Build A Coupon Website - How To Start?

Select a domain name for your business. Then find a web host to host your coupon website. Look for a site that offers forums, blogs, chat, polls, website templates, unlimited disk and bandwidth, newsletters, 24/7 tech support, marketing credits such as Google Adwords, Yahoo, Facebook and Myspace credits, and at least two business email addresses.

Forums allow your users to discuss hot coupons and a comments section allows users to give feedback on coupons and inform other users if coupons have expired or whether there are any stipulations with the coupon.

Design your website or hire someone to design it for you. Your web host may provide free templates that you can use; however, these would nott have the same flexibility as paid templates. It may be worth it to purchase a template. Create a page that allows users to search for printable coupons in their local area. Create a forum where users can discuss deals and shopping tips. Create an advertising page informing advertisers of how they can submit coupons to your site.

Get coupons for your site. Until you have got enough traffic on your site, you will need to solicit businesses to get your coupons. Start by contacting businesses that you want on your site. Look for businesses that are already offering online coupons at other coupon sites.

Contact coupon publishers in your area who do the physical, weekly, grocery coupons and ask about getting their physical coupons online. Utilize affiliate programs, such as those offered by Commission Junction (see Resources), to team up with advertisers.

Ask users to submit coupons. Allow advertisers to advertise on your site for a small fee. Until you have begun heavily promoting your site and gotten a good following, you may need to provide incentives for advertisers, such as waiving payment until you are getting heavy traffic.

Promote your site. Learn all there is to know about search engine optimization (SEO) to ensure that your site is one of the first sites consumers see when searching for online coupon sites. Invest in Google Adwords by using any free credits your web host provided, or by purchasing credits. Start a blog on your site that offers helpful tips and information that frugal consumers would appreciate. Allow users to subscribe to your newsletter.

Then create weekly or monthly newsletters detailing the most popular coupons and email them to your followers. Allow customers to create coupon alerts for specific coupons. You then notify them the moment you get the coupon they are looking for.

Stay on top of your coupons. Remove expired ones.