Almost anybody that's been successful in business and finance know that one of the secrets is that you never count on only one thing to bring you success. There will always come a time when, because of reasons beyond your control, that the particular area you're in will slow down and falter. You must be prepared for that time.
It's the same with online marketing. You can't just count on one thing to get you through as AdWords users recently found out. Some pretty hefty marketers lost their businesses overnight because of it.
The thing to understand is that there are numerous ways to drive traffic to your site. It's just not good business to limit it to one. The other secret is that these are things that YOU have control of, not somebody else.
Last, don't believe all the nonsense about the way Web 2.0 is destroying the way online marketing is done. It's not even close to beginning to disrupt things for those of us who know what we're doing and what the real numbers behind the story are.
This doesn't mean that there aren't things that are happening that will grow tremendously and offer a lot of opportunity, but rather they aren't anywhere near being that disruptive at this time.
So what are the other traffic-growing strategies out there?
Make sure you publish a newsletter
To me, the number one growth engine is still the tried and true newsletter. The type of traffic it drives is probably superior to any other kind, as it shows that you are an expert in your field. It not only drives traffic to your site, but gets you lots of sales as well.
You can either hire someone to grow a list for you or create your own freebie or get someone else's to offer. Most of the most successful online marketers have grown their lists this very way.
Buy ads in other newsletters
I've done this a number of times and it always works. Find those newsletters that would relate to your target market, and subscribe to them. Get in touch with the owners and ask what it costs to put in one of your ads. The same as above, it not only will generate traffic, but add-on sales as well.
Once you get a list you can trade ads for free with other newsletters of similar size.
Increase links to your site
I know that everybody gives you the endless tricks to do this the easy way. Still the greatest link builder is good, quality content. It can be yours or some that is user-generated; but its consistent, good, updated content that will draw the best links. And links do need to be related to your content.
Continue adding content
Speaking of content, continually write articles connected to the niche audience you serve. One way you can help it go viral is to include a footer at the bottom of the article giving permission to reprint the article as long as they include a live link to your site. Webmasters still look for quality content to put up for the very reason we're saying now. This again brings in more quality links to you and more traffic as well.
Get an affiliate program started
Unfortunately, many marketers balk at this because it does involve some work and a little money to get it going. But once a quality program is started, it can't be beaten for the type of visitors and traffic it will send to your site; along with great sales.
Many of the online marketers I talk with still get around 50% of their traffic from their affiliate members. The beauty of affiliate programs is that you don't necessarily need a ton of people signed on. Most people get a few great ones that do the majority of business for them, with a smaller amount being divided between a whole bunch of members.
Another secret to it is that the great affiliates have their own ezine lists and put your ad in their newsletters for free so they can make their commissions. Free advertising that drives traffic to your site and makes money: What can be better than that?
Again, there is work involved in getting it set up and going; plus finding the best affiliates. Once that's in place it is literally a money machine.
So there you have it. Here are a number of strategies you need in place to ensure that your online business isn't susceptible to any one thing bringing it down, or losing traffic at the whim of whoever changes their search algorithms.
Make these part of your online strategy and you won't worry about some catastrophe bringing your business down.
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