I have been an Internet specialist and designer for over 14 years, and the matter that I hear over and over from my small business customers is their concern that it will be too difficult to build traffic to their Web Site, especially now that there are increasingly more competitors on the Web and traffic building strategies seem ever more complex.
If you have the same concerns, my recommendation is to begin where you feel at ease, and branch out from there. There are a number of activities you can start with to increase your Web site traffic that dont require any Internet knowledge at all. Here are 3 ideas:
1. Word-of-Mouth. Tell everyone you know about your Web site. Surprisingly, many people forget or ignore this very simple yet effective tool. Maybe they are embarrassed that their Web site isn’t as fancy or flashy as those they’ve been seeing lately. Others just forget that it’s a valuable resource for someone wanting to learn about what you have to offer. Take pride in your Web site and tell everyone why they should go visit it.
2. T-Shirts. Have a black t-shirt made with your Web site address displayed in yellow, gold or silver. I used to wear a suit whenever attending or speaking at workshops or seminars. Now I wear a really nice long sleeve shirt with an embroidered HereNextYear logo on the left front. Along the back collar, www.HereNextYear.com displays. Whenever I attend a seminar, I make sure to sit in the front 5 rows toward the middle. When I do, there is always someone who approaches me at break asking what HereNextYear is about.
Dont skimp on quality here. It is some of the most effective and targeted advertising you can invest in. Buy a nice high end shirt and take it into an embroidery store with a digital copy of your logo to have your Web site added. It is one of the best investments you will make to spread the word about your Web site and build traffic.
3. Give-a-Away Premiums. Have pens, magnets, cups or other small items available to give away to anyone you see. If possible, find something related to your Web site. Dentists might give away toothbrushes, and financial advisors might hand out small calculators. Remember the whole point is to provide a reminder to your prospects and customers that your business exists. So be sure to display your Web site address on all those items.
4. Business Card. Im sure you have been handing out your business card for many years, and this suggestion is not new to you. However, the aim with this business card is only to direct your prospective clients to visit your Web Site. Create a free report with information that is valuable to your customer. Promote the report and the Web site address they should visit to receive it on your business card. Then, give one to every person you meet, tack it up on bulletin boards, and leave them lying in coffee shops and other public places.
It is true that there are more ideas for building traffic to your Web site than most business owners know what to do with, and many of them require technical knowledge that many people must learn. However, it is critical to keep in mind that many of the most effective actions are the same approaches people have been successfully using for years and years. Personal publicity can still be one of the best ways to build traffic, and it is simple to start using this plan of action immediately.
