The fastest way to get traffic is to pay for it.
The cheapest way is to wait for it.
Or luck out by coming up with some sort of viral content like a YouTube video that everybody will pass around.
The main issue with viral content is unless it is directly related to what you are selling, you might get traffic, but no one is going to buy anything.
So what you really need is traffic from people who want what you are selling.
Getting Lots of Traffic to Your Website
Optimizing your website is great and you should have all your pages SEO’d. Continue the practice of building your content and linking strategies, but in the meantime, paying for traffic will get you there faster.
You can visit forums and social sites where people are looking for your product or service. Visit, chat, be helpful and put your web link in your signature. That way if people like what you have to say they can click through to your site.
Another thing you can do is take part in a “give away” program. That way people will be notified of a gift that you will give to visitors when they come to your site.
How to get traffic to your website fast
Back to the idea of paying for traffic. There are several ways to do this. You can use the PPC (Pay Per Click) platforms of the Search Engines themselves.
One type of advertising is by “Banner Ads”. These are the graphics you see on websites that encourage you to take advantage of a deal or encourage a “click to learn more”. You can do this using the SE’s display network, purchase space directly from the website themselves, or use other advertising networks.
The “Secret ToolBox” to the right is as example of a banner ad.
One of the great things with paid targeted advertising is the ability to “retarget” your ads. This is where when someone lands on your website they get “cookied” so afterwards, just about every time they land on an advertising site from your network – poof – your ad shows up like a creepy stalker.
Retargeting advertising is excellent!
Other places that offer quality paid advertising traffic – depending on your niche – are LinkedIn, StumbleUpon, or CPV (cost per view) channels.
Don’t forget you can go offline too and advertise in the paper with an offer that will be enough to get people to look up your website.
Paying for Web Traffic Warning
As with most things – if its cheap… you can bet its cheap. Buying cheap traffic will generate a lot of clicks from places you would probably rather not be in. Some cheap clicks are actually automated. Remember the SE’s ARE watching and they will know if you are being bad or good. This can also damage your SEO efforts.
Getting traffic the Easy Way
Simple ways to get traffic are to be one of the first to comment on someone elses blog post that is related to what you are doing. Be sure that your comment is relevant and don’t spam. Usually the comment software will allow you to enter the webpage you want people to visit.
If you have a buddy with a list that is willing to send a note to their subscribers about you that will drive traffic, or you can do a list swap.
Do a guest post on a relevant or related site. Often sites will have a “write for us” or “writers wanted” links. If the site is popular you will get views that will link through to your original page.
Using Incentivized Clicks for Traffic
There are several ways to get clicks to your site that won’t result in useful traffic. When you buy solo ads or rent email lists make sure the clicks aren’t “incentivized”. What this means is, you can pay a few hundred dollars to a company thinking you are renting a mailing list of people in a particular niche group. Perhaps you are having your message sent out to this group but the people who are getting the email are actually paid a few pennies to open it and click on your link.
What do you think the chances are that at pennies per click that their priority is to open and click as many emails as they can and not to visit your site to see what you are selling.
There are at least two drawbacks in this incentivized clicking.
1. You are paying for a group of people who don’t give a darn about your message.
2. Your “Bounce Rate” will be through the roof!
Nobody wants a high bounce rate!
