My Top Website Traffic Generation Techniques

I recently conducted a 2 1/2 hour teleseminar that I entitled "Website Traffic Generation Techniques That Work." I conducted the teleseminar for two reasons:

1) I was partnering with two esteemed clients/friends in creating an in-demand product. Our combined knowledge and experience guaranteed a website traffic generation product better than any similar product that I'd seen recently!

2) I was tired of seeing so many people with websites getting practically ZERO traffic when it is so easy. I wanted to explain to my subscribers and clients, in a plain-English fashion, some very effective but simple methods of getting visitors to their websites.

My websites currently get so much traffic that, while we could always use more traffic, I no longer worry about getting website traffic. I've reached what my friend Jack Humphrey termed critical mass - that point at which one could actually stop promoting for a while and the traffic would continue.

When you look at website traffic generation - big picture - it's just a matter of identifying where your ideal traffic is, and "standing in front of it!" Here are just a few ways that I do that. We covered many more in the teleseminar.

These are all fast and easy to implement:

* Article Writing - Write 300 - 1000 word articles on topics that your market cares about. Make sure that the articles address a problem, worry or challenge that your market faces. In the article point them to solutions that they can find on your website. It's that simple.

* Affiliate Programs - With an affiliate program, you have others send you traffic, and you don't spend a penny until that traffic converts into sales. You can set up a simple affiliate program selling an ebook through Clickbank or PayDotCom.com and have an army of people working hard to send you customers in no time.

If you don't have a product, you can take private label products, and with a little effort, create products that your market will be clamoring for, and that affiliates will be thrilled to market for you. The best duplicable SYSTEM that I've seen for doing this was developed by Louis Burleson. You can learn all about Louis' easy to implement system at: http://NoHypeInternetMarketing.com/TheKey/

* Ebay Sales - With over 100 million registered users, Ebay is simply too big to ignore as a source of traffic. The most important thing about that incredible number of Ebay users is that they are buyers. They visit Ebay with credit card in hand, and all you need to do is be there with the products that they are looking for.

By some estimates that I've seen, Ebay gets MORE searches per day than Google!

There are dozens of ways for you to lure some of those millions of visitors to your website. Ebay even makes it easy for you to sift through their database and see WHAT the most common things are that people are searching for. What could be easier? You sift through their database, determine what lots of their users are searching for and then create simple information product that cater to those concerns. Then you advertise on Ebay, extremely inexpensively, letting people know that you have the solutions over at your website.

* Organic Search Engine Traffic - This seems mysterious or difficult to many people. However, if you understand that people visit the search engines seeking solutions to their problems, then it's as simple as determining what problems a lot of people are searching for solutions to, creating solutions to those problems, and then making people aware of the solutions through content on your site.

As an example, this article addresses the massive problem of most websites not having enough traffic. It tells them of the solutions offered on my site, and finally the article facilitates the search engines telling searchers that my site is where they'll find the solution. I'll feed this article to the search engines through my article distribution channels.

* Social Networking Sites - Sites such as MySpace, Youtube, and dozens of bookmarking sites, get millions of users every day. MySpace rapidly grew into the sixth most visited site on the Internet.

MySpace users set up accounts and conveniently categorize themselves into interest groups. Using very simple techniques, you can redirect massive traffic from MySpace to your website. You can also build your mailing list by interacting with targeted niches on MySpace. The other social networking sites function similarly.

* One of the easiest ways to get massive, extremely targeted traffic is through joint ventures. Through joint ventures, you get those who already have the attention, trust, and loyalty of the traffic, to send their traffic to your sales page. This is totally risk free and one of the easiest and fastest ways to grow a web business.

Through organizations such as The International Association Of Joint Venture Brokers (IAJVB), you find large list owners, product owners, or joint venture brokers. You set up huge, mutually beneficial partnerships, and leverage your combined assets. You can get more information on using IAJVB at: http://TheInternationalAssociationOfJointVentureBrokers.com

In the teleseminar, we also covered generating an endless flood of highly targeted visitors through methods such as publishing a newsletter, blogging, creating viral ebooks and software, creating educational or entertaining multi- media products, etc. We showed that there as so many ordinary, easily-implement traffic generation methods that there really is no reason for any website to suffer from a lack of traffic.

Actually, I'll retract that statement. Your website does have to be about something that people are interested in. There does have to be enough people in the world interested in your niche to offer you a pool of people that you can "stand in front of." I've just shared with you my top website traffic generation technique. Now all you need to do is implement them. You can discover many more by listening to the MP3 recordings or reading the PDF transcripts from my recent teleseminar at: http://TrafficGenerationTechniquesThatwork.com

Book Giveaway!

Rachelle, from http://zyphe.blogspot.com shared a contest with me that I'd like to share here too. Thanks, Rache!

Katie Hart is holding a contest on her website where you can win huge prize packs. The packs include the following:


(1)
A Bride Most Begrudging by Deeanne Gist
The Cubicle Next Door by Siri Mitchell
Shivering World by Kathy Tyers
All She Ever Wanted by Lynn Austin
Beyond the Blue by Leslie Gould
CD - My Other Band - Volume One
Four selections from Katie Hart's ARC/galley pile

(2)
Comes a Horseman (hardcover) by Robert Liparulo
River Rising (hardcover) by Athol Dickson
Mark of the Cross by Judith Pella
Three selections from Katie Hart's ARC/galley pile

(3)
A Garden to Keep (hardcover) by Jamie Langston Turner
The Yada Yada Prayer Group Gets Caught by Neta Jackson
Paper Moon by Linda Windsor
Three selections from Katie Hart's ARC/galley pile


"But how do I win any of these packs?" you ask. Simple! Just tell others about her site, Waterfall Books and the huge book giveaway! You may email your friends, post the announcement on social/dating networks like Myspace and Hi5 or send out bulletins everywhere, etc. It's up to you. Pump out your creative juices to spread the word. Just know your limits so you may not be banned for spamming.

Whenever you've done something to promote Waterfall Books, email Katie (theloneislands@yahoo.com) to let her know. She is giving one point for each promotion you do - two points or more for creative or extra influential ways of promotion. At the end of January, there will be a tally of points and the top 3 highest point getters will receive the prize packs mentioned above respectively!

But there's more! Go to http://zyphe.blogspot.com/ and leave a comment informing Rachelle that you've subcribed to her yahoogroup and you've done what you ought to do (promotion, marketing, etc) and then you'll be entered to win a book from her!

The winner will get to choose any of these 7 brand-new books:

• Lasher by Anne Rice
  
• The Feast of All Saints by Anne Rice
  
• Belinda by Anne Rampling
  
• Lakota Dawn by Janelle Taylor
  
• Savage Destiny by Rosanne Bittner
  
• Miracle by Deborah Smith
  
• Tempt Fortune by Hebby Roman
  

Don't forget to leave your contact info in your comment. She said, she's picking a name from all the entries and post the winner on January 15, 2007.

So, what are you waiting for? Start charming away and keep those subscribers comin'!


Links ideal to include:
http://reviewingchristiannovels.blogspot.com
christiannovels-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

7 Characteristics of a Great Webpage

What makes for a great webpage?

Wouldn't you like to know the main ingredients for creating a superior webpage? What basic elements you must have if you want a solidly designed webpage? A webpage that will stand out and be noticed by your visitors. One that will keep those visitors returning to your site, again and again. An effective webpage that is 95% better than most of the other pages on the Net.

Follow these simple design features when creating your next webpage and you will have the answer:

1. Good Keywords

The nucleus. The conception. Good keywords are the very first building blocks you must consider before your webpage even becomes a dim notion in your head. Picking the right keyword or keyword phrase is the ultimate factor that will determine the success or failure of your webpage. You must do major research on the keyword or keyword phrases that will be the focal point and drawing card for your webpage.

You must get this right. It is vital. It is the single most important element of a webpage. You can use keyword research software and sites such as GoodKeywords, Wordtracker.com, Nichebot.com, or superior keyword research software such as Brad Callen's Keyword Elite.

Regardless of what process you favor, you must choose your keywords very carefully. You must chëck the competition for your chosen keywords or phrase. You must chëck the number of searches made each month for your keyword. You must also chëck the keyword density of your page to see if it will register in the search engines. You may have to adjust or fine-tune your keyword density at a later date.

Make sure you place your keyword in the title of your page. Place it in the first Headline on the page and many marketers also place their keyword or phrase in the url. For example: www.yourdomain.com/keyword.html This will help the search engines and surfers to find your page quicker.

2. Simple Design

Keep it simple. You must keep your webpage simple and direct. Keep it professional. Make sure it is readable and clear to all your visitors. Do a spell chëck. Do a grammar chëck. You may also want to chëck how your webpage looks in all types of browsers (www.anybrowser.com). Better safe than sorry.

Keep your visitors in mind at all times when designing your webpage. Keep it on topic, keep it related to your keywords. Most marketing studies show that's it's best not to confuse your visitors with too many options. If you're selling a product or products, limit the number on each page to one product if you can.

If you have a comparison page, limit the number to three or four. Studies also show that if you present too many options or products, the conversion rate goes down, not up. Keep all your products related. If you have a page on laptops, don't start discussing the benefits of owning a SUV.

Keep your sentences short and the number of words on a page down to 200 to 300. Many sites break up longer articles into multi-pages, this will be of some inconvenience for your visitors but you will have more room for advertising - your call.

3. Optimized

Let's face it, the average webpage will get most of its traffíc from the search engines, mainly Google, although MSN and Yahoo are also worth considering. Optimize your page for Google. Use a simple hierarchy, keep your pages no more than three clicks away from the main page. Linking all your pages to your index page is a good practice, always do this. The search engines will find your page faster if it is linked directly from the main index page of your site.

Using blogging software/structure that comes with such free blogging software as Wordpress will optimize your pages for you. Blogging systems have a linking hierarchy (categories, archives, etc.) that are very search engine friendly. It's almost impossible not to optimize your pages if you're using a blogging system. Plus, you have an RSS feed that will syndicate your content and place it into the search engines very quickly.

Chëck factors such as Mega Tags, title description and content. Use a robots text file for the search engine robots.

If you're new to building webpages, you may want to chëck out Google's Webpage Creator, you can create your pages and have it hosted free by Google and they will be indexed immediately in Google. Big Plus!

4. Easy Navigation

A great webpage will have easy and simple navigation. Link your page to and from your main index page if you can. Make sure you link to it from your sitemap page. Many webmasters put all the main links on their site at the top or the bottom of all their webpages, so that a visitor can freely move around and find what they're looking for. Keep your visitors' comfort level in mind at all times.

Double chëck to see all links on your webpage work! You may be surprised how many don't work, especially if you link out to other sites. The search engines don't like broken links, neither will your visitors.

Also double chëck to see if all images on your page display properly. Nothing will bring down the quality of your page faster than images that don't load.

5. Fresh Content

A great webpage will always have fresh content. Make sure you update your webpage often. Our world's technology changes rapidly, make sure your material is current and still revelant.

Remember, 9 times out of 10, the only reason a visitor is on your page is for information. Make sure you deliver. Make sure that information is recent and accurate. Besides, there is nothing like fresh content to keep your visitors interested and coming back for more.

6. Bookmarkable

A great webpage will always be bookmarkable. Your visitor will want to bookmark your page and return to it for more information. Make sure you make it easy for your visitor to bookmark your page. Use a bookmark scrípt. Make sure you have a favicon, this is a small logo you place on your site and it will be automatically picked up and displayed in your visitor's bookmarks, drawing attention to your page. Consider a bookmark and favicon like bread crumbs, all leading the visitor back to your page.

7. Cool

Every great webpage should have a WOW factor! Try to make your page stand out from the crowd. Try to make it unique, try to make it cool. Just remember, a simple professional webpage with valuable information is always cool. And remember there is nothing like a little good 'word of mouth' to get some traffíc drawing PR for your page. Great buzz about your webpage is worth its worth in gold.

So the next time you're designing a webpage, go all out and try to create your webpage with all of the characteristics listed above. Start with your keywords, keep it simple, proof-read and test for coding errors, create good navigation and optimize for the search engines, make sure you provide valuable fresh content and information. Last but not least, try your hardest to make your webpage memorable and bookmarkable. Make it a professional webpage that will be superior to the majority of other pages on the web.

Aim high and you will reap the rewards.

The Basics Of Podcasting
by Madison Lockwood

Podcasting in its simplest form is the uploading of MP3 files to the internet, where they can be accessed by the majority of the online universe with little more than a modern browser. You might consider a podcast to be an audio blog, although podcasts are basically standalone units of communication and not limited solely to “audio.” The term is also applied to short video pieces that are uploaded for general consumption; that is becoming more common, but the term was born as a reference to the audio format. Although the term stems from Apple’s iPod line of products it is generic in nature and refers to any MP3 (and increasingly, video) file provided via one Internet channel or another.

To that end, the number of channels that are now using podcasts is nothing short of phenomenal. They are used in educational formats (distance learning programs) and by the mainstream media. Business Week Online is an example of excellent utilization of the format. They provide professionally conducted interviews with both newsmakers in the business world and with experts on topics like developing technology. It is both an extension of their current events function and the features section of the magazine that focuses on broader industry analysis.

Every major news outlet online ­ ABC, ESPN, Fox, CNN and so forth ­ use podcasts to augment their print-and-graphics webpage formats. You can find them on political websites and blogs, often carrying the candidate’s message but more often carrying the opponent’s gaffe. This particular phenomenon has led to the practice of campaigns hiring “trackers” to trail their opponent from public event to public event with a video camera, hoping to catch a misstatement, a contradiction or some sort of unfortunate occurrence that can be distributed via the assortment of political websites and blogs that clog the web today.

You can now “subscribe” to podcasts that are delivered via an RSS application automatically to your computer. “Podcasters” are individuals or information distributors of some sort that provide an ongoing series of podcasts. Podcasts very quickly found their way to the marketing and advertising industry, which has adopted them for widespread use on the Internet. Video podcasts in particular have become the most recent form of “popup” advertising on the web. You can be clicking through a commercial site and suddenly you are watching a commercial.

The proliferation of podcasts that are webcasts of mistakes, poor behavior or just plain foolishness began with people in the public eye but now extends well beyond the currently and formerly famous. Because these snippets of audio and video are so widespread and move across the digital network so quickly, one begins to feel uneasy. What if someone catches me falling off a bicycle and thinks it looks funny enough to share?

When email entered our society, it provided a screening device to communication that was somehow comforting. Podcasts and to some degree the whole social networking phenomenon create the opposite effect. It’s easy to feel exposed, regardless of the fact that you’re still one person using one computer.

For a technical explanation of the various methods of podcast delivery, take a look at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Podcasting. They provide an excellent and extended explanation of the various software options and delivery choices that you can make in allowing podcasts into your life. For a fairly comprehensive directory of podcast feeds and sources, try http://www.podcast.net/. As a good resource for news in the podcast universe and also for a directory, there’s http://www.podcastingnews.com/


About the Author:

Madison Lockwood is a customer relations associate for http://www.apollohosting.com. She helps clients understand how a website may benefit them both personally and professionally. Apollo Hosting provides website hosting, ecommerce hosting, & VPS hosting to a wide range of customers.