Driving traffic is one of the most highly debated issues when it comes to running any website business. Get it wrong, and you will lose any and all traffic you had, get it right, and you will reap the rewards.
It’s a crucial element of having an online presence, but traffic is a hot spot that regularly sparks confusion, anger, myths, and a whole lot of disagreement. It’s easy to see why so many newbies get confused and disheartened when they try to learn about traffic generation and the many tactics that can be used.
Thankfully, by learning some basics, you can avoid some of the common pitfalls.
There Is No “Right” Way
One of the most common traps that beginners fall prey to is trying to find that one unique magic method that will send them all the traffic they could need. Unfortunately, it just isn’t that simple. There are plenty of courses that will tell you that they have the secret, but for 99% of website owners, only having one method that runs on autopilot and sends waves of eager buyers to their sites is a delusion.
There are dozens of methods that you can use to get traffic to your site, and you should learn about as many of them as possible. This is just because different ways work for various websites, and you can’t know if one will work for you unless you at least know about it.
Don’t let anyone tell you that there is one “right” way to go about getting traffic. Learn as much as you can, try to figure out what isn’t likely to work, and go from there.
Pick a Few Methods
Many beginners either focus solely on one method of driving traffic, which probably isn’t going to cut it, or they try to get into too many ways and spread their resources too thin. The trick here is finding a balance between those two extremes. Many people who are successful at making money online suggest picking 3-5 different methods of driving traffic and then sticking with those.
For example, you could choose to go with article marketing, twitter, and posting in relevant forums. Or you could select blogging and eBook syndication. You could also choose to combine all of those or find an entirely different set of methods. What is important is whether what you are using is working for you.
Be Patient and Run Tests
Of course, like was pointed out, not all traffic methods work equally well for everyone. Some people excel at article marketing while others can’t seem to get a good response, and some people just can’t afford to head into solo ads or other methods that cost money – so you may need to change your plans after awhile. If you aren’t getting a good return on one approach, switch it out for a different one after a month or two. Or once you are making some money, try investing some of it back into traffic generation.
Use Common Sense
This is a considerable point only because so many new online business owners won’t stop and think about what they are heading into. If you really can’t afford to outsource your traffic, don’t let someone push you into it. There are plenty of ways you can generate your traffic. If a traffic method is promising loads of traffic that sound too good to be true, it probably is. Try to stick to proven methods, and you are more likely to see success.
By being smart about your traffic generation and committing time to it each day, you should start seeing a response to your website that will only increase with more time and attention.
