This shows that web sites are not very effective.

[Rocket, CFP(R)]

My web site service shows how many times someone has viewed my site by date. Frequently zero (0) people have viewed my website on any given day. This shows that web sites are not very effective. I also advertise in the newspaper, which shows my website URL, etc.

[jdang307]

Start a blog.


I do not advertise whatsoever my legal practice. I just blog. I get calls each week from people who searched google and yahoo and find me.



There are some SEO practices to use to maximize ranking, but I've only been at it since January and I'm ranking past major major law firms for key search terms. Think "XYZ City Business Lawer"



Static websites are good for information, not for marketing.

[Vig Oren]

See if you qualify to submit your site here:


http://www.naoi.org/partnerships/PartnerRec.htm


As to starting a Blog, I am not sure if it is a good idea any more. See this from MAY 21, 2009 WSJ:

.
Bloggers, be careful what you post online. You could get sued.


.
Excerpt:

"Bloggers are increasingly getting sued or threatened with legal action for everything from defamation to invasion of privacy to copyright infringement. In 2007 -- the most recent data available -- 106 civil lawsuits against bloggers and others in social networks and online forums were tallied by the Citizen Media Law Project at the Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University, up from just 12 in 2003. There have been about $17.4 million in trial awards against bloggers to date, according to the Media Law Resource Center in New York, a nonprofit clearinghouse that tracks free-speech cases.


Many lawsuits are thrown out of court or settled before trial, but not before causing headaches for the accused. Though the likelihood of a plaintiff winning a lawsuit is not high, "you could go bankrupt" just from defending against them, says Miriam Wugmeister, a partner at Morrison & Foerster LLP and a privacy and data-security law expert."

[jdang307]

The same risks that apply to anything you write, applies to blogging.


Don't defame, don't infringe on other copyrights, etc. and you'll be fine.



The point of blogging is to educate. Show your expertise. Neither of which requires infringing of copyrights or defaming.



If you see an article you like, link to it, maybe quote one or two lines max, and then discuss with your own editorial. or forget quoting, just link and then discuss.



It's easy to blog. What are your clients asking you? Those questions are what you should be blogging about. Your answers are your own, no need to worry about copyright there.



Remember for every question your client asks you, it's possible that other prospects have the exact same question. So what do they do? They go to google. Wouldn't it be great if when they search for that question, your blog post shows up?



http://www.investmentnews.com/article/20090517/REG/305179964

Advisers enter blogosphere to lure prospects
Personal websites are also seen as a way to market a practice and communicate with clients

There is no cheaper way for a one person shop to battle the big guys. Did I mention how easy it is to setup and get going?

[the observer]

Couple of points, websites are only as effective as the content and most of today's content is uniform and boring thanks to B/D's who demand everyone use the big three, their templates and their crappy materials.

Second, don't forget blogging is also considered an advertisement and as such, if you are affiliated with a broker dealer you must clear all blogs before posting through the advertising / compliance department. Some broker deale4rs prohibit blogging outright

[jdang307]

yes, definitely abide by any securities or house rules.


lucky for me, we're RIA only whose rules are less onerous, and the SEC looked at our blog for about two minutes. If you keep the blog a separate entity (such as a newsletter) and do not cross advertise with the adviser site, the blog and newsletter do not come under 40 advisers act rules.



But I force compliance across all writings regardless. As that may change whenever they feel like it.

[tasha]

Article and directory posting may help to improve the visitors of your websites. You can add blog so that your visitors attract towards site. Now a day ppc is very popular and you can use this service.

[Financial Domains]

Maybe you need a catchy web address that tells prospects and clients exactly what you do, such as http://www.RetirementPlanningSpecialist.com ....a good web address also help you be found in search results.

[tasha]

Today as we all know that only creating a website will not help in marketing. People can't contact you if you do not advertise your website. So without advertising you will find no worth.

[jimpeters]

Yes I agree. Simply creating a website serves no purpose. You would have to work for it to increase its visibility. You can either do it yourself or ask other professional people who do internet marketing. Blogs, articles are good ways of making people reach your website by clicking on your links in them.