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By: Liz Canham, Wed Nov 21st, 2007
If you have a website, whether for fun or as a business, you must want traffic, otherwise why bother? No matter how general, that website must fit into a niche, be it toys, electronics or cookery and that niche is relevant to finding your traffic.
1. Good Content
If your website is content-rich and keyword rich (but not overdone), then the search engine spiders will find and list it and you will benefit from search traffic. Original content is best, but if you don't have time to write your own stuff and you can't afford PLR articles or to have content written for you, the next best thing is republishing others' work. Make sure that it is well-written and that you include the resource box.
2. Yahoo and Google Groups
Search Yahoo and Google for Groups that fit within your niche. If your niche is cookery, then search for Groups which are allied to cookery. Join some of the groups and post a few times. Very often advertising is not permitted, but you can usually put your website url in your signature. Don't spam or you will probably be banned from the Group; post interesting and relevant comments. If you don't want to start a new thread respond to a previous thread, better still provide a solution to a member's problem or provide an answer to a question.
3. Blogs
Once again, look for blogs which are related to your market or niche and post some comments. However, you should only post positively; if you're tempted to be negative - don't be - just move on to another blog. Blogs do get a lot of traffic, so this is a worthwhile activity but don't forget to include your url. If that facility isn't available, don't bother to post!
4. Forums
Like blogs, the right forums can have a very high throughput of traffic. Try to find related forums which publish the number of members, posts, etc. so that you can tell that they're well-used. Join and post, putting your url in your signature. Don't forget - no spamming - only post sensible, relevant questions, answers or comments.
5. Social Bookmarking
Social bookmarking sites are all the rage. You can bookmark your favourite page (i.e. your own site, article submission or whatever) and others will see the bookmark. Equally, you can publish comments on others' bookmarks, but remember that all-important url in your signature.
6. Article Writing
Write your own original articles relating to your niche and publish them at article sites such as ezinearticles.com with your website url in your resource box. Make sure that your work adheres to the author guidelines and that you use correct grammar and spelling. You may want to search the article directory first to find out which sub-topics in your area attract the most readers.
By using the above methods, you will gradually build up the traffic to your website and build your own reputation along the way as an expert in your field.
Liz Canham is the webmistress of Liz-e-Biz.com which offers tips, tools and training for internet marketing newcomers.