business-startup.ie

Search engine optimization (SEO) is the process of improving the volume or quality of traffic to a web site from search engines via "natural" or un-paid ("organic" or "algorithmic") search results as opposed to search engine marketing (SEM) which deals with paid inclusion. Typically, the earlier (or higher) a site appears in the search results list, the more visitors it will receive from the search engine.

Business-Startup.ie is working with professionals in this area to ensure that our website ranks highly in search engines such as Google and that anybody researching or starting a business are likely to more easily find our site online. An example below from the 24th February 2010 shows how high we rank for the keyword phrase "business startup" with only Bank of Ireland and Enterprise Ireland ranking ahead of us.

Search Engine Marketing (SEM) or Pay Per Click (PPC) Advertising is one of the main marketing tools now used by businesses all over the world to drive traffic to their website and generate sales. One of the largest companies in this area is Google and their Google AdWords tool is undoubtedly the most widespread used PPC advertising tool in the world.

Business-Startup.ie has an ongoing PPC campaign in place with Google AdWords to attract traffic to our site by concentrating on the main keywords people use when researching or starting a business. If you type keywords such as  "business startup", "starting a business", "starting a business ireland" or "startup advice" into Google Ireland, you will see ads for Business-Startup.ie in the Sponsored Listings section.

Social Media describes the technologies, platforms and methods in which users share content online. Social Media relies on user-generated content and allows users to share, discuss and participate in the conversation. It also allows people or businesses to become both readers and publishers of content. Interaction also plays a key role in Social Media with communication between fellow users increasing content levels and further spreading the word.

Business-Startup.ie is active on social networks such as Twitter and YouTube and we are in the process of setting up our Facebook page. Although time consuming the active use of social networking contributes significantly to the promotion of the site online.

To publicise the launch of our website we have appeared in the print media on several occasions over the last few months.

Firstly, we had a two page commercial feature in the Starting a Business in Ireland Supplement to the October 22nd edition of Business and Finance Magazine. Part of the Business & Finance Media Group, Business & Finance is Ireland's leading business magazine. Established in 1964, the magazine is devoted to providing senior business people across every sector with quality editorial and in-depth coverage on all aspects of enterprise. The average audited net circulation per issue of Business & Finance is 15,767 as certified by the independent Audit Bureau of Circulation. 

Secondly, we featured in the Business Spotlight section of the December 19th edition of Business Plus Magazine. Business Plus magazine is a full-colour monthly business magazine. Published since 1998, Business Plus is one of Ireland's largest circulation monthly business magazines, catering for entrepreneurs and decision-makers in fast-growth companies. You can download a copy of the article here.
  

From time to time we intend to undertake advertising campaigns in cooperation with other businesses which are active in the SME market and are actively working with new entrepreneurs to get their business off the ground. In this way, all parties can avail of more cost effective advertising campaigns and make their respective budgets go much further.

Above is an example of an A4 sized advertisement which we placed in January 2010 in the Enterprise Review Magazine. Enterprise Review is Ireland’s only free guide to setting up your business. It is distributed to all City & County Enterprise Boards and Community Enterprise Centres (CEC’s) nationwide, along with each Business Innovation Centre, FÁS office, Enterprise Ireland etc.

All of our co-advertisers have Featured Listings in our directory, have non competing businesses and have been able to promote themselves very cost effectively in print media as well as online.