There are millions of websites trying to get listed in the top 20 spots of the major search engines. That amounts to a lot of competition! I say if you do not get listed at the top, indirectly get to the top.

How do you do this? Look up the top 20 websites on major search engines under the keywords and phrases people would find your web site. Would be the key to then advertise on these websites.

The most expensive way would be to buy ad space on these websites. If you do not want to spend any money, you can use the strategies below. These strategies may not apply to each site.

1. Participate in their discussion boards.
You could post questions, answer questions other peoples, and join in on conversations. Just include your signature file and link at the end of your messages.

2. Ask the web site owner if they would like a free ebook to giveaway to their visitors.
You could have them link to your web site or include your ad in the free ebook.

3. Submit content to their website.
You can write articles for their website and include your resource box and link at the end of the article. If they publish it, you’ll indirectly be at the top of the search engines.

4. Writing an excellent article in the journal their website, products or services.
Then publish the review on your website. E-mail the web site owner and tell him or her about it. They may link to your web site to read it to their visitors.

5. Ask the owner of the web site if they would want to trade advertising.
If you do not get as much traffic as they do, you could throw in some extra incentives.

6. Propose a cross promotion deal with the web site.
You both could promote each others products or services together in one package deal. This means reference and a link back to your web site.

7. Give the web site a testimonial for their product or service.
Include a little text link for your web site with the testimonial. You never know, it could end up on their ad copy.

8. Your ad on their free classified ad section on their website.
You want to be sure you have an attractive headline as they will read your ad.

9. Post your text link on their free-for-all links page.
You want to go back and link your post-it also regularly stays up.

10. Sign their guest books.
You could leave a short compliment about their web site on their guest book. Just include your signature file and link at the end of your message.

Resource: Article from Richard Meredith