So your website is up and it’s looking great but there’s just one problem… You have no visitors ! If this is the case, then all of your efforts are pretty much wasted. In this article I am going to share with you 8 of the best traffic channels that I use to drive targeted traffic to my websites.
1. Social media
Social media websites such as Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn and Instagram are great places to promote your website. You can do this by building a large following and consistently post updates, however this can take a long time before you start seeing good results. Alternatively, you can pay to advertise your website on these platforms. This is typically known as “Pay Per Click” advertising (or PPC). This method is a lot quicker than building up a following but it can be quite expensive if you’re not careful. Take Facebook for example. It’s PPC method is highly sophisticated and thus it’s sometimes called the “highway to the money-hole”. Nevertheless, if done right it can be very effective.
2. Forums
There are forums all over the internet. You just have to find the right one for you. You should choose a forum that is focused on your niche market. When you register, try to contribute as much as you can to build up “credibility”. Make sure to link your website in your signature.
3. Craigslist
This is one of the most underrated traffic channels and yet it can be very effective if done correctly. Head over to your local Craigslist websites and create ads to match your target audience. For example, if your website is about “Dog Training”, then create an ad with the title “Dog walker needed”. Make your ad appealing but include your website URL at the bottom of the post.
4. Facebook Groups
Facebook groups can be very effective if used correctly. Facebook has a huge user base and thus there are tons of groups. Find a group that is focused on your niche market and start interacting with the members. Make sure you are genuinely contributing to the group before trying to pitch your website. When you do provide value, make sure you include your website URL at the bottom of your post.
5. Guest Blogging
Find blogs in your niche that accept guest posts. Ensure that your content is valuable and related to the blog topic. After you’ve posted your article, make sure you include your “back links” in the author bio section. For maximum effectiveness, make sure your backlinks are relevant to the content of your article.
Guest blogging is also effective for increasing the authority of your site in the eyes of search engines. Avoid low quality sites when you are looking for guest post opportunities in your niche. Choose high quality sites like doe for best results
6. YouTube
YouTube is known as the “2nd largest search engine”. This is because people often go to Youtube to find solutions to their problems. Create original videos that include your keywords and make sure you have a descriptive title. Include your website URL at the end of the video as a reference.
Include your website URL in the video description for backlink benefits.
7. Classified Ads
People still use newspapers, especially in rural areas. Find a small local newspaper and place an ad related to your niche. Your local newspaper is more likely to feature you as a local business. The cost to run newspaper ads tend to be very cheap. For example, small newspaper ads can go for as low as $10 a week.
Make sure you use a catchy headline and include your website URL.
8. Business Directories
There are lots of business directories online that are nicely indexed by search engines. Create a listing for your niche website and include your keywords. The key is to make your listing a “do follow” link. This will cause search engines to see your listing as a relevant website and thus rank you higher in the search results.
Conclusion
These are just a few ways to advertise your website without spending a fortune. These tips should help you increase traffic and the visibility of your website.
