9 Effective Free Advertising Methods to Increase Website Traffic

Attracting and increasing traffic to your website or blog can be very confusing! Do you go with PPC, or PPV? Are you good at writing? Can you make videos? How can you use social networks?

When it comes right down to it, there really are two ways to get traffic - you pay for it, or you earn it.

So let's look at some of the effective and time-tested ways you can increase traffic to your site by earning it. What, you may ask, do I mean by 'earning it'? That's the traffic you invest your time and effort in, not your budget.

It's also known as free traffic.

Free traffic methods are not all created equal - some you run across should be outlawed as a big waste of your time. Wouldn't you like to use free advertising methods that really do work? There are tried and proven methods that will increase your website traffic.

Let's have a more detailed look at 9 of the most effective free traffic methods that will not only bring you viewers, but will boost your online image as authority in your field.

1. Publish a blog.

Get this going right away. Use your name as the URL. The purpose of your personal blog is to have an online home. Â It's where you offer valuable content and interact with others. You can also use it to present your products and offers.

2. Article marketing.

Well-written and informative articles that you submit to article aggregation sites are one of the best ways to become viewed as an authority on your topic. (Sign in and get my free eBook showing you how to do this)

3. Offer a webinar.

Are you already an expert in your field? Then offer a webinar where you teach others the basics. Offering value to others is the best way to bring people to your site, where they'll opt-in to join your webinar. Once they're on your list, you can keep in contact with more information, training, and offers.

4. Reports.

Put several of your articles or blog posts together and offer them as a report. Give it away free in the signature line of your articles (see how these all can work together?) as an incentive to visit your website.

5. Press release.

Written an e-book or a course? Publish a press release to spread the word, letting interested people know where they can access it (on your site, of course!).

6. Videos.

Make videos and post them on YouTube. They should be informational, not salesy or overtly promotional. Always use good lighting and sound. One idea is to repurpose an article as a video - either in PowerPoint form or as a live video.

7. Social Networks.

Set up profiles on BetterNetworker, LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter. Interact with others. Use these sites for your online "word of mouth" advertising. Did you know that 25% of the time that people spend online, they are using social networks? 80% of these users are looking for something to buy, so could be potential customers.

8. Squidoo.

No, it's not a sea monster -According to Wikipedia, "Squidoo is a community online that allows users to create pages (called lenses) for subjects of interest. The site also allows content creators to earn revenue from referral links to sites like Amazon and eBay." Squidoo lenses are loved by Google, so are indexed quickly. This is one of the most powerful free tools available! Article writing with hidden benefits!

9. Guest Posting.

Look for opportunities to write and publish an article on someone else's blog. Your post will include a link to your blog somewhere in the post (generally in a resource box at the end). It's one of the best ways to build your online reputation and influence, and a great way to connect with new people. Word of advice: develop a relationship with the owner of the blog before you ask to be a guest poster.

So what's your next step?

Choose one of the methods above that lights your fire and master it. Look for information online on how to really do that method well. Many others have taken the paths before you, so use their experience to create your own roadmap to success online with free methods that attract traffic to your website.

How to Get Targeted Web Traffic to Your Websites   Some Effective Tips on How to Draw Traffic   How to Increase Website Traffic - 5 Simple Steps to Effective Forum Marketing   How to Syndicate Your Content for ''Cold Hard Traffic''   

Lead Generation Process: 3 Effective Strategies Used to Increase Traffic

Although it can prove to be a difficult one, the lead generation process is key to your success. Without consistently acquiring new leads, it is simply impossible for your business to grow. Luckily for the modern entrepreneur, the contemporary lead generation process involves no cold-calling or door-to-door awkwardness.

There is simply no denying the fact that your online business is dependent on new leads. Learning effective strategies used in generating leads will certainly provide your business with the boost it needs for growth.

Establishing a Foundation

Every business person or entrepreneur presumably has goals for their venture. Although to some it may seem a tad corny and cliché, setting goals can prove to be an extremely effective strategy. I recommend that all entrepreneurs take the time to set achievable and realistic goals. Goal-setting provides a foundation for developing leads. Those who set goals tend to maintain focus and consequently excel within their niche.

Setting goals intended for lead generation should include a marketing budget and establishing a goal for the number of leads you are trying to generate. If your marketing campaign utilizes paid products, it is vital to ensure that your investments will provide you with substantial returns. Setting your sights on reasonable goals and tracking your results are the initial steps in your strategy to generate a list of prospects.

SEO and Email Marketing

Obviously, the aim of the lead generation process is to attract an increased number of visitors to your blog or website. There are various different ways in which you can use the internet to generate promising leads. Using search Engine Optimization, or SEO, is an extremely effective technique when blogging.

Learning to produce content within SEO guidelines will undoubtedly improve your blog's search engine value and increase the chance of the content you create being ranked higher on the pages of the search engine. The SEO writing format manipulates the search engine process by anchoring keywords with proper HTML coding.

I cannot stress enough the value of acquiring the email address of potential prospects. In the online business world, a potential consumer's personal email address is like water in the Sahara. Getting hold of an individual's contact information allows online marketers to directly contact and promote their business to admittedly interested individuals. I say admittedly interested because obviously they found some value in your business if they are willing to provide their email address.

There is various proven email address capturing strategies that are effective and widely used. These include driving traffic to high converting squeeze pages where potential customers are asked to provide their contact information in exchange for information or products they desire. Finding which of these potent strategies works best for you can prove to be an integral aspect of process generating leads.

Article Syndication

Article syndication is an effective, probably underutilized, method used to obtain new business leads. By using an article syndication tool like Article Marketing Robot, online marketers can publish their content all over the internet in a matter of minutes.

Doing so will create incredibly valuable backlinks that are sure to increase the value of your blog or website. Posting your original content in various corners of the immense internet world is sure to generate the leads your business needs.

In addition to bolstering your search engine value with backlinks, article syndication can save you a considerable amount of time. Article syndication products prevent marketers from having to visit numerous websites to post the same content. These products automate the process and expedite the lead generation process and are ultimately another strategy to help you grow your business.

How to Get Targeted Web Traffic to Your Websites   Some Effective Tips on How to Draw Traffic   How to Increase Website Traffic - 5 Simple Steps to Effective Forum Marketing   How to Syndicate Your Content for ''Cold Hard Traffic''   If You Are Afraid Of Writing A Press Release You Then Need To Read This!   Tips For Getting Real Traffic To Help You Make Real Money Online