Many of my clients share that one of their biggest online marketing challenges is getting enough visitors to their site. Attracting traffic isn't a cut and dry process - there isn't one perfect way to do it. But there are many ways that, when used collaboratively, will build you a nice stream of visitors.

To get your marketing wheels turning, check out these 15 simple ways to attract new visitors to your site. This is not an exhaustive list by any means, but it will give you several fresh ideas to try.

Now, remember - you don't want to expel effort in getting just anyone to visit your site. You only want people who would likely be interested in what you have to offer. So before you read on, answer this question:

"WHO are your target clients or customers?"

The more you know about your ideal clients/customers, the better you'll know where and how to find them.

So ... keep that information in mind as you consider these traffic-building tactics:

___ 1. Search Engines and Directories

Why not be in front of people who are actually searching for your product or service? Get your site listed in the top search engines by either learning about this topic on your own or investing in assistance. Because there is A LOT to learn and the rules keep changing all the time, this is an area I advise you get some help in or hire it out. (I recommend my friend Marc Harty at Search Engine Patrol.)

___ 2. Pay-per-Click Advertising

Services such as Google AdWords let you bid on how much you'd like to pay per click, and many times your listings appear above the regular listings in the major search engines. AND you can get listed in as little as 15 minutes! To learn more, get my friend Cat Seda's step-by-step course, "Search Marketing Mastery".

___ 3. Your Own E-zine

If you publish your own e-zine, you already have a warm pool of prospects who are likely interested in what you have to offer. Give them a reason to visit (or re-visit) your site by adding new content, giving away a free report or e-book, or offering a special subscriber-only promotion on your products and services. To learn more about publishing your own e-zine, get my award-winning course, "Boost Business With Your Own Ezine".

___ 4. Your Articles in Other E-zines and at Other Web Sites

This has been one of my most successful traffic-building tactics. There are thousands of online publishers who would like to use YOUR articles in their e-zines and on their Web sites! Find them via the Directory of E-zines (http://www.directoryofezines.com/) and also post your articles at free content sites like EzineArticles.com (http://www.ezinearticles.com/).

___ 5. Ads in Other E-zines

Identify other e-zines whose readership matches your target market. Search the Directory of E-zines (http://www.directoryofezines.com/) and the Web. Find out if the e-zines accept advertising and learn what their rates are. Run at least three ads in a row to get an accurate representation of how the ad pulls. (Use an ad-tracking program to determine how many clicks each ad is getting, such as the one I use that comes with my shopping cart system, AutoWebBusiness.com.

___ 6. Ads on Other Web Sites

Research other Web sites where your target market visits and inquire about advertising. Have ready both text ads and colorful banner ads of the standard sizes.

___ 7. Online Forums and Discussion Groups

Identify popular forums and discussion groups that are related to your subject area and where prospects in your target market may be lurking. You'll find more than you ever knew existed just by doing a few online searches. Let your value shine through in your postings, and include a link to your Web site.

TO BE CONTINUED ...

2003-2006 Alexandria K. Brown