How do you get someone to think your website is so important they bookmark it? Better yet, try becoming a saved TAB in their browser, automatically opening each time Firefox or IE is opened. That is an accomplishment.

1. Offer Free Samples and Giveaways

An excellent example of this technique is Wal-Mart’s site. They have developed a free sample page on their site where manufacturers offer free samples of their products. The four or five samples offered change regularly and cover a wide range of products from coffee to skin cream. People bookmark their site and check it like clockwork. Deal forums buzz about the latest additions to the page, and people talk about it on the Wal-Mart blog.

2. Take a Poll

Ask an interesting but simple question. People that are interested in the topic will come back later to view what the consensus is by other like-minded site readers. A good example of this is USA Today. After you select your vote an updated tally of all votes appears. People become fascinated by what others are thinking, and the anonymity gives the belief of honest answers.

3. Provide Fresh, Original Stuff to Read

By offering new content to readers, they will come back to read more about the topic of interest. Make sure it is well-written, and you may become a resource in the business.

4. Give a Chance to Win a Prize

Of course, the prize needs to be something that readers will value. Daytime television shows are excellent at promoting their website through contests and prizes. For example, Rachael Ray’s daytime show regularly gives the studio audience substantial prizes worth several hundred dollars, like digital cameras, for example. Her active website is cross-promoted after the TV giveaway is announced, and at-home viewers are encouraged to go online to complete an online contest entry form for the same prize.

5. Become a Directory Resource

Within your page, you can provide links to other related resource pages where visitors can go for additional, related information about the topic. Lists of links, called directories, are a great way to do this. Be sure to check the links regularly to make sure they are still functional, and continue to add new ones as you find sites that might be of interest to your readers.

6. Report the News First

In your specific business, you are probably one of the first to know about breaking news stories. Report them on your site, and you will become the industry news leader, where people interested in your field check back regularly. Sports sites typically do a good job of including a news section where readers can go to see the latest information on games, players, and stats.

Use All Available Resources and Try all of the Above

Social bookmarking is another new way to get people coming back for more. Darren Rowse has written an article entitled, “Social Bookmarking: Getting Your Blog Noticed”, where he details the major social bookmarking sites, and how to use them to your advantage. Something you can learn from Darren is that creating a valuable website or blog involves more than just writing. He is very honest about his efforts in the areas of getting out there and networking, learning, meeting, greeting, and doing. It takes a lot of hard work to create real value and value is what keeps people coming back.

Do all of the above to help you get there. Just one or two are a great start but you should experiment with each of them from time to time and use most of them on a regular basis.

Subscribe to the Lead Optimize.com Newsletter and get two free e-books immediately.