Yes, it is true. to increase website traffic you need links pointing to your site. But not any old links. Sure, many internet marketers still believe that link building, both one way and reciprocal, are the way to go. I find this to be an outdated method that wastes time that could be otherwise spent implementing other far better ideas.
If link building were the most popular way of building quality traffic to a site, why is it that some (if not most) websites find it incredibly difficult to attract these links? I believe the answer lies in the value (or lack thereof) that these sites offer the Internet community.
I often read people comparing a website to a shopping mall - and indeed they are right. Shopping malls have mastered the skill of creating new and exciting ways of attracting new shoppers - and retaining those customers already frequenting the mall.
Ask yourself why most successful shops routinely rearrange their product displays. Why do they design or manufacture new products? Summer time sees swimsuits making their way closer to the entrance. Fruit salads and lettuce leaves are everywhere to be seen in the grocery section.
People are naturally curious creatures and as such get bored very easily. It's all about satisfying the shopper (user). Give the customer what they want, when they want it and they'll return. Better yet, they'll recommend your store to their friends, colleagues and loved ones.
But what does fruit and sexy bikinis have to do with your website? You have to find out what your user wants and give it to them.
Would you link to your site?
So, what does generate return traffic to a site? Well, take a closer look at your site and determine whether you'd link to it yourself? Is there anything on your site that you can honestly say is of value?
I'm not talking about product prices or a profile on how you founded your company. I'm talking about something that is useful and convenient to your target market. A utility or tool of sorts. Perhaps a regularly updated dialogue with your visitors. An invaluable resource that teaches people something they don't already know.
Ideas worth researching
An excellent way to increase website traffic is to ask a "how to" question and write about your solution. If you've got a motor-related site, writing an article on "how to sell a car" could be an excellent idea. In the landscaping business? "How to plant a tree?" would make for a good article too. What could you write if you have a conference facility? How about "what to remember when arranging a wedding or business function?"?
Not only will writing articles bulk up your website's content,which search engines love, but will also add value to other websitesthat publish your writing on their websites.
The good thing about good articles is that they tend tocirculate the Net pretty well. By adding an optimised link to thebottom of your article you could in turn generate more traffic to yoursite.
But articles aren't the only way of generating traffic to yoursite. Something that is destined to become more popular is theinclusion of a business blog on a website. This lets you build apersonal relationship with your customers. Naturally, the blog needs tobe well thought of before being added. Will it be a regularly updatedblog or one that is updated less frequently? Will there be one or morevoices/writers for the blog? Everyone has their own preference to astyle of writing. Letting your staff or departments publish their ownblogs will create even more opportunities of attracting more than onetype of reader or client.
Adding a tool that people are searching for is yet anotherexcellent idea. It could be a currency converter, BMI calculator or afree online travel organiser - anything that is related to your websiteand that offers an invaluable benefit to those who find it.
As ludicrous as this may sound, being a hub forindustry-related websites and information is another great idea. Youcould have a section devoted to your reviews of market-relatedproducts, services and websites - with links pointing to them. Yourusers will come to trust your knowledge and advice, and as such willrefer your website to their contacts.
The bottom line
Regardless of what you write about or have to offer yourvisitor, the key is to keep it simple, fresh and non-salesy. Yourwebsite should already have a section that does all that salespitching. Offering genuinely useful content and tools is what willdifferentiate your website from that of your abandoned peers.
Ideas are everywhere. It takes some time, effort, research anda bit of imagination to come up with soothing other than a good linkrequest email. Your user's word of mouth will reward your efforts.
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