How do I get traffic from the search engines?

Jazzy · #1 (**permalink**) 01-24-2008, 01:16 PM

Right now my traffic is from my own marketing on forums, yahoo answers, etc. I have a few inbound links from peoples blogs and websites but I don't know if these places are ranked highly enough for it to make a difference.

I have 85 pages that passed analyze it, I have submitted a site map, and I'm going to start applying to directories next week. What else can I do to get traffic from the actual search engines? Right now my traffic from the engines is-0-.

max · #2 (**permalink**) 01-24-2008, 01:23 PM

How old is your site? If it's less than 6 months old then I'm not surprised activity is low. If you've passed analyze it, have a lot of good focused content then it's only a matter of time. Usually Live (formerly MSN) starts bringing the traffic first. Google is always last. It could take over a year to start seeing anything decent from Google. They are getting more and more picky and with good reason with all the junk out there. You really have to prove your site is credible.

Have you joined SiteSell's Value exchange program? You can partner with other sites in your niche. You're targeting mom's right? There are tons of other sites out there that target this group. Email some of the webmasters and setup a link exchange.

Ever heard of AdWords? You may want to bid on a few cheap keywords to draw in some targeted traffic. For example you can bid on "advantages of homeschooling" and let's say it costs you .09 cents per click. You could make that up in AdSense and it's a great way to start getting people to your site.

Ken recommends this in his marketing help. Also read those Tips and Techniques articles in Site Central. Very useful articles on SBIers there.

max · #3 (**permalink**) 01-24-2008, 01:24 PM

Also are you collecting email addresses? Definitely take advantage of SBI's Mailout feature and start sending out newsletters and building a following.

GreenThumb · #4 (**permalink**) 01-24-2008, 01:38 PM

I've noticed a lot of people build great sites but get stuck in that "where's my traffic mode?" It happened to me and I eventually gave up. LOL But I do believe a lot has to do with uniqueness and creativity. Since search engines rank sites higher that have a lot of people linking to them, you have to create a site that other people want to link to.

Having a lot of content is definitely a first step but after that you need to sit back and say "OK, there are a lot of sites on my topic, so what am I going to do to separate myself from the pack so other people will want to blog about me?"

Lisa's site is a great example. Her 2createawebsite site is one of the few "how to create a website" sites that is openly honest and doesn't try to get people to buy everything under the sun. I started seeing a lot more sites like hers after she created it but I remember finding her site 3-4 years ago thinking "I've never seen anything like this in regards to website creation for beginners."

So you need to become THAT site for homeschooling. Again that's where you have to do your part in creativity and coming up with unique things other homeschooling sites aren't doing. Is there some kind of free report of PDF you can create to offer to your visitors? Who is your audience? What is the biggest problem you think your audience has? How can your site help them solve it?

Content is definitely the first phase but I think the creativity needs to kick in next. Do you know who your competition is? Are you familiar with the content on their sites? What can you do better?

A lot of this has to do with being in touch with your audience (I learned a lot from you Lisa!) and I think that's why a lot of people fail. They do very well at building the content and they love their topic but get stuck in the marketing phase.

And as far as search engine traffic goes, it's getting a LOT harder to get ranked well so I think it takes longer than it used to so be patient. The engines are just testing you out to see if you are building content continually AND getting other people to link to you. Gotta get those backlinks (other related sites to recommend you), otherwise search engine traffic will be hard to come by.

My issue is that I struggled with being creative and I think that's a big difference between those that succeed and fail. Hang in there though. You've got a great site, you just need to find other places to get your site out there and perhaps give away something useful to attract more people.

lisa · #5 (**permalink**) 01-24-2008, 01:52 PM

Great advice everyone. Traffic is definitely the biggest challenge these days and patience is definitely a virtue (especially for Google). I'm working on a new site (not ready to be revealed yet) and I can definitely see the difference in how long it takes to build SE traffic.

I was reading a post on another forum and a lady was doing the "happy dance" because after 13 months Google started bringing her 100 visits per day after being almost non existent for the first 9. It definitely takes time but you seem to be on the right track. Just keep getting those links out there.

What are some of the popular sites where your audience goes? Find these places and see what ways you can possibly get in front of them. Also subscribe to blogs from other successful affiliate marketers. www.problogger.com is one of my favorite sites these days now that I am into blogging more. I get so many ideas and inspiration from Darren. Reading tips from other successful people is what keeps me motivated. Allan Gardyne of www.associateprograms.com is another.

I read a LOT of blogs, sites, etc. and you have to keep re-inventing yourself out here or you'll get lost in the shuffle.

Now you might say "what does this have to do with search engines?" Again doing these fresh, creative things is what helps people notice and link to you so the search engines can see those backlinks.

Gotta agree with GreenThumb though.... marketing and creativity is definitely key... ESPECIALLY these days in a world where everything seems to be saturated.

Hang in there! The traffic will come.

Jazzy · #6 (**permalink**) 01-24-2008, 04:54 PM

Thanks guys!

My site is almost 3 months old. I put the newsletter tab up last week and I have a whopping 8 subscribers. But that newsletter is going out next month and it's going to rock!

I am continually looking for yahoo groups, forums, etc. I can join to plug my site. The next few months will be all about traffic and marketing so I'm going to spend most of my time at that now that I have a good bit of content up. I also have some ideas about contacting others for links.

I'm just ready to stop going door to door and put up the corner store in a high traffic location, lol. But I just checked my stats at SBI and a few more pages have been indexed so that's good news.

I guess I do need patience!

I'm going to start following those blogs and keep thinking of new ideas to generate interest in my site. I have checked out my main competitors many times. Most have been around for years and years, but I think I can catch them! I'm a feisty type of gal!

shopgirl · #7 (**permalink**) 01-24-2008, 07:29 PM

Hi Jazzy,

I love your site. I wanted to home school my kids and didn't have the nerve. I really wish I had. Now, I have my first grandchild to help teach and I hope by the time he's old enough for junior high, things will be better!

Anyway, you are an expert on home schooling. You should be writing articles and sending them out via the free press release sites. I did this a couple of times and was very surprised at the number of places that picked them up.

I know it might be hard to see yourself as an expert but if you remember you can focus your article, maybe on people you might be sitting on the fence deciding if they want to make the change or people who are having a hard time and need a little encouragement, you can get things started.

Is a forum or blog in your future plans?

Jazzy · #8 (**permalink**) 01-24-2008, 09:20 PM

Thanks shopgirl!

I do need to get some articles out. By free press release sites do you mean ezinearticles and goarticles?

I have a blog that I'm going to bring up to date this weekend, and I am thinking about a forum when I get enough traffic to support one. Forums scare me though because they seem like a tremendous amount of work. I think it would be helpful for visitors though.

shopgirl · #9 (**permalink**) 01-25-2008, 06:12 PM

I don't know about ezines but why not. I did a search for free press releases and found a few good ones. I probably also did a review search to check them out. If I remember right, it was PRWeb that I used but that was a few years ago. The articles are still floating around though.

I really think you have a lot to offer and tons of content for any type of written marketing you want to employ. Go for it!

guzie · #10 (**permalink**) 01-27-2008, 07:39 AM

Why not try writing articles and submitting them to article directories.

I've seen your website and it has alot of potential. You also seem to have knowledge about "HomeSchooling". Write several articles about it.

You will really be surprised at the results. The best place to submit your articles is at ezinearticles.com ...Just do it.

Paul Guzman

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