Is your web site screaming for attention? Below is a list of less-than-suggestions for building traffic, stickiness, and return visits to your web site.
1. Bookmark This Site Make sure the "bookmark this site" button is posted on every page. Remember to include a favicon (short for "favorite icon") so your site stands out in your visitor & # 39; s list of saved sites.
2. Series Articles - Extra long feature stories or topics may be inserted into a succession of pieces. A story about a motorcycle trip from Boston to Los Angles is an example. This will encourage visitors to supply you to the next. with their contact information that can be used for your eNews and email blasts (more on this later).
3. Discussion Boards Invitation of wisdom. Involving the audience is how "American Idol" became such a big success. The ideal blog would have enabled member services You might also find some useful nuggets of information or even someone who might make make a good (free) moderator.
4. Promote Topic Boards - Cooking, dating, politics, sports, needlepoint ... whatever the topic there are people who want to talk about it. Create promotions revolving around specific topics for pinpoint audience targeting.
5. Live Chat Instead of a "static" blog, chat rooms will give visitors a live interactive experience. Chat rooms are a good location for publishing (and selling) advertising links. While most of the conversations will be mundane there will be be logs of the discussion. more details about your audience.
6. Webinars There are several companies offering hosting services with varying tiers of service.
7. Non-Text Media - It 's become easy (to cost effective) to add audio and video content to the Internet. Hosting a weekly online radio or video program. Finding people of interest to interview for programming should not be difficult almost everyone is pitching Best service for to the most portable devices.
8. Cross Blog - Post blogs / articles blogs / articles blogs that your web site. Posted on other web site. .
9. Provide RSS Feeds - Really Simple Syndication is an easy way to make your site & # 39; s content available for others to publish. Feeds can consist of complete articles, just the headlines, or information you choose to release for general distribution.
10. Create a Toolbar There are several programming tools - some for free - that will give you the ability to create a customized toolbar for your web site .
11. Data Mine Traffic - Use this data to determine where to trade or buy links and advertising.
12. Off Topic Content - Situative theme. For instance, easy to make recipes to impress a date on a sporting web site. Regular visitors will look it it & # 39; s such theme. unusual information - builds stickiness. Search engines would pick up on the information and expose your site to someone who may else have missed it.
13. Press Releases There are several pay services and free press release sites on the Internet.
14. eNews and Email Blasts Next, the content will need to be compelling for the recipient if you need additional contacts there are companies that sell email lists that can be built by various demographics criteria. Finally, send it. This task needs to be implemented on a consistent basis, which will help build credibility. Make sure whoever is responsible for distribution abides by Spam-Can laws.
15. Referrals Prizes can have an. Contests or some reward for referrals can be created. Prizes can have an For eNews and email blasts, a "Forward to a Friend" option is also Recommended. Your site should feature a page dedicated to banners / buttons your team created allow users to copy and imbed them on their blogs.
16. Offer Something for Free - There are dozens, if not hundreds, of web sites that "free-offer" web sites have a vast database of contacts who receive regular email alerts. Check with your state 's attorney general & # 39; s office The objective is to get the free-offer portals to find and include a link to your web site in the metafile.
17. Call for Contributing Authors - There are more writers than readers in the United States. Many will even submit content for a by-line credit instead of pay. Promotions should have a closing date for receiving content. You will want to to set ("article about left-handed Armenian meat cutters") or a broader focus ("articles targeting adults 18-24 years old") Research the rules other than companies use in their submission rules if you do not know what to include.
18. Be an Online Community Member - Social website, such as MySpace, Crag & # 39; s List, LinkedIn, and Yelp, are gaining more and more visitors every day. Having a presence on community portals would give your web site expanded audience and, typically, is free If you have interested in your web site and send them a message. If you have video content, considering promoting your site on any number of video - based communities.
19. Off-Line Advertising There are already some people in the real world. There is not any sitting at the computer. There are inexpensive or even free ways to advertise. You can also cooperate with a brick-and-mortar business by trading counter space for web ads.
20. Spell It Out - Obviously your site & # 39; s address should be on your business number. The address number is required. Include your web address any where telephone number or other contact information is used.
Specific site activity criteria to track: total hits, unique hits, entry page, and exit page. Statistics should be included where visitors are originating or how they are found. You need to know the traffic-building tactics that work to focus resources in the appropriate areas.
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