new website?

I recently worked with a startup whose target audience was college male students. They focused on one university to test their product and get feedback. This worked really well because they had a large, relevant test environment to help them build a great product. Testing with family and friends is a great first step. I would contact a bunch of university alumni offices and try to work with one or a few of them to reach their alumni to expand your test group. You might also join some alumni LinkedIn groups that have a large, active following (I think the BC group is fairly active) to spread the word to a larger, but cohesive group where people can easily connect and engage on your site. I also think your timing to do a broader launch is great right now. People are just graduating and looking for ways to stay connected. Good luck!

Answered 11 months ago by Mary-Alice Brady

If it were a product/service I would suggest SEO. That's cost-effective and awesome if you know the right ways.

Since your site has got more to do with bringing people together, I would say social media is your best shot. Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter. Lots of photos and updates. You are sure to get a lot of fans and visitors to your site. All the best.

Answered 6 months ago by Sarah Johs

go where everyone hands out >facebook
create a FB page which takes about site and start filling it with fun catchy content. offer visitors to post fun stuff in your page and direct them to the site.

Answered 8 months ago by Yoran Bar

There are already some good ideas in the comments here. I'd like to address your question of how to motivate more people to sign up. I think it's a great idea to create community based on interests. Your challenge is that "extracurricular activities" casts a very broad net. Be specific. If you name the passion (basketball, poetry slams, darts, Boston Red Sox) then people will want to get involved.

The challenge for you in this is that it will feel like you are defining yourself too narrowly. Remember, the site can handle any sort of community. Your marketing challenge is to find the specific activity that generates the most sign-ups. Once people are on the site they can poke around and find their other interests.

Good Luck!

Answered 11 months ago by Andrew Winig

Hi, just checked your site - nothing about the landing page compels me to sign up! And I am not your target market but if I was I didn't get much motivation.

My advice would be pick a community and go from there, some people sware by -launchrock - but I think it has issues! of the 3 - market business, gain uses, solicit feedback. I would focus on Gain users. goto local events, push your own alumni network. I get to your home page - what is my motivation to join yet another web platform?

Find a collaborative medium currently being used by your target audience and join that conversation, bleeding in some suggestions to check yr site out. Twitter has worked well for me in new markets but it depends on your user base. Good luck.

Answered 11 months ago by Michael Potts