How Do I Generate Traffic To My Website?

That is the big question webmasters have struggles with since the Internet began. At one time it was very easy to get large volumes of traffic to your site with little work.

That is not the case anymore as more and more web pages are added daily to the Internet. Your websites traffic is your lifeline to your business.

But what is most important is not just getting traffic, but targeted traffic.

26 Ways to Generate Traffic to Your Site

Free Website Traffic

1. Search Engines - Google, Yahoo and the others are still good for generating free traffic. If you haven't submitted a site map to let the search engines know about your site, you can use this website promotion help.

2. Forums - There are thousands of forums that are free to join and you can use the signature area to put a link to your site. This also can help with creating backlinks to your site. Once you join, don't spam and try to help answer questions for others.

3. Article Submission - Ezinearticles.com and Goarticles.com are a few of the big names in this area. Write aticles that are geared towards your target audience. By using the signature area that most article directories allow you are not only helping create targeted traffic but this can also be used as a backlink.

4. Social Networking Sites - Myspace and Facebook just to name a few. These are excellent to use when trying to find other people interested in what you have to offer.

5. Create Blog - The is a great way to generate more free traffic. Many web hosting companies have an easy install for adding a wordpress blog to your website. This information shows you how to create a blog.

6. Directories - The biggest name for directories is DMOZ. They are selective on who gets listed but adding your website is free so shouldn't be overlooked.

7. Request recipricol links - When requesting reciprical links, you need to make sure that you are dealing with web sites that are within your niche. The best place to help you with this is using Site Build It Value Exchange program. It is also free.

8. Add Signature link in e-mails - How many emails do you send out in a day? a week? Add a link to you site with all the outgoing email that you send. With so many e-mails getting forwarded every day, you may be able to generate traffic to your site.

9. Create Newsletter - Use your newsletter to send quality information to your subscribers. By sending quality information, you will have more of a chance of your subscribers forwarding to their friends.

10. Related blogs within your niche - leave quality comments on these blogs.

11. YouTube - Create and post videos relating to your niche.

12. Write a Press release - There are many places you can post these. Do a Google search to help you find them.

13. Join Yahoo Answers - Don't spam as you will be removed from answering any questions. Don't just answer questions within your niche, but answer other questions as well.

14. Create ebook - With so many free programs to help you format an ebook, you can easily create the ebook using Microsoft Word and use a free program to help you format into PDF format.

15. Post in Yahoo and Google Groups - There are hundreds of groups that you can find and be able to link back to your site.

16. Advertise on Craigslist - This is a great place to advertise free.

17. Add a bookmark this site - There are many tools to help visitors bookmark pages. Make sure the link ability is visible.

18. Contribute to Other Webmaster's Newsletters - There are so many newsletters that you may be able to contribute something from your own site.

19. Offer something for free - whether it is an ebook or a screensaver make sure that it is something of quality.

20. Create pages on Squidoo, Hubpages and Wetpaint  - Use these free sites to help you link back to your site.

21. Search Engine Optimization - SEO does not need to be difficult. Here is 15 Search Engine Optimization Tips to get you started.

22. Use Your Traffic Stats - If you are not using any program to view your traffic, you can find many programs that are free. One of the best free traffic stat programs you can find for free is statcounter.com

23. Hold a contest - Help bring traffic in by holding a contest. Make sure the prize is of quality.

24. Keep building content - Once you have a well established site, don't forget you need to keep building quality, relevant content to continue generating traffic.

Paid Website Traffic

Before you buy traffic, use as many of the free ways to help you generate traffic. You may find that buying traffic is not beneficial as many times it is not targeted.

25. Purchase PPC Ads - You may need to do a lot of research before buying ads.

26. Purchase advertising on other people's newsletters