A safer venue is the dozen or so search engines, or directories, available on the Web. Search engines offer a free listing of your site anytime a user's search parameters include some key word in your listing. Make sure key words appear on your home page because search engines show information from your home page under your site's listing. Sometimes the search engines ask you to reciprocate by including their link in your site. Lastly, don't forget to promote your site on your own home page.
Many home pages publish the number of visitors they have received.
It's encouraging for a visitor to see your site has been tested by others. The beauty of the Web is that it is one of the most inexpensive marketing tool available. Or you could get lucky, as Cardwell did. One of his staff members knew the programming language needed to set up a site. The more hits your site gets, the more it ties up the server and the more you have to pay.