One thing that online business owners struggle with is how to get more visitors to their websites. There are different methods of getting targeted website traffic, such as starting a new ad campaign with a site like Google or Yahoo. But you have to pay for these campaigns and they can end up being both expensive and ineffective if you do not know what you are doing. Here we will talk about the top three free methods which can help any online business generate new qualified traffic that will result in increases in sales and profits.
Method 1 - Article Marketing
Write articles that describe the services and products you are offering or that give helpful tips on the same subject that your product addresses and then submit them to different article directories. These directories post your articles and also distribute them to sites looking for content related to that subject, including autobloggers, meaning that your link could potentially end up on hundreds or even thousands of sites. These article directories are free to use and you can submit the articles with links to your website in the author resource box. People reading your articles, whether on the directories themselves or on third party sites and then clicking through have demonstrated that 1. They are interested in the subject matter or issue that your product addresses and 2. They have at least a basic familiarity with both you and your product offering, making them extremely targeted website traffic.
Method 2 - Newsletters
Newsletters contain different information like special offers, promotions and specials for your products and are usually sent via e-mail. You can use newsletters to inform, engage and build trust with your target market by providing information that is valuable to them. The important thing about creating a newsletter is to make it as interesting as possible. Images make the newsletter attractive, but be sure to use them sparingly. They won't always display correctly and can have the unintended consequence of distracting from your message if you use too many of them. Always include several short articles with information related to your product or service in addition to any offers or promotions. This kind of content assures that recipients will read it regularly and you therefore are building a better and more long-term relationship with them based on an exchange of value and trust. Better relationships with customers and prospects results in more targeted traffic, more sales and even more referrals.
Method 3 - Online Communities/Forums
Social networking websites and online communities provide a huge opportunity for people looking for a way to promote their online businesses because it is a great way to get targeted website traffic. Once you post a company page on a social networking site and have people who have signed on to read them, all you have to do is to provide them a steady flow of interesting and valuable content with a call to action. You can discuss different products and services that you are offering, offer product education and make customer service or marketing announcements such as a grand opening, special online sales, extended hours, etc. Some companies run specials like Twitter sales, where they offer a limited time discount or bonus offer just through Twitter. Setting a deadline when the special ends provides a sense of urgency that can spur followers to tweet it immediately, and have their followers retweet your promotion so that it spreads virally.
Companies may focus on one or more of the major social networking sites, depending on the type of customer they are targeting. B2B companies may just use LinkedIn, Facebook and industry-specific forums, while consumer oriented companies may get the word out primarily through Facebook and Twitter. One of the great uses of social networking and forums is to establish yourself as an expert of the niche, thus building a trusting relationship with different readers who can then more easily be converted into your customers.
Try these free methods, and if you are still not getting the volume of targeted traffic you would like, try a traffic building tool. You can find out which one I recommend at Sure Thing Money Makers.
