[TomZilla]

Just in general, what do you all do to drive traffic to your new sites?

In this thread, include some tips on how we all can drive traffic to our sites!

[Curtis Ng]

Hey Tomzilla,

There is a wide range of things that you could do to drive traffic to a new site and it really depends on what type of site you have and what you want to do with it.

For example, if you are starting a blog, you could start posting in it regularly and start doing some SEO to boost the blog's rank for certain keywords.

If you have a new product that you just created, you might need to test it out before launching it to the general public, so testing the conversions with some PPC traffic might be a good idea.

There are many different scenarios which would require different traffic generation methods (or a combo), so it really depends!

Curtis

[TomZilla]

Great tips, Curtis, thanks for posting.

I agree with posting regularly - not only could this start SEO - it will also give you more backlinks, depending if you included a link in a post, etc.

Some tips I have is affiliating with related sites, link exchanges and exchanging posts.

[Curtis Ng]

Those are some valid ways to get links too, thanks for sharing.

I personally don't use the methods that you mentioned because I'm greedy - I love getting links but don't like giving them unless they're actually really relevant to my own.

Google actually doesn't like it when people are placing links on each other's sites for the sole purpose of getting link juice. If you have too many links from a whole bunch of random sites, then Google's going to get suspicious. Plus, Google rankings are primarily based on relevancy and value, so in its eyes, link exchanges aren't a good way of giving value to the end user.

This isn't to say that link exchanges and that other stuff is bad...just saying you shouldn't overdo it

Curtis

[TomZilla]

Of course, maybe that is why many marketers, online-business-owners say that link exchanges, and methods of the like are not effective. However, as I mentioned, "with related sites." What's the point of exchanging with a site when it's not related to your site in anyway. That's just, well, rather dumb, or what have you.

[john2k]

Fastest way is to buy advertising. For free promotion, I would say to initially get your site listed in many directories, configure for optimal SEO and then maybe use forums such as this one (linking to your site from your signature). Exchanging links with other sites would be a good idea as well.

[TomZilla]

Well, after you've invested lots of money into your site, you may not have anything left in the budget for paid advertising.

However, if you do, what are some places you'd recommend to buy advertising at?

[DougPhilp]

Another excellent means for traffic is setting up your own affiliate program and promoting it right along with your site in general. That is, of course, if you are selling a product or service.

Clickbank and PayDotCom are two decent sources to start with for attracting affiliates. "Rapid Action Profits" or "7 Dollar Secrets" are two scripts one can use for starting an in-house affiliate program.

What I also like about bringing on affiliates is how you can observe who is doing well and from there begin developing a stronger business relationship with those producers. It is sort of like grooming your own JV partners while they are already helping you to make more money.

All in all traffic from your affiliates can be as targeted as PPC traffic when you spend time providing some affiliate tools and training. Plus you aren't spending money until a sale is actually made which gives you more breathing room to work on your conversion.

Doug

[TomZilla]

Nice post, Doug, very informative.

I've never heard of 7 Dollar Secrets, but looking at the site, seems pretty interesting. What made me look at 7 Dollar Secrets was the name. I was like, "7 dollars, no way! There must be some fine print somewhere." But I guess not - by looking at the proof, I'm amazed.

[Curtis Ng]

7DS is perfect if you just want to get a product out there and affiliates to promote it. However, if you have the money, then RAP is basically a totally pimped out version of 7DS.

There's a lot of RAP users which provide support, installation services, and consultation. There's also a bunch of people who earn a nice chunk of change by providing other users with plugins which allow for cool stuff like bonus management, a membership site plugin, a dimesale plugin, and more.

The reason why these two scripts are so awesome for driving traffic is that all your customers become your affiliates. By default, there's a tell-a-friend script on the download page, plus I think customers' affiliate links are shown there as well. If you mention your affiliate program a few times in your follow-up emails and provide enough tools for them to promote, then you'll get more active affiliates

Curtis

[TomZilla]

Thanks a lot! I'm looking to drive traffic to a new forum of mine. In the beginning, everything was going smoothly. I slacked on promoting, and then the forum slacked, which, in result, we're not that active.

Thx so much.

[DougPhilp]

I'll also add to Curtis' information, using RAP or 7DS is very attractive to affiliates because they can be paid instantly for their efforts. i know I like getting paid immediately and not waiting around for payment.

This creates an atmosphere of excitment that can go viral very quickly when all the pieces of your offer come together...

[TomZilla]

Sounds good, thanks for adding on! I need all the tips available.

[automated]

I agree with you Curtis Ng if theres a new product that you just created, you need to test it out before to launch it, so testing the conversions with some PPC traffic might be a good idea.

[Admin]

Originally Posted by automated

I agree with you Curtis Ng if theres a new product that you just created, you need to test it out before to launch it, so testing the conversions with some PPC traffic might be a good idea.

Yeah, PPC can be great for traffic, but it can also be expensive if you don't know what you are doing. I've seen new people jump in a lose a bundle before they catch on and find out that their credit card's been charged.

It's a matter of know which keywords to use, and how much to spend per click. Once you get that down, PPC is a piece of cake to get traffic and profit from.

[TomZilla]

Not only expensive to newcomers, but I'd like to add that spending too much in PPC Networks can take away from your budget! Some people like to spend money in advertising, and a little too much, to where they're down more than they wanted to be budget-wise.

For example, A pays 50 dollars in advertising, but originally only wanted to spend $25 dollars in advertising, so that the other 25 dollars can be given to a tester to actually test the new product and find flaws.

Make sense?