Finding Traffic Outside of Google

It’s true.  Google is the king of search engines.  Over 70% of searches happen via Google.  If you can get your site listed high in the search results for keywords relevant to your site at Google, you’ll experience absolutely stunning traffic levels.

That’s why everyone seems obsessed with Google.  Many of those in the pay-per-click world go ga-ga over Adwords, mentioning other PPC services only in passing.  The SEO gurus of the world are focused almost exclusively on how to excel Google’s world.  

And that’s a mistake.

You can find traffic outside of Google.  Sure, a 70% market share is impressive when compared to a search engine like Yahoo (who sees about 17% of all search engine activity).  It’d be a mistake, however, to pretend as if that 17% was an insignificant sum.

If you ranked highly for your keywords at Yahoo, you could still run a very profitable site eeven if Google never got around to indexing the site.  When you’re talking about big numbers like total search volume, figures like 17% actually translate into something of serious significance.

As you try to build traffic for your site, don’t put the blinders on when it comes to matters of SEO.  Google is such a huge player that you really don’t have much of a choice but to try to get some love in the SERPs there.  That’s fine.  It does not follow, however, that you need to completely ignore SEO for search engines like Yahoo and MSN.  You can still collect a very impressive flow of traffic if you’re handling the project correctly.

As you develop your SEO skills and your overall plan of attack, leave a little space in the margins for Yahoo and other smaller search engines.  These smaller fish tin he search engine pond aren’t going to set records, but they are going to give

Flattery Will Get You… Traffic

A little bit of flattery will get you places when it comes to traffic generation.  Here’s a handy trick for producing a single article/post/page that will get the kind of traffic-producing attention you want.

It’s all about flattery.  More specifically, it’s about recognizing achievement.  Take a look at your niche and come up with a “Top 10″ or “Best of” list about some key component or subject in which you’re audience will be interested.

This kind of content produces great results for a few different reasons.

First, everyone seems to naturally love lists.  Lists get attention just by virtue of being a list.  Seriously, if you title a piece of content “The Top 10 ____” it will always attract some views because it’s an enumerated list.  The “list technique” is a proven headline tactic because, for whatever reason, people want to read lists.

Second, it almost guarantees a mention from those on the list.  If you mention a series of great sites or resources in your niche, you can bet that most of those named will bring it up on their sites.  That’s more links to you and more traffic.

Third, it creates a resource piece.  In our last post we talked about how valuable content produces long-term traffic results.  If you write a good “best of” post, it can become the kind of resource people can actually use and appreciate.

Fourth, other sites in your niche and interested parties are likely to bring attention to your list and/or to mention it.  It’s grade-A linkbait and there’s nothing wrong with that!

When you add those factors together, it’s easy to see why flattery can definitely get you somewhere when your goal is traffic production.

The next time you’re not sure what to do or to try, take a little time to construct and publish a list that recognizes quality and achievement in your niche.  You’ll be happy with the traffic results you’re likely to get.

Balancing Your Traffic Generation Efforts

Generating traffic.  It’s a massive field.  There are so many different things you can do and so many ways you can approach trying to secure more visitors.  You can advertise.  You can produce world-class content.  You can become a search engine optimization guru.  You can transform yourself into the ultimate online social butterfly.  

Within each of those possibilities, there are a range of different strategies and approaches you can take.  The whole thing borders on the infinite.  

Any one of many different plans can produce results.  However, the best way to really reach maximum performance is by using a variety of different strategies.  That not only avoids the “all of your eggs in one basket” risk, it also allows you to reach more people.

Picking a blend of traffic-creating strategies sounds easy enough, but many people run into one big stumbling block.  They fail to properly balance their efforts.  They get bogged down in one or two areas and begin to neglect others.  They spend a great deal of time working with methodologies that aren’t producing results instead of honing in on those that are really getting the job done.

Balance.  How do you achieve that perfect state?  Here are a few tips.

Remember the 80/20 Rule.  You’ve probably heard of this, right?  They say that 20% of your efforts are going to produce 80% of the results in viritually any field.  It’s basically true in terms of traffic creation.  You need to pay attention to what’s really working and then make a point of maintaining (if not increasing) your efforts in that area.  It also allows you to move away from those things that aren’t working, helping you to find just the right balance for your project.

Make a Plan.  A Real Plan.  Don’t just fly by the seat of your pants.  Create a real strategy.  Create a schedule.  Follow through with it.  Your site isn’t going to perform worth a hoot if you aren’t bringing eyeballs to it.  Traffic must be a priority and you need to approach the issue with organization and dedication.  Having a serious plan will help you to cover all of the bases, too, improving your balance.

Stay Informed.  Keep your finger on the pulse of what’s happening out there and be prepared to explore new and different ways to get traffic.  The Internet changes fast and once-powerful techniques can quickly become obsolete.  Likewise, new approaches may emerge that could become a critical part of your traffic repertoire.

Evergreen, High-Value Content Keeps ‘Em Coming

There are many different ways to drive traffic to your site.  Some of them can bring in a large wave of visitors quickly but don’t do much for the long-term viability of your project.  Others don’t create those massive influxes but can actually help you out more than the big traffic explosions.

That’s why everyone should make a point of including the production and publication of high quality, evergreen content as part of an overall traffic plan.

Quality?  Absolutely.  People are more likely to return to your site and to link to your site (which has both direct traffic flow and SEO value) if you’re giving them something into which they can really sink their teeth.  People love discovering strong resources that offer real information in an organized and logical manner.  If you can give people what they really want (and can really use), you’ll reap the benefits for an extended period of time.

Evergreen?  Of course.  Some content is red hot and valuable, but only for a short time.  For instance, you could be the go-to site for information about the current Hamas/Israel conflaguration and that could drive a ton of traffic to your site.  When things settle down, or circumstances change, you’re not going to get a lot of attention.  The person who has great content outlining the history underlying tensions, on the other hand, will continue to secure visitors long after the “news” has changed.  It’s the difference between being an encyclopedia and a newspaper.  Be an encyclopedia some of the time.  Provide timeless information that’s going to have real value over the long run.

It’s easy to get caught up in one-off traffic generation strategies.  You can easily find yourself spending most of your time chasing the next big wave of traffic.  In the meantime, webmasters who’ve concentrated on providing high-quality, evergreen material are going to enjoy consistent and, in the long run, greater visitor numbers.

Using Controversy for Linkbaiting

People swear by “linkbaiting” as a means of traffic generation (and, as the name suggests, SERP-assisting backlink creation).  The idea is simple:  provide some form of content that people find irresistible.

Linkbait can take many forms.  Some swear by the creation of something unique and funny.  Others trust in the power of building a solid and useful list of resources.  There are those who are true believers in writing a “list”.  They maintain that a “Top 50 _____” list will draw traffic like nobody’s business.

There’s another strategy out there, too.  Controversy.  If you come out loudly and strongly in defense of an unpopular position or aggressively criticizing some well-recognized individual, site, product or strategy you can get a lot of attention in a very short period of time.  Some maintain that controversial content is THE best way to up your numbers.

Relying on controversy, however, involves some risks.  You can brand yourself as an antagonistic figure, which probably won’t help your site’s long term prospects.  You can block the development of potentially valuable relationships.  If you’re on the wrong side of an argument, those efforts at stirring the pot can come back to haunt you as embarrassments.

So, if you do want to use controversy as part of your linkbaiting effort, keep these guidelines in mind.

Be Right. If you’re going to start an argument, make darn sure you’re on the stronger side of the issue.  You don’t want to be carrying the banner for the inferior position.  Do your homework, do your research, and construct a credible argument.  You can’t rely purely on smarminess to pull off the controversy angle successfully.

Stay Balanced. When trafficking in controversy, there’s a certain balance you need to strike.  If you go to far over-the-top you can actually decrease people’s interest  If you’re too soft, you don’t reap the benefits of controversy.  You have to find and “hit” that “sweet spot” where you’re attracting attention.

Use the Mama Test. Before you publish an intentionally controversial piece of linkbait, ask yourself whether your mother would approve of what you were writing.  If she wouldn’t, take a moment to reconsider.  You might be able to grab some short-term gains with something extra incendiary, but it’s not in your best long-term interests.  And, just as importantly, it’s not very nice.

Controversy can be a good thing.  Vigorous debate can be outstanding.  You can make controversy work as a traffic-driving strategy.  It just requires a little extra care and attention to do it the right way.

Remembering Traffic Quality

We spend a lot of time at this blog discussing ways to increase traffic levels. It’s a popular topic, after all. Everyone with an online presence wants to make sure his or her site is seen by as many people as possible. Every last webmaster out there is searching, scratching and fighting for traffic.

It’s easy to get lost in the various strategies and techniques of traffic generation and to lose track of a very important consideration in the process. Huge traffic numbers are great, but only if the traffic itself is of a suitably high quality.

As you strive to create a massive boom in your site’s stats, don’t forget to keep your eye on the actual quality of content you’re receiving.

Think about it this way. Would you rather have 800 unique visitors who don’t know a thing about what you’re trying to do or would you prefer 100 visitors who are completely in tune with your operation and who are ready to purchase your product?

It should be an easy choice.

This is why purchased traffic and traffic exchanges are such a bad bet for most webmasters. Sure, you can get some visitors. They just aren’t the kind of visitors who are going to do you any good.

How do you get quality traffic? The answer is easy, even though it takes some effort to implement.

You need quality content that fulfills a need or interest on the part of target demographic. Junk attracts junk. Quality material brings in quality visitors (and it keeps them there long enough to make it worthwhile).

You need good inbound links. Search engine optimization is, largely, a matter of acquiring quality inbound links to your site. If you have good backlinks, you’ll get good search engine placement. That tends to bring in good traffic.

You need to avoid cheap tricks and untargeted traffic generation methods. Concentrate on bringing the right people to your site for the right reasons. Crutching on trickery or utilizing traffic generation methods that send untargeted collections of “who knows what” to your site won’t help you out.

We all want big traffic numbers, but we should always remember that those numbers won’t mean a thing if their stuffed with low-quality visits.

Why You should Avoid Search Engine Submission Services

You want more traffic to your site. You’re doing a little research, looking for a few options. That’s when you see one of the advertisements.

These people will submit your website to all of the major search engines. They talk about just how important search engine traffic is and you know that you’re not getting a big chunk of it. They discuss the ways that their submissions will give you a piece of the pie and you’re definitely hungry. It seems like an easy way to get traffic. It doesn’t seem that expensive, considering the potential results. You’re thinking about investing a few bucks to help out your site.

STOP.

Don’t do it.

Search engine submission services are not worth a penny. They’ve been around for years, disappointing thousands of webmasters and any effectiveness they once had has long abated. Here’s why you should run (don’t walk) from submission offers.

First, it’s wholly unnecessary. You don’t need to “submit” your site to a search engine to get it indexed. All you need is a link or two from sites that are already indexed. It’s not hard to secure or create those backlinks and they’ll lead to search engine discovery faster than any submission company could type your URL into an engine’s “tell us about your site” page.

Second, inclusion in the search engines doesn’t guarantee you anything. It just means that the engine knows you’re there. Does it mean the search engines will find your site valuable? Does it mean that you’ll show up in the first page of the listings for queries relevant to your site? No and double no. Those huge numbers about search engine traffic you see in the ads are true. There’s just no guarantee that you’ll get a single visitor.

Third, submission services may actually backfire on you. There’s decent anecdotal evidence suggesting that automated submissions (and rest assured these outfits use automated tools to do their thing) are not particularly well-loved by the search engines. You might just end up on the receiving end of a penalty for hiring a submission service.

There’s a lot of great SEO information out there and plenty of sites like this one that offer solid, proven ways to improve traffic. Don’t waste your time or money on outmoded search engine submission services.

When a Picture is Worth a Thousand Visitors - Getting Traffic from Google Image Search

It’s amazing.  Everyone and his or her dog is fighting like mad over search engine traffic yet almost all of them are neglecting one of the best ways to grab visitors via Google.  Images.

More specifically, we’re referring to traffic generated via Google Image searches.  More and more people are using Google to find photos and it’s not that hard to take advantage of that fact.  Competition for image traffic is jaw-droppingly low and one can develop a steady stream of visitors with relatively little effort.

We’re not talking about junk traffic here, either.  Smart, experienced users will often use image search to find products in which they’re interested.  If you’re ranking high for an appropriate image, you can secure some highly-targeted and highly-motivated traffic.

So, how do you start brining in the visitors via image searches?  Here are a few pointers to get you started:

Use images.  Unless you have a good reason not to do so, try to use images with regularity.  If you’re targeting a niche or demographic that tends to use dial-up or that has a natural disdain for images, this might not be a good idea.  Likewise if the use of visuals will muddy up your design to the point where it begins to interfere with usability.  In most other cases, though, it’s easy to integrate visuals into a web page or blog post.  If you want image search traffic, you gotta have images!

Use alt tags.  Not only are alt tags good in terms of usability, they’re also very good in terms of generating image search traffic.  When you’re coding your pages, take the time to insert that alternate text for every photo used.  This will help Google to clue in to the subject matter of the picture, improving your shot at snagging a good rankings for image queries.

Use good file names.  Your pics should be given descriptive names.  You might still get some image traffic from that file named pic0001-83763.jpg, but your odds are a lot better if the file name actually reflects the image’s content.

Use the right text around the picture.  Google will look at surrounding text as a means of determining graphical content’s subject matter.  If you’re writing the right things around an image, you can dramatically improve your odds of ranking highly for image searches related to that text.

And that’s really just the beginning.  Take a look at these nineteen ways to optimize your site for Google image searches for some additional direction.

Economic Challenges

If you want to increase your sales, then respond to the fears of people who are worried about the economy - make them an offer they can’t refuse!

Attracting traffic is more challenging in our tough economic times than ever before. Economic challenges make marketing more challenging too. That’s because people are looking for a bargain or some other reason to click on your site and if they don’t see a reason immediately, they may just overlook the value you have to offer. So give them what they’re looking for. Use your existing lists to encourage and entice visitors and customers to come back for more. Send them Read more

Get ‘em and hold ‘em

In our last post, we talked about using your social network to attract traffic. We promised to follow-up with some ideas to make your site stickier and keep your visitors on your site longer.

As we approach the upcoming holidays, people are looking for Read more

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