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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!

Google Adwords and similar resources

The continuation of Traffic Creation Tips For Your Website begins with another method of generating traffic, albeit a paid method. Google AdWords.

Another method of traffic generation is to buy it. Yahoo, Google, Bing, Overture and similar paid traffic sourses, sell advertising space. In the case of Google adwords you can pay to have you site on the first page but this can be an expensive proposition, $1 or more per click, to mere pennies. Why do people choose this method. First, it brings targetted traffic to your site. The advantage of targetted traffic is, the folks who come to your site are looking for your exact topic and thus are more likely to stay on your site, which results in higher conversion rates.

The problem is although Google says it rewards content rich sites with lower click costs the truth is the better ad wins, not necessarily the better or most relevant site. To explain this further, Google will lower the cost of your clicks and even raise you in the list if more people are clicking through. The truth though is, you’re being rewarded for having a great ad that people want to click on.

The advantage of this method is you are guaranteed traffic. The disadvantage is the costs and the time it takes to tweek your ads so they work at maximum efficiency. However I do know of businesses that survive on Google Adwords alone for advertising and make a very good turnover on their business products, so it works well for them. But again the greater demand for the keyword, the greater the number of competitors there are.

Bang for your buck! Surfing programs!

There is one way to reduce or eliminate the cost disadvantage. Simply choose to limit your target audience to a particular country, region or even city. Obviously the target audience is further limited by language. Not much point in advertising your English content site in Bulgaria because first, it’s not an English-speaking country and second, they may not have access to the Web. If you’re paying money for advertising on the Web make sure you are reaching the right audience for your ad(s).

Another way to generate hits to your site is to join numerous surfing and traffic exchange programs that will create site activity. These exchanges will generate “hits” to your site so the traffic is not targeted as in paid traffic sources. In fact you can buy thousands of hits and get them in a very short space of time but although normally cheap e.g. $9 for 1000 hits, it has a myriad of disadvantages.

First, you are only advertising to other exchange and surf members, many of them are competitors, already in the same programs as you, not really interest in your ad. I’ve found that you can build a down-line and contact list from surfing and exchange programs, however keep the ad or website display very basic. With a 15-30 second counter on most programs, people just aren’t going to read a Hollywood movie script even if its glowingly good, they are going to scan and then click the required button to move on to the next site. It that 15 seconds you’ve got to grab there interest.

The best type of ads to use in TEs and surfing programs are free offers, appealing to their needs or wants. Often in this case a single page with an e-mail enrollment form is the best bet for getting results. One distinct advantage of most of these programs though is, if you build a downline with them the amount of free traffic you get increases.

You can surf for traffic at your leisure if you can’t afford to pay for it, you might even find a program that perks your interest. Also in this category you can nclude banners, banner exchanges, text links, videos, etc., which work on the same principle of one hand washes the other. If you are interested in surfing programs the link below to free traffic hits is one suggestion.

Longer term methods.

I refer to these techniques as longer term methods because they require a greater work output on your part, but they can result in great traffic results. One such longer term method is article writing. Articles submitted to articles directories like Goarticles, Article Fever, Isnare, etc., act as a magnet for search engines. Content rich and quality controlled, if you get an article listed in one of these forums/libraries you have the ability to have a constant stream of traffic through attached links.

Another long term method is to contact and link to other similar sites. You can do this by requesting other webmasters to do this or create you own sites and link them to one another. Another long term method is to create an op-in e-mail list and encourage people from your list to visit your ‘great’ site with your ‘unbelievable’ offer.

Of course, creating a blog with interesting and fresh content doesn’t hurt either. In conclusion, I don’t recommend any method over the other. Each has its advantages and disadvantages. It depends only on what you are advertising and what fits best for your campaign. On the whole I don’t think you can go wrong if you do all the above methods as an encompassing Web marketing strategy. If you do, over time your internet presence will increase as will your total traffic.