How Do I Get Traffic To My Website?

Everyone is always trying to find ways to promote their site, to get it noticed by viewers and by the search engines. Here is an article that I wrote regarding my own journey to getting traffic for my website.

How Do I Get Traffic To My Website?
By Vickie J. Scanlon

Internet Marketing requires you to sale other people’s products or services, or if you have decided to create your own product, sale your own. But whether you are selling your own or others, we all have one thing in common – getting traffic to our websites. But what is most important is not just getting traffic, but targeted traffic. Thus, How Do you or I get traffic to our sites?

In my early beginnings on the Internet, I tried many methods of getting traffic to my website. I was definitely a newbie in training – some of the software or services that I bought did me no good. I found, at times, that it was truly difficult to decipher which was a good deal and which was not – who was honest, and who was not – but I guess it goes with the Internet territory – and you must always do your due diligence.

However, I have found three methods of getting traffic to my site or affiliate product or service – Buying it – PPC, such as Google, Mamma, Overture, linking or the hard one Search Engine Optimization.

Pay-Per-Click

If you have the money to invest in Google or some of the other search engines pay-per-click programs you can make some money. Here you create an ad or ads relevant to your affiliate program, and place a bid on the keywords you select. This takes time, energy, persistence and money – and research. Also, I would advise that you read your affiliate programs rules, as well as, the rules of Google Adwords before jumping into the pay-per-click arena. You usually have to put “aff” after your ad or something similar to that – it’s dependent upon the affiliate program you are in. The idea with pay-per-click is that you pay only when the individual clicks on your ad.


Linking

Linking can be by either paid or unpaid methods. The paid methods are paying for your link to be shown in Ezines, newsletters or on other peoples’ sites. It can be costly, so the best suggestion that I can give you is to research the Ezines, newsletters and or other people sites that you want to link with before buying. In most cases, if ezines are accepting advertising, you know they must have at least 500+ subscribers, or I should say, be sure that they have at least 500+ subscribers before advertising in their ezine. Know what you are getting before you put your money down – and as they always say, be sure to read the fine print.

The unpaid method is through article creation. This requires hard work on your part, but the return will be seen in the long term. Keep in mind, your articles should be relevant and address the subject matter of your site and products. Content reigns king on the Internet – and if it is relevant to their needs – they will eventually come to read.

Search Engine Optimization

Search Engine Optimization is basically the optimization of your web pages so that you can get a decent ranking by the search engines, and thus, to pull people to your website by it relevance. This is a difficult chore and needs to continually be worked at – and within the ethics of the Search Engines.

To conclude, getting targeted people to your site is really part of growing your business. And Internet marketing – well, it’s not for the faint-hearted, but for the determined, persistent individual who wants to really make a living on-line. Thus, if you really want to make a living on-line – don’t give up and promote.

Available on my website is additional information regarding SEO, Adwords, Adsense and more.

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Autoresponders -- Do You Need Them?

There is so much to learn -- when you first come onboard to the world of the Internet. How to promote your business, where to get the information, where to get the software, etc. Well, I thought I would enlighten those new to the Internet, to the realm of the autoresponder. The autoresponder is one step in automating your business, when it (your business) starts to move forward. Here is an article for you review.

Are Autoresponders An Important Asset To Your Business?
By Vickie J Scanlon

Autoresponders are an important asset to an Internet Marketer. When I heard that statement, I said, “Okay – great! What is it!” For all those new to the Internet arena, I’ll try to explain what autoresponders are, how they can be used, and how it can benefit your online business.

What Are Autoresponders?

Autoresponders automate the process of following up e-mail marketing leads. Email autoresponders are special email addresses that returns a message or set of messages in response to any email that is sent to the autoresponder’s address. When your business is slow or just beginning you may be hesitate to use this tool. But be assured as your business grows, you’ll find a use.

Who Supplies Autoresponders?

Where do you get autoresponders? Well, they are as close as your web host. Yes, most web hosts have autoresponders – it is only limited by the number of email addresses your host provides you. For example, my webhost allows me 100 email addresses. Thus, I have the opportunity, if I so wish, to create 100 autoresponders.

However, there is one small drawback to webhost autoresponders – you are limited only to one message per autoresponder, without the possibility of a follow-up email to your prospects.

But there are other avenues in which you can consider. Such as:

1. You can incorporate a free autoresponder. Freeautobots.com offers a free service -- that is free of advertisements, and supplies you with the server to store your leads on.
2. You can purchase the software. This software can be placed on your computer, or again, you can purchase an online service, and all your information will be stored on the server where you purchased the service.

As you can see there are advantages and disadvantages of each. And only you will know which will best fit your needs, circumstances, expertise and budget.

How Do I An Autoresponder?

When I heard the word autoresponder, I didn’t have a clue of how to use them, or if it was relevant to my business. Pretty green, wasn’t I. Well, an autoresponder can be a great automation tool to any business.

Let me give you some examples of the versatility of this tool.

1. Used by people who are away. They use it to notify the sender that they are away on vacation, their desk, etc.
2. Used as a business tool --
a. Gives responders business information – pricing lists, resumes
b. Collect names and email addresses
c. Use for training
d. Give away free reports
e. FAQ (if appropriate)
f. Auto-send your article submissions

As you can see there are many uses, all of which, keeps you in contact with your visitors and/or prospective leads, and the promotion of your products, services and business. And, as to free or paid – that assessment will be directly determined by the growth of your business – and of course, your budget.

To conclude, the use of autoresponders is only limited by your imagination and your ethics. Yes, ethics. Do not go crazy with this tool – it is to be used to help your business – so be aware of spam – and it’s dos’ and don’ts – and this tool will work for you.

To your success.

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