I wanted to get back to basics for the new folks here and look at TRAFFIC (people coming to your site!) Whether you’ve got a new site that you’re unsure about, or some ideas that you want to test out, unless you get people TO your creation - you’re never gonna make a cent.

There are a lot of ways to generate traffic in this business - way more than I can cover in one post here but I think I can give you an idea of the different areas you’re going to be facing if you’re just getting started…

The MAJOR search engines…

DESCRIPTION:
The major search engines, such as Google, Yahoo, Ask.com, etc. - are one of the main watering holes for webmasters. It’s a question of making a page or even a website which is laid out carefully so that the search engines can “read” what they are all about. Then you have to submit your page and wait for them to come and find you. If they like what they see, they will add you to their database and the surfers will start to flow.

PROS:
• Superb quality traffic - the easiest to convert although it SILL requires work.
• You don’t have to give them a link back, as you do with link lists and so on.
• It’s FREE to get into the majority of really BIG search engines.
• Stable traffic - you could be listed for 5 years and beyond from a single submission.
• No limit to the amount of pages you can have listed, even from one domain name.

CONS
• A very competitive game, many webmasters submitting pages.
• YAWN! They are SO SLOW at indexing your website - we’re talking MONTHS!
• It’s tough - search engine success requires many months of practice.
• Get ready for frustration. Why was your site omitted? Where has your traffic gone?
• THEFT! Other webmasters will eagerly steal your code…

Link Lists & Directories

DESCRIPTION:
The link lists are an age-old way to get traffic to the newest of new websites. It’s a question of making a full website with unique, solid content, following the rules, and then submitting the site. To find some good lists and directories in your nich, simply search on one of the major search engines for “your niche directory” “your niche site listing” (replace ‘your niche’ WITH your niche!) - and then follow some of the links on THOSE sites to find just about all the rest. Link lists come in all shapes and sizes. Some will send a little traffic - some a lot! It’s your job to find which ones are worth working with…

PROS:
• Instant traffic - make a site today and you could get listed TODAY!
• No specialist knowledge required to GET the traffic.
• Lots of niche specific link lists around and more popping up every day.
• LOTS of traffic. We’re talking up to tens of thousands of surfers from the ‘big guys’.
• Many link lists out there - you’ve got your work cut out and can make many sites.

CONS
• These site visitors are typically wiser than SE surfers generally and are less likely to click banners - market within your text, use testimonials, reviews, etc. In other words, provide useful, valuable content and market *within* that content.
• RULES! You’re gonna have to follow some pretty stringent rules here.
• You have to provide a reciprocal link BACK to the link list.

Dmoz

DESCRIPTION:
Dmoz is a strange sounding website which lists many different categories of websites for site visitors - it’s a vast directory which has been going for a number of years. It’s a lot like Yahoo! Dmoz has a very substantial directory and is growing in popularity every day. Other search engines USE Dmoz’s directory so a listing there will get you into many other places. You can check out Dmoz here - http://www.dmoz.org

PROS:
• Good traffic from Dmoz and from it’s partner search engines.
• You’ll get into Google and other important directories from one submission.
• You can get many sites in the many categories there.
• Very good way to get started in this business!

CONS
• The rules are too strict for some folks. It’s often seen as ‘hard to get into’.
• It’s human edited, so not every site will get listed.
• Some categories are back-logged to it could take TIME to get into some areas.
• Can be a little frustrating when your site is not listed.

Pay per inclusion / click

DESCRIPTION:
There are many places out there where you can actually PAY to have your website listed. Paying for advertising and for traffic is nothing especially new and it’s a valid option for webmasters - new or experienced alike.

PROS:
• Obviously this one is down to your wallet rather than your experience.
• Probably the fastest way to get listed and to get instant traffic.
• Little competition on the whole as less webmasters like to PAY for traffic.
• Many different areas where you can invest - lots of things you can have on the go.
• GREAT stats from most of these kinds of traffic sources.

CONS:
• Like all advertising, you’re not guaranteed success for your money.
• It’s ot cheap. Some of the directories will charge literally hundreds of $$ for one site.
• You’re not guaranteed to get listed in the directories. All you get is a “review”.
• With pay per click - you can end up paying a lot of top keyphrases.
• Rather costly if you’re just starting out and don’t have the $$.

So, that’s about all I want to comment on for now and I hope that this gives you a good insight into what you’re going to be dealing with in the traffic sources I’ve outlined here. There are good things and not so good things about ALL kinds of traffic and all of the places you can submit to out there. Take care and watch out for the pitfalls that I’ve mentioned here.