There is no point creating a weather web-camera service if no-one knows that it exists! For most web sites, if they are not listed on a search engine, then effectively, they do not exist. Most people discover a web site through a search engine first. However, despite some popular myths, there is no mystery or trickery to getting a web site listed on a search engine.

 

Major search engines such as Yahoo, MSN, AltaVista and Google, all have an announce a new site link on their homepages. Simply click the link and fill in the form; it's as simple as that. After a few days, the weather web-camera's homepage should be added to their indices. If the homepage has respected the rules of search engine optimisation, the weather web-camera may achieve a high ranking; it will be on the search engine's first or second return pages for a related search.

Some search engines offer a speedy indexing service, guaranteeing rapid indexing and high ranking in exchange for a fee. Most of these are specialist search services and are really minor league players. Money should never be paid for what is done faster and for free by others.

There are a number of web sites that are specifically tailored for indexing web-cameras. These offer indices organised under diverse headings such as weather, landscape, beaches, harbours, city, animals and weird stuff.



To add a web-camera, visit the indexing site, click on the add a new camera link and, complete the on-line form. To get a listing on these sites takes longer than does a search engine listing; this is because a human reviews the web-camera beforehand. This is to protect the index against irrelevant entries and unsuitable content. Most reputable web camera indexing services decouple salacious webcams into sections headed Adult Content or Weird Stuff. The reviewer may also amend the headings under which the web-camera is to be filed. New cameras also receive extra promotion under a new-cameras heading.

The big advantage of being listed on a web-camera index site is that people looking for interesting web-cameras will often visit the indexing site first. Furthermore, once listed on a web-camera index, the homepage's search engine page ranking may also improve. Always looking for new and interesting web-cameras to add to their indices, these indexing sites will expect to receive a reciprocal link in return for an entry; see below.

A web site is never alone as there are always similar web sites produced by like minded people. There are hundreds of weather related websites out there, dealing with everything from forecasting to storm chasing, climate change to weather art. Most of these web sites provide a links page offering courteous links to other similar web sites who, on a reciprocal basis, provide links in return. This is called a reciprocal link.



To set up a reciprocal link requires an email to the web master of the affinity website describing what the local site is about. Before approaching a web master, the affinity site should be researched and, it's suitability as a partner assessed. The third party website may seem to be an appropriate affiliate, but on research, the site may be badly maintained or, contain content that is unrelated to weather. There is no obligation on a third party to provide or maintain a reciprocal link to another site, or even respond to an email!

Astute web masters, such as those operating sites for hotels, sporting facilities and radio stations, may be on the look out for interesting content related to their website. This is especially true when their business is impacted by the weather. So a weather web-camera feed of their local environment may be just what they are looking for.



Approach the third party web master with a courteous email describing what and where the web-camera is. It is best to have the third party links to the weather web-camera's homepage in exchange for a reciprocal link, rather than grant the third party carte blanche to clone an image and place it on their website as if it was their weather web-camera. If a third party does insist on publishing a web-camera image on their web pages, then insist on a reproduction fee of around £100 ($200) per year; this becomes a contractal relationship, which means there is a commitment to feed images to the third party web site.

Good, bad or ugly, web sites have a habit of taking on lives of their own. People who discover a web site may, if they think it is good enough, bookmark the web site in their browser's favourites list. Even better, they may tell colleges and friends about it through emails, personal blogs and message board posts. The web site has become part of a social network.

• We're walking along the British South West footpath. On Tuesday at 11 we'll be right under this webcam http://handyandy21.myfreespace.bigbad.net/SaintMalaiseyWebcam.htm
  Spot Lois, she'll be wearing her Union Jack teeshirt.

Because of the social way in which web knowledge propagates, do not shy away from a touch of viral marketing. This is self promotion, but without making it seem that way. For example, a travel and tourism message board could have the following entry added:

• Brian, found this amazing weather webcam at http://handyandy21.myfreespace.bigbad.net/SaintMalaiseyWebcam.htm
  It's right next to the cottage where Ruppert and Stewie stayed last August! Meg.

Curious message board visitors and automated search engine spiders, are likely to follow the link. Although alert moderators may quickly remove such posts and possibly ban the poster!

Another personal technique is to print off business-cards (on a printer rather than at a printers) which can be handed out to people on a personal basis. It is likely that a conversation will come around to the weather!

• Yes, that's a nice example of cirrus. Oh by the way, I've a weather webcam.
  Here's the web address and my email on this card.

It is okay to advise existing contacts in an email address book about the weather web-camera, but attempts at bulk mailing hundreds of strangers is likely to get the emailer unplugged for breaking their ISP's anti-spamming rules.

Banner adverts are a fact of internet life. Without them, much of web's diversity would not exist. Banners work by a web site's owner being paid a commission for a number of clicks that are made on a given third party banner advertisement displayed on their web site. This is termed pay-per-click. However, on a small web site, banner adverts should be used sparingly, if at all. Unless a web site generates at least 1,000 page impressions (visits by uniquely identifiable persons) a day, granting a third party real estate is generally not worth the trouble.

Furthermore, there is very little control over the content of a third party banner advert; a homepage suitable for children may end up bannering erotic fiction. Some web sites are nothing but banner adverts. Often associated with a converted domain name, these Click Farms, are very lucrative because the site's owner is paid to host banner adverts. Never pay for banner advertising unless you have thousands of bucks to waste!

A more effective promotional campaign may involve paying for a higher search engine ranking; the so called ad-worlds. This is especially true if the web-camera is associated with a small business. However, if a web site is search engine optimised, it will achieve a naturally high ranking without any expenditure!

Remember, people visit web sites for their interesting content and not the
flashing-spinning-ever-fizzing-popup-blocking-crash-causing-plugin-needing-
network-sagging-attention-grabbing-annoying-intrusive-banner-ad!

• Announce to the major search engines first.
• Register the homepage with web-camera index sites.
• Never pay to get indexed.
• Exchange links with similar web sites.
• Self promote through blogs or message boards but do not spam.
• Make business cards with the web-camera's internet address.
• Avoid banner adverts unless a web site generates significant traffic.
• Consider providing content for local weather dependent businesses.