Everyone with a limited budget seems to ask the same exact question, "How do I get free traffic to my website"
I have put together a list of the low cost/free marketing strategies I have learned over the past few years that have helped me to bring in traffic from various sources.
1. Word of mouth - Tell everyone you know about your products and services, and tell them to tell everyone they know about your products and services.
2. Tell a Friend - You can go to just about any java script site and find a java script code that will allow your site visitors to click on your 'tell a friend button"
3. Collect opt in emails for your newsletter, if you do not have a newsletter start one immediately.
4. Write articles and submit them to article sites, they will allow you to post links back to your site. Other website owners will add your articles to their site and you will start bringing in more traffic to your site. You can do a search on any of the major search engines and find articles sites you can submit to.
Here is one that can help you get started:
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www.articlecity.com/article_submission.shtml
5. Webmaster forums like (
www.webmasteronline.us/forum/) allow you to post free advertising in certain areas. Make sure you post as often as you are allowed by the webmaster. If you can post once a week, make sure you post once a week every week, and don't miss a week. It takes the average joe to see something 7 times before they remember who you are.
Besides posting your advertisements make sure to get involved with forum communities, build a name for yourself, and don't be afraid to share some of your secrets. (the rewards are usually amazing!)
Here are several that you can post free advertisements at least once a week:
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www.webmasteronline.us/forum/
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www.namepros.com
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www.im4newbies.com/forum
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www.siteownersforums.com
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www.webmasterproblems.com
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www.webmasters-market.com
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www.web-mastery.net
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www.greatnexus.com/forums/
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www.sgwebmasterforum.com/
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www.v7n.com/forums/
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www.webmasterserve.com
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www.webmaster-forums.net
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www.webmasters-meet.com
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www.webmaster-talk.com
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www.forum.weborum.com
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www.easytool.org/forum/
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www.ukwebmasterworld.com/webmaster-world/
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www.netdesignz.org/forum/
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www.w3talk.com/
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www.webmasterads.com
6. Submit your site to free website directories, however you need to make sure these are not just link farms as this could hurt your site. Make sure they have some kind of screening process before your link goes live on their directory. You can do a search on any of the major search engines to find website directories to submit your site to.
Here are a few website directories that allow you to submt your website:
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www.dmoz.com
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www.netinsert.com
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www.webmasteronline.us
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www.homesimprovement.net
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www.pedsters-planet.co.uk
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www.turnpike.net/directory.html
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www.kingbloom.com
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www.infignos.com
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www.bigall.com
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www.webxperience.org
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www.somuch.com
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www.best-websites.net
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www.mostpopularsites.net
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www.siteinclusion.com
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www.onemission.com/d.pl
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www.search-o-rama.com
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www.lf.cellsina.com
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www.quick-silver.org
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www.sumwd.com
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www.velendi.com
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www.mammoth-directory.com
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www.gdotz.com
This is just a few of the many to help you get started, here is a list of at least 200 if not more website directories -
http://www.seocompany.ca/directory/f...rectories.html
7. Get business cards for your website, no matter how small you think your business may be get business cards for yourself and always keep them on you and hand them out when the opportunities present themselves.
8. Exchange links with related sites that are similar to your website (follow the same guidelines as #6)
Here is a link exchange site that is excellent for starting a free link exchange campaign:
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www.linkmarket.net
9. Banner Exchange - Don't put 15 different banners all over your site, just find one good company and setup a banner exchange so that your banner is being displayed on other peoples websites.
Here is a great free banner exchange site that can help you get started:
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www.home.free-banners.com/
You can also do a free text exchange, text versus banners usually have a better click through ratio.
Here is one that can help you get started:
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www.txtswap.com
10. When joining forums make sure you add a link to your website in your signature when allowed. This is an excellent oppurtunity to show off your website.
Things to stay away from:
1. Free for all sites
2. Pop Ups, Pop Unders
If you follow these guidelines you will be well on your way in generating traffic to your site, and getting picked up by the major search engines without even having to submit to the major search engines.
Make sure you don't get discouraged, most people don't get rich over night, and it usually takes 3-5 years to build a successful business.
