If you’ve been blogging for any time at all now, then you are fully aware that there seems to be just as many blog traffic strategies as there are bloggers, right? And with so many blog traffic strategies, the questions is: “Which ones are the best for you?” Is it Search Engine Optimization? Pay-Per-Click? Cost-Per-Action? Do you use the free traffic strategies or do you use the paying ones?
My answer to these questions, is simple…
“What can you afford?”
Okay, I know this was another question and not an answer. However, the answer lies within the question itself. If you can’t afford to use PPC, CPA, or other paid traffic sources, then the answer is clear; use the free traffic sources. Honestly, I don’t look at getting more traffic to my blogs as an “either/or” proposal.
If you have a small marketing budget, then simply allot whatever it is you can afford to good, low cost traffic sources. On the other hand, if you have no marketing budget whatsoever, then you’ll have no other alternative than to use the free traffic sources to drive traffic to your blogs. Then, once you start earning money with your blog, you can begin using paid traffic sources.
As for today’s blog post, we’ll discuss a few of the free traffic sources for getting more traffic to your blogs.
When I first started working online, I had no other choice but to use free traffic sources as this was all there was at that time. PPC, PPV, CPA, etc. was a distant forethought, and traffic at that time was more or less a by-product of your posts getting read on a message board. However, as the Internet progressed, more and more avenues for free traffic became available. Listed below are five of the most common sources:
1. Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
I’m sure by now you’ve heard of SEO, Search Engine Optimization. You might already heard SEO. And would probably love to get traffic from Google. However, you are also convinced that it is hard and complicated. Well, blogs have lots of advantages in SEO. Google love blogs because blogs always provide fresh and lots of content. I rank high for many keywords with blogs easily. All you need to do is learn and apply the SEO basics. The first step is to optimize my blog for SEO. Next, I’ll start writing original and valuable blog post consistently. Finally, I’ll build backlinks by submitting articles and web directories. This is not hard but it takes time to reach. Probably 2-3 months.
2. Blog Commenting
Give valuable comments to other blogs which are related to your blog. The purpose of this is not to get readers to click on your link to your blog. Of course, it will be some bonus traffic. However, the main objective is to make new friends who share the same passion- blogging and talking about the same topic. When you have more blogging friends, all of you could help each other. They could recommend your blog to their readers if you write something good. You can do the same to provide more value to your readers too.
3. Word Of Mouth
Believe it or not, blogs are very powerful at word of mouth. Since the day I’ve learn about blog, I shared many blogs to all of my friends. I didn’t share that for some ‘Good Blogger’s Practice’. I shared them because I love those blogs. Their content helps me and I think it will help my friends. My friends thank me for sharing with them and I bring traffic to those blogs. If you are interested in people spreading the word for you, always remember this: ‘Provide Valuable Content’. Write contents or put up your own video that provide values to others.
4. Article Marketing
This is my favorite. This traffic strategy doesn’t takes months. You could start getting traffic from Article Marketing within days. All you need to do is write articles your targeted visitors want to read. Submit those articles you wrote to 5 popular article directories. You could start getting some traffic within a week and automated traffic over years. However, it is important to write a lot and not just few. Another benefit from using article marketing is that you can simply rewrite them in an informal style and post it on your blog. Both articles have similar contents but looks different. With this method, you are able to get traffic and update fresh content for your blog as well.
5. Forum Marketing
Forum marketing is fun and easy for most all blogging Newbies, because all you need to do is chat in an online forum. Simply register for an account, and include a link to your blog in your signature. You might get some traffic if you reply often to the members’ post. But if you are interested in more traffic, learn to start a new topic. Start an interesting topic with an attractive title. If your topic draws people’s attention and replies, people would like to check out your blog to see anything more from you.
These are 5 traffic strategies that I recommend all blogging beginners start with. Although all of them take time to grow, it will grow over time into huge traffic streams and it is virtually effortless to maintain!
I hope you’ve enjoyed this post, be sure to check back often for more updates. As always, we appreciate your feedback, comments and questions.
Until next time,
Godspeed
James
~+~
Comments on this entry are closed.