Increasing Web Traffic by External Links
Everyone with an online presence wants to increase web traffic to their site. Whether you are running your page to get advertising money, to promote a cause, as an informational source or just for fun, there is really no point in running a web page if no one else sees it. Advertising can be quite costly, but luckily some of the best ways of generating web traffic are free.
One good way to quickly get free web traffic is to post comments on blogs that have subject matter of interest to readers of your site. Most commenting areas on blogs will give you an option to have your name link back to your site. Use a name that relates to your site. For example if you have a site on antique camera collecting, choose a user name something like “old camera collector” or “antique camera guy” instead of using your first name.
It’s important not to abuse this. Only comment when you have something interesting and relevant to say. Mention that you have a site if it is easily worked into the post, but do not post too often or mention your site gratuitously. Blog spam really turns people off and can diminish your site in the eyes of your target audience. Your attempt to increase web traffic can backfire. But if you have things to say about the subject of your site, find some good blogs to say them on.
It’s helpful to do some online networking. Find other people with sites that would attract your target audience, and email the site owners. Ask for a quote from them for an online article, or invite them to do a guest appearance on your blog or write an article for your site.
Site owners, being quite flattered, may put you on their blog roll or even give you a link back from their site. By being asked to guest blogger post or even to write an article for their site will give you more exposure and free web traffic.
Do not limit your network to small sites and blogs. A lot of very successful bloggers got exposure and many many hits by being quoted somewhere else in widespread publications, such as their local newspaper or even some large magazines such as Newsweek or Time. Even if they are mainly old-style publications, most of them have some sort of online presence.
One of the best ways to increase web traffic is by having your site linked in a large publication. To do this, find out which reporters cover subjects that are of interest to your readers. Writing to them that you enjoy their articles, sending them press releases and letting them know you have a site that relates may get you quoted and your site mentioned.