"How To Get Website Traffic"
by Jim Daniels

Once you have a decent product or service to promote online, success or failure comes down to one simple equation...

...Traffic

Without website traffic you can pack up your site and call it quits. A site without traffic is like a cocktail lounge without a liquor license. Your shelves can be stocked full of the best stuff in the world, but you just can't sell any of it. Talk about frustration! And believe me, it's a frustration that many cyberbusiness owners know too well.

This article will teach you how to get traffic to your website. Whether you have a site up already, or are just considering it, bookmark this article. I've tried just about every online promotion method there is and I know what works and what doesn't. If you're new to the web, you'll learn a lot here, all at once. If you've been at it a while, this tip should point you to at least one new traffic generator.

For starters, there are the free promotion methods and the ones you pay for. I've separated the two below for you. Further details on each promotion method can be investigated at the listed URLs.


* Paid Promotion Methods:


Bulk Email

I won't go there. Too risky. If you're considering it, let me ask you this... In the real world, would you consider ticking off hundreds of people to gain one new customer? How about if other businesses owners had already been sued for doing the same thing? Enough said.

More info: http://bizweb2000.com/email.htm


Autoresponders

I started my online marketing campaign with just a handful of autoresponders. (Hey, it was before the web was real popular!) The fact is, email is still the number one marketing tool and smart autoresponders are simplifying things like follow up and personalization. I still use autoresponders and recommend them for any business owner.

More Info: http://bizweb2000.com/autoresp.htm


Ezine advertising

Still a bargain. Have you noticed the larger companies jumping on the ezine advertising bandwagon? They know the value of a dollar. For a few thousand bucks they can take out a half-page ad in ONE magazine offline. For the same price they can advertise in multiple ezines and reach literally hundreds of thousands of prospects, faster and cheaper.

More Info: http://bizweb2000.com/ezine.htm


Banner advertising

I've tried a few banners over the years. The few campaigns I've run have not been raging successes. Although I'm not down on paying for banners at other sites, the fact is I've found cheaper and more powerful promotion methods. I believe that banner advertising is great for branding. When I start buying roadside billboard space like Pepsi or Toyota, I may go heavy into banner advertising. (Okay, maybe I'm getting ahead of myself.)

More Info: http://bizweb2000.com/results.htm


Opt-in E-List Rental

Here's a promotion method that works. It can be costly but it does pull in sales. Just visit www.postmasterdirect.com -- arguably the net's most prominent opt-in list services provider, and click on "success stories". There you'll see an unsolicited testimonial from yours truly. Although I don't shell out big bucks too often (I'm cheap!) I do use opt-in services when I need a quick boost in sales.

More Info: http://www.bizweb2000.com/bulkopt.htm


Affiliate Marketing

Setting up your own network of affiliates is now easier than ever. Just think, if 1000 people walked into your office tomorrow and asked you if they could work for you without a salary, would you say yes? You'd certainly think about it, that's for sure. Adding an affiliate program to your site is just that. You pay for performance only. If "affiliate A" sells a lot, you mail her a big check. If "Affiliate B" sells zero, their monthly check is zip. How powerful can this promotion method be? Here's an example: Just today I had a new affiliate sell 20 copies of my Insider Internet Marketing book. He earned $200 for his efforts and so did I. Two happy lads.

More Info: http://bizweb2000.com/howtoaff.htm


* Free Promotion Methods:


Article Submissions

Anyone who reads my stuff regularly knows I rave about this promotion method. The fact is, it is responsible for a large part of my traffic. It still surprises me how many people don't try this. All it takes is a few hours to write about what you know and then have it looked over by someone with editing skills. Then, you tack on a small footer with your URL and fire it off to a list of editors who publish material related to what you're marketing. Sound simple? It really is, once you commit to doing it regularly.

More Info: http://www.bizweb2000.com/article.htm



Networking in Discussion Groups

Perhaps one of the most underestimated areas of internet marketing is marketing in discussion groups. Have you seen the email discussion groups that go around? Well many of them are read by thousands daily. All you have to do is post something intelligent that is directly related to the list topic and you'll get traffic. I see many folks use this method weekly and it works. Once in a while I jump into the conversation and I'm always pleasantly surprised at the number of people who email me with "Saw you post today...". Just be sure to steer clear of blatant advertising and your posts will be published.


More Info: A full "Round Table Discussion" article with discussion list directory can be found in my free e-book at http://bizweb2000.com/freebook.htm


Ezine publishing

I've been publishing my gazette since August of 1996. Looking back it may have been my wisest decision to date. My e-newsletter allows me to stay in touch with the life-blood of my business... you! Every webmaster should offer a way for surfers to sign up for a regular email notice. It doesn't have to be an ezine, you can send specials, freebies or even site updates notices. The key is to keep in touch with the people you manage to get to your site. It's hard work getting traffic, don't let them leave without offering to stay in touch!

More Info: http://www.bizweb2000.com/contact.htm


Search engines

I used to be a search engine ranking junkie. It's an endless battle. And I won't lie to you and tell you that search engine ranking is meaningless. A top 20 spot at a major engine can generate a bunch of traffic. But is it worth the effort? Yes and no. While I suggest you optimize all your pages for good ranking, I also suggest you let the rest take care of itself. Does this laid back strategy work? Well, just this morning I had a new subscriber tell me he found me by searching AltaVista for "Internet Marketing" and my site was 11th out of 156221 Web pages. Not bad for an ex-search engine junkie.

More Info: http://www.bizweb2000.com/confess.htm


Okay, that's enough for today. I hope I've been able to steer you in the direction of more traffic. After all, the more traffic you generate, the more income you'll make. And that's the name of the game!