You Need Targeted Traffic. Period.
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Everyone who has a website knows, or should know, that to have sales, sign-ups or whatever; you must have traffic, but not just any traffic it has to be TARGETED TRAFFIC.
What is Targeted traffic? Simply put, it is visitors to your website that are actually interested in what your website is about.
For example, people interested in buying jewelry will find jewellery websites interesting.
I know I know, you’re thinking “duh, no kidding!” well, you’d be surprised to find out how many don’t follow the simplest of logic. How do I GET the targeted traffic? Ah yes, the 64 thousand dollar question indeed! The following are just a few of many tried and tested methods. Certainly enough to get you started…
Forums: Subscribe to forums that discuss your topic. Answer questions and join in the debates there. Become an expert in the field. Then with each article reply you write have a discreet link to your website in the signature file.
What can be placed in your signature is often determined by the forum moderators. Do not spam the forum or you will be stopped from posting. This is one of the most productive ways of getting free traffic as those who click your link have already read and liked your style.
Linking from/to other websites: Contact website owners that have similar websites to yours, ask them for a reciprocal link from their website to yours. Be sure to select your link partner to match closely to your customer profile.
One-way links are even better. This can be accomplished lots of ways, such as; submitting to site directories, writing articles, ezine ads and so forth, just to name a few.
E-Zines: Contact e-zine owners that have your target readership and buy advertisements from them. Be sure to have a test run to see that the return on investment is sufficient to cover the costs involved. If you are buying an extended run of advertisements haggle with the e-zine owner over price. You may save a considerable amount.
Newsletters: When people visit your website offer them something of value for free if they sign up to your newsletter (like an e-Book). Your newsletter should be written tightly geared towards your topic. It should be published regularly at weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly intervals.
E-Books: Often used, these are usually free informational books for your clients and for others to give away free if they leave your links in the book itself. You can place links back to your website in the books you sell or give to your clients.
Joint Ventures: Contact online marketers looking for new products to sell. They often have large mailing lists with eager to buy customers. Normally they are willing to email their list for a cut of the sale price. This works particularly well with informational products. It has several advantages. It can give a very sizable boost to both your sales and mailing list within a very short period. This can work quite well with physical products as well.
Buy Traffic: OK, hold it. Stop right here and listen closely. I am NOT saying to “buy leads”. NO NO NO! Most of those sites that promise thousands of visitors for a lump sum fee, are some of the biggest shams on the ‘net.
Don’t get fooled.
What I’m referring to is things like PPC (pay per click, like Google AdWords), Expired domain names with built in traffic, and so forth. These methods are probably the cheapest in terms of time but most expensive monetarily, so you need to be cautious.
Tell-A-Friend - One of the most effective, yet most underutilized methods of obtaining targeted traffic, is using a tell-a-friend script on your site.
I promise you, we will discuss all these things individually and in greater detail in the days and months ahead. This however, should give you plenty to think on and get started with.
When you combine these techniques and apply them consistently over time you will find a rich source of targeted traffic coming to your website. This, combined with quality products will ensure the success of your online business.
To our mutual success!
Dennis
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Note: I try my very best to write as clear and concise as possible. Despite all efforts I may have missed something or not explained it in the best way possible. Please let me know if this article has helped your marketing efforts. If you have any questions regarding anything here, contact me anytime. Got a topic suggestion; something you’d like to see? Skribit and others will vote on it as well. Either way I would love to hear from you.
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Tags: Ebook Tips, ebooks, ezine ads, Ezine Tips, forum, Forum Tips, google adwords, joint ventures, JV, link, linking strategies, links, newsletters, ppc, reciprocal linking, sales, scripts, sign-ups, targeted traffic, tell-a-friend, tellafriend, traffic
December 4th, 2007 at 7:47 pm
Excellent post! I see people buying traffic all the time, and do not realize that non-targeted traffic does no good!
December 4th, 2007 at 9:10 pm
Thanks Tara!
One point I’d like to make is I wouldn’t say “no good”.
Any and all traffic is “OK” (you never know who might tell-a-friend for example ;)).
I just say not to waste much time on non-targeted.
December 4th, 2007 at 11:31 pm
Your right, perhaps I worded that wrong. After years of testing bought traffic, I have never noticed any difference, let’s say that. I also know several people who have tested traffic packages from companies.
From me research I have found out that allot of paid for traffic comes from those auto-surfs and other types of programs. Which does make since, when you check stats when you have bought traffic and your hits from the company is up 200%.
December 5th, 2007 at 3:03 am
Thank you for the reminder Dennis on Traffic.
December 5th, 2007 at 7:40 am
Tara - OK, this is good. Your clarification, gives me the need to do the same.
When I commented… “Any and all traffic is “OK” (you never know who might tell-a-friend for example ;)). I just say not to waste much time on non-targeted.”
I was speaking in terms of the many “time wasting” non-targeted FREE traffic methods that are out there.
In my opinion 99.99999% of those paid traffic “packages” or so called “services” are a total waste, and one big sham.
Sorry for any confusion
December 5th, 2007 at 7:41 am
You’re very welcome Jacquelyn. Traffic, after all, is what it’s all about!
December 6th, 2007 at 1:28 am
I’d have to say that organic traffic is probably the best form of traffic. If you target the right keywords, you can expect high conversion rates.
December 6th, 2007 at 8:48 pm
It certainly is very very important, and perhaps “best” in some cases, but there is something to be said, for not putting all your “traffic eggs” in one basket either.
December 27th, 2007 at 8:26 am
Optimizing your site for the search engines will helps to get targeted traffic. Promotion strategies play key role to optimize web sites.
December 27th, 2007 at 8:49 am
Dev - you’re quite right, as stated SEO is also very important. Thanks for the comment
Your last line was removed for being a bit spammy, your lens is already linked to you name
February 13th, 2008 at 10:10 am
i run a game website and find that the best way i get traffic is through voting game websites,i also run adwords ppc but still find that the voting sites bring in more traffic.i am new to this and my alexa ranking will probably say that as it is about 4.3 million it was higher untill i started to use these sites whether that helped or something else i dont know.i have added my url to countless directorys and search engines and have been doing everything i can for a little over a week but when can i expect to see a difference so i know i am doing things the right way ?
February 13th, 2008 at 2:46 pm
Hi Iain,
First I’ll take the two main points from the other comment you left:
1. Submitting yourself to search engines, is worthless and can even do more harm then good sometimes, let them find you on their own; and they will.
2. The only *quick* traffic method I currently know of is PPC. This however is not sustainable, unless you plan to repeat the process, and that can run into some pretty serious money.
Unless your conversion rates are really acceptable, then I suggest you try other methods.
also, since you’re in a specific niche, make sure your keywords are top notch.
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OTHER METHODS
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Directories are good, just make sure they’re targeted.
Gaming Forums - add a good signature and get involved. Don’t spam.
Gaming Ezines - Advertise
Start a blog, it can only help.
Link swaps with other gaming sites.
Link & Post swaps with other gaming blogs.
Start a newsletter and swap with ezines.
The list goes on, but that’s a real good start. A week is waaaay to short a time to be wondering. It could very well take several months, to a year or more to see significant changes.
Track your stats as best as possible and tweak your methods accordingly.
Let me know if I can assist further. I know very little about “online gaming” as a whole, but most traffic methods are pretty universal; you just need to tweak a little here and there to fit your niche
Dennis