There are many different methods to advertising a website. The following are an assortment of advertisement techniques that are most commonly used:

Indexes and Search Engines
Submitting your URL to Internet Search Engines and Indexes is one of the most popular ways to make your site known to the world. Various search engines index sites according to different criteria, so we recommend that you find out whatever information you can about a service before submitting your URL, and prepare your site in whatever way is needed to achieve the best possible results.

Custom Domain Names
Custom Domain Names are so common these days, that quite often people just forget search engines and make guesses at possible site names. For instance, someone interested in beach balls might try www.beachballs.com in their browser just to see if that is a site. With an ALTONet account you can register a custom domain that relates to your website topic, making it easy for interested web users to find your site. Another reason to have a custom domain name is that it is easy for visitors to remember once they have found it.

Link Exchanges
Exchanging links is an effective way of exposing your site to people who are already interested in the topics related to your site. Find other successful sites that are related in subject to yours, and propose a trade of links with the webmaster of that site. Many webmasters (especially those who already maintain a list of related links as a part of their site) will be happy to put a link to your site on theirs, if you do the same in return.

Newsgroups
Usenet newsgroups specifically for announcing new websites are another way to make Internet users aware of your site. Do not post advertisements to any group unless such posts are specifically allowed by that group. Advertising to non-advertising groups is generally considered abuse of the Internet, is generally looked down on, and against ALTONet's Unacceptable Website Promotion policies.

Providing Services
One of the best ways to attract people to your site and keep them coming back, is to provide a service or resource that makes them want to visit again and again. For instance, if you sell beach balls, you might consider creating and maintaining a comprehensive list of sites associated with beach balls. Beach ball enthusiasts, collectors and fanatics will have a reason to come to your site often, and tell their friends. This usually results in a steady stream of traffic.

Encourage Bookmarks
A simple concept: make a note on your page reminding visitors to bookmark your site if they like it. It increases the chances that your visitors will be back.

Keep Your Website Current
This isn't an advertising technique, as much as an important principle in keeping a popular site popular. If your site is not updated regularly, visitors will not bother to return. If you don't occasionally offer new information or resources, you're not giving visitors any reason to return. No matter how well publicised your site is, if you don't maintain it, it is sure to drop in popularity.

Other ways to advertise your site include conventional means such as placing ads in Internet related publications such as .NET, Mobile & Internet, etc. You might also include your web address in ads that you already run in non-Internet publications. URLs are also appearing on television shows, commercials, radio shows, bumper stickers, business cards, t-shirts, billboards, and any other advertising media that has traditionally been used to spread the word about products, services or companies.

In summary, there are a great many ways to get the word out about your site, but keep in mind that advertising is only half the work of having a successful site — the other half is creating a site that is informative, engaging, and makes the visitor want to return or tell their friends.