Everybody likes free gifts...so why not offer one on your web site? A "free gift with first purchase" offer might just be the influencing factor in someone's decision to order something from your web site.

You should draw attention to your free offer by placing a notice in a conspicuous spot on your site's home page.

Contests are a good way to keep people coming back to your site. You can offer gift certificates as prizes, which the winner(s) can use in placing a purchase from your web site — or you can offer one of your products. Again, you should draw attention to your contest by placing a link to the entry form in a conspicuous spot on your home page.

If you decide to run a contest, be sure to include the following information on the contest entry form page: how to enter; the date the contest will end; the date the winner will be chosen; the number of winners that will be chosen; how the winners will be chosen. You should also specify that entry into the contest will give the web site owner the right to use the winner's name on the web site, and you should post the names of all previous winners.

Place a discount coupon on your site which visitors can print out and redeem for free items or discounts. Get prospective customers to visit your web site by mentioning the coupon in any print or e-mail advertising that you do — promote the discount coupon in your e-mail signature file.