February 2012 – Page 9 – TP Javeton WebNet

Boosting website traffic: Basic steps

Boosting your website traffic seems to be a simple enough statement, and if approached with the right mindset, tools and resources that simple statement can become a reality in less time than you think. But – and this is an important but – if your approach to boosting website traffic is lacking in any important areas, the simple statement will remain just that…a simple statement and nothing more because the traffic boost will be very long in coming, if at all. To begin, let’s take a look at some of those traffic sources.

Directories help locate websites within specific or definitive categories. The difference between search engines and directories is that, directories feature only vetted websites – sites that have a certain standard and contain information of substance – and search engines cover just about all types of existing Web traffic.

One aim when using directories is simply to boost traffic. To achieve this, you must choose to have your website featured in large, organized directories like Yahoo, DMOZ, and LookSmart. These will drive highly targeted traffic to your site (subject specific), increase significantly your website’s link popularity, and your website’s Google PageRank.

To maximize your website exposure

Find a category that is most relevant to your website. The category and subcategories must totally fit the subject of your site and its purpose. For example, if your website is a health related business the site must be featured under health and not business. Only then, will surfers seeking health related websites access yours. Do a keyword search that is relevant to your website on the directory. The directory will present categories relevant to those keywords. Choose one which is suited in all aspects.
Create a title and description that will boost traffic not reduce it. The title must be “dead on.” It should include the most important key word and if possible start with a letter towards the beginning of the alphabet. Plus, the 15-25 word description should succinctly summarize the purpose and/or functions of your website. While being descriptive and informative, try and weave in as many keywords pertaining to your website’s subject as possible.

Prioritize your to-do traffic list

Purchase keywords from one of the pay-per-click search engines or directories
Make your website search engine-friendly.
Pay attention to text and image content. Heavy images reduce search engine visibility.
Use backlinks on appropriate directories and trade or business listings.
Check out the backlinks used by competitors.
Add new content regularly. This encourages visitors and search engine spiders to return. Make sure the content is keyword rich.
Start and maintain a web log or blog. This can become an active way to boost traffic while simultaneously disseminating information.
Market your website by printing its address on business cards, paper bags, packaging and so on. Distribute an e-zine or updates as newsletters regularly to customers and business associates.
Consider paying search engines for improved listings and fast appraisal of your site.
Direct content towards search engines by utilizing cloaking technology.
Run advertisements on related websites and mailing lists.
Adopt a reciprocal link program.

Monitor, analyze, and be unique

Maximize traffic by monitoring your traffic regularly. Analyze visitor movements and frequencies. Find out what is effective and what is redundant. Use cookies efficiently. Understand technology and use it to the maximum. Keep updated on new innovations and developments. Write down a workable website marketing strategy.

There are simple steps to accomplishment: be different, make sure your website is refreshing and delivers what it promises; create a network of supporters; be honest in your business ventures; deliver on time at affordable prices; always be a diligent student, constantly innovate your website to keep stride with changing times and technology; carve out an exclusive niche and diversify in directions that are relevant to your business model.

Create a daunting presence!

Do you believe in the principle that you’ve got to give before you get? If so, you probably already know the answer to this question: What is the most frequently used word that people type in a search box on the internet? If you don’t already know the answer, I can assure you that learning what this simple word is and using it to it’s fullest extent can literally explode your sales if you’re an entrepreneur running a Web business. Let me explain.

The all important word is FREE!

The word that is used in searches on the Web more than any other is FREE. Everyone loves something for nothing. No one wants to pay for something if they can get it for free. You don’t – and I certainly don’t – if the item is of a quality comparable to paid-for items.

Think about all the times you searched for something on the Web. Weather it was for information, a service, a product, anything. Did you just type in the description, a keyword or phrase, or did you put ‘free’ first? Even if you obmitted the word free, when the search engines generated the results, I can almost guarantee that it gave you a list of ‘related searches’ containing the keywords you used with ‘free’ in front of them.

The benefits entrepreneurs derive from giving something for free.

As a Web business entrepreneur, if you offer a product, service or some other information for free, it can have great returns. First of all it boosts your search engine rankings. As the word is typed into a search box more than any other, so having it optimized on your website will pay amazing dividends.

Once a customer has found you in their search results, further use of the word free will draw them in even more. Giving them something for nothing if they visit your site is a big attraction. In fact it is such a huge attraction that I can’t emphisize how important it is, especially if you’re just starting out as a new entrepreneur.

Can giving something for free can make you money?

When someone visits your site to claim their freebie, several things can happen. In order to get their free product, they have to give you their name and email address. This is standard operating procedure in the Web marketing business arena. In fact, it’s the #1 reason for offering the free item(s) to them in the first place.

It is highly unlikely that someone will buy something on their first visit to your website, or any other site; and unless there is an excellent reason for them to return, they may never visit again. By having their email address, you can contact them and remind them to revisit your site. You can offer them ‘special offers’ and affiliate sales through your correspondence emails.

It is a well known fact that you have to make an average of 7 contacts (sales pitches, remind revisits, offers ect…) with a potential customer before they will actually buy something and become a real customer. The reasons for this are quite lengthy and will take a complete article to discuss, so lets stick to the matter at hand.

One of the most important/valuable things you can own as a Web marketing entrepreneur is a LIST of contacts/potential customers that you can send your product promotions to on a regular basis. Being able to have that all-important contact with your customers, improves your chances of them making a purchase significantly.

They learn to ‘trust you’, you become familiar to them and that is what often clinches the deal. You gain the know, like and trust from your customers and then they feel comfortable enough to buy what you recommend.

So, that’s a brief explanation of how you, the budding entrepreneur, make money from giving away something for free.

The quality of free

The item that you offer, weather it be a subscription to an ezine, an ebook, report or software, MUST be of good quality. If the prospect receives their freebie and the quality is poor, they will not come back to your website and buy anything. Even if you are the best website in your niche, offering the best deals, they will never find out, because they just won’t come back.

On the other hand, if they are impressed by the free gift from you, they are more than likely to visit your website again and again. High quality, useful products are an essential if you want the ‘freeie offer’ to work for you.

How you can drive traffic to your website using ‘free’

Classified ads are a fantastic way to drive traffic to your website. The headline and description should be centered around the infamous “what’s in it for me”. That is offering them a freebie. This will entice them to click the link and visit your website. You can post classifieds for free. Just type ‘free classifieds’ into the search box and choose from the 1000’s of results that the search engines produce. Submit your ads often and the traffic will keep coming.

Simply use it anywhere your ads appear. If you publish articles, reports or ebooks, put your offer in your resource box. If you use pay-per-click, use the offer as your ad copy. Advertising in ezines, weather its your own, an affiliate’s or bought advertising, again use the free offer in your resource box.

Choose carefully

When deciding on what it is that you will give way, there is one piece of advice that is vital. Make the free item appropriate to your audience. Whatever niche you operate it, stick with the theme. If you offer an ebook on ‘how to create a website’ and your business sells musical instruments, you’re really asking for problems.

The customer will visit your website to get their ebook. They will download it and probably be very pleased if it contains high quality information on ‘how to create a website’. When you contact them via email with for example a ‘special offer on violin strings’, unless by some highly unlikely coincidence that they play the violin, they will not visit your website again. So be mindful of what your own niche actually wants and give it to them.

In conclusion, the more you offer free stuff of high quality, the more money you will make and the more successful you will become in your Web entrepreneurial business experience. It is one of the best traffic drivers and is a straight forward concept. Now that you have this little golden nugget of valuable information, get to work. Plan what you could offer, to whom, when and where.

Decide on a product that you can legally give away (be careful of copyright infringement). Make it something that is useful to your own niche market. Advertise it everywhere you can and your opt-in-list will grow very quickly. After all ‘the money is in the list’, right? That’s also a topic for another article. Below is a perfect example of the ‘free’ offer. I didn’t make it up, it’s for real and it works.