I love WordPress blogs for their ability to let the search engines like Google know that I have new content ready for the Google Spiders to stop by and lunch on. When I add audio, images and videos those little spider dudes really like to come and munch on my pages. Adding various media to your website makes it more attractive not only to the search engines but to real eyeballs.

One tool that I use is MyBlogLog. I guess website traffic is a big topic on MyBlogLog. Below is an image of the website traffic topic page. You can see that Part 2 of this series is at the top of this image that I grabbed about 8pm Thursday night October 16th.

Using good keywords tied to images and videos is a great way to get free traffic to your website. One of the hottest keywords this week during the 2008 campaigns is Joe the plumber. If I could figure out a good way to use a hot keyword phase like “Joe The Plumber” on my blog I would probably get even more traffic to my website.

Hummm… wonder how I could get help like that from a common Joe Six-Pack guy like Joe the plumber.

OK, that’s enough on the subject of plumbing, on to the topics for today. Let’s see what else we can do to generate a steady stream of traffic to your website.

Tag Images

Tags are an important aspect of search engine optimization. Photos search has increased in popularity lately.

Almost all sites are expected to have photos on their pages. An undervalued aspect of this practice is not tagging the pictures.

Adding tags to pictures allow for photo searches to generate the photo and the address of the site.

Not to be underestimated, tagging photos can become another tool to increase exposure of a site. This works especially well for sites that sell products. Tagging the product pictures can help bring people to the site through photo searches.

Use Smart PR Approaches

A typical PR (Press Release) campaign can be worked for a site as well. News coverage and media exposure can make the site known, and thus create awareness and bring visitors to the site.

Off-line Marketing

Using traditional marketing tools outside the virtual world can also create awareness. Promotion and advertising needs not be simply in cyberspace.

Business cards, written-support advertising, advertising on cars, etc, are all means that can and should be used to promote your website. This works better for sites that sell products, as these products can be advertised in such ways.

Hosting Regular Promotions

Store-type promotions can be applied to websites as well, especially those that sell products.

There is nothing like the word ‘discount’ to attract people – make good use of it on your site too.

Publishing On Other Sites

Publishing articles and blog posts on other sites and newsgroups help to increase your visibility. Furthermore, writing articles and getting them published can also establish you as an ‘expert’ in your field. This is a very good tool to exploit for content sites.

Another feature of articles is that it allows you to have a signature line at the end, which you can use to feature the link to your site.

Product sites can also use publishing articles to make product reviews and referrals, an aspect that shouldn’t be ignored.

Update Content Regularly

Viewers like to check back on sites where they received good information. However, if they fall upon the same information again, it is likely that they will write the site off and not come back.

This is where updating content plays in. Regular, new content will keep visitors coming back as fresh content is found.

This also shows that the site is being looked after.

Search engines also regularly scout pages, and when they find updated content, they are more likely to keep a page’s listing or even move it further up as opposed to a site whose content remains the same since conception.

For a content site, updated content means more pages, and this in turn can increase page views, which is its aim in increasing traffic.

Reviews

Get reviews of your site. Ask at bigger sites in the same niche/area as yours.

This increases exposure, especially if your site gets a very good review.

Write Briefs On The Site

This keeps content fresh and regularly updated. It sits well with search engines and viewers alike.

Having A Newsletter

A newsletter keeps people informed about updates and other changes to the site. Offers can be showcased this way, and this is a very good opportunity for product sites.

Furthermore, the newsletter can contain links back to the site, and in itself, a newsletter helps ‘refresh’ people’s memories that your site is still present and ready to deliver good content and products.

The newsletter can contain teasers that will incite its readers to come to the site to get their curiosity satisfied.

Content sites can have classes or seminars featured or advertised on the newsletter, said classes which people can have access to on the site.

An e-zine works with the same concept.

Posting in Chat Rooms

This helps to increase exposure.

Giveaways, Freebies, and Polls

All these are good ‘lures’ to get people to come to the site.

Polls work on another level as it shows interaction. This ‘human’ aspect of the site can attract lots of people who are repulsed by mechanical sites that do not have a human touch.

Content sites can hold polls and can also preview aspects of content that is to come. Small downloads can be offered for free, for example an ebook on a specific topic.

Product sites have more scope as they can offer prizes, rebates, discounts and contests. Another tip for this side of the marketing is to offer a freebie for every purchase, thus enticing people to buy.

Contests, promos and polls can also be announced on various loops and in newsletters, helping to draw visitors to the site.

Freebies, especially for content sites, can consist of the following: checklists for a task, templates for specific documents, text workbooks on the site’s topic, classes and seminars, a dictionary of terms of the industry/niche, a live advice chat room, plans for setting up specific things, email reports, as well as designed forms.

An Awards Feature

The site can offer links to other sites it deems worthy by giving them an ‘award’. This can work as double-lane avenue as the awarded company can tell its visitors to check its award on your site.

An option for content sites is to feature an ‘Additional Resources’ box where it offers links to other sites it deems worthy. In turn, the sites on the list can mention that they are recommended by your site, providing exposure and link presence.

Respond to Queries or Comments Left on Your Site

This feature can help both product sites and content sites.

Nobody likes to be ignored – showing your visitor that you cared enough to reply to his query or comment enhances your goodwill and the feeling that you are a ‘human’ site. Robotic content and atmosphere is a deterrent for many Internet users, so showing that you are not like that can work wonders for you.

For a content site, it shows that you are dedicated to providing information accurately and as people need it.

For a product site, it may show tremendous customer support and willingness to take care of the customer.

Hold Contests and Promos

People generally love to play and win. Enticing them with contests is a good bet. In either case, a person who took part in the contest will come back to check the result. This can be built upon.

Have Your Own Domain

This builds brand recognition and easy association of your content/product in viewers’ minds. The name can even become a brand in the long run.

Join Places That Are Relevant To You

Associations that cater to an aspect of your industry, local chambers of commerce, and other such organizations can provide a wealth of exposure when you are added to their directories.

Being associated with them can also boost your name and enhance your reputation. [Also having a friend like Joe The Plumber can help your website traffic too.]